Small World, Big Problems – a SAIS Strategy Podcast.
A SAIS student podcast supported by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies.
In Small World, Big Problems, we ask the experts about the biggest challenges in the world of strategy and national security.
It’s a small world, and it’s only getting smaller. But it seems like every day, there is a new problem on the horizon: grea ...
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In a rapidly-transforming Middle East, the ascendant roles of China and Russia are reshaping the region's security landscape. This comes in tandem with the startling normalization of relations between erstwhile rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, a move orchestrated by China. Professor Vali Nasr decodes these developments and their potential implications for the United States. This conversation aims to clarify the ever-changing alliances and power equations in the Middle East, as nations endeavor to break away from Western hegemony.
The United States Armed Forces are facing the biggest recruiting crisis in fifty years. At the same time, there is a growing cultural gap between the military and civilian sectors of the American public. Politicians, generals, and academics are all concerned, but the situation doesn't seem to be getting any better. This week, we sit down with Dr. Nora Bensahel and LTG David Barno to discuss the recruiting crisis, the civil military gap, and how, if left unchecked, these issues may affect the United States in the long term. For more information on the recruiting crisis, check out Gen. Barno and Dr. Bensahel's article from earlier this year: https://warontherocks.com/2023/03/addressing-the-u-s-military-recruiting-crisis/
John McLaughlin is the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, contributing columnist to Grid News, and former acting director of the CIA. In this episode Professor McLaughlin discusses the origins of the war in Ukraine and the possible future outcomes of the war. He also gives his thoughts on Russia's relationship with China and the role of open source intelligence.
For our inaugural episode we delve into one of the most pressing questions of our time: Can the United States prevail in a war with China? Join us as we explore the complex dynamics, military considerations, and strategic challenges surrounding the most consequential threat facing the United States and global peace. Today's guest is Dr. Thomas Mahnken, a renowned strategist and military analyst. Dr. Mahnken is a member of the Army Science board, a professor of strategy at JHU SAIS, and has written extensively on this and related topics.