On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a horrendous attack on Israel in years killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials.  One a half month after the attack the war in Gaza continues and a severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Close to 13,000 people have been killed by the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials. On November 21st Israel and Hamas agreed a deal for the release of 50 civilian hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a four-day halt to hostilities.* “Ti kosmos” podcast hosted Gilles Kepel, one the Europe’s leading experts on the Middle East  and discussed about the current state of the conflict.  Mr. Kepel analyses what Israel should do now, how Arab states perceive the conflict, as well as the key role of Egypt and Saudi Arabia in resolving the conflict and for the day after.  (* that the discussion took place before the announcement of the hostage deal)

How technology affects our lives? How is the digital public space changing? What are the new forms of communication? Should we be afraid of technology? How does it affect the conduct of wars? These are some of the issues discussed with renowned philosopher, cultural theorist and media scholar Pierre Lévy. The discussion was held at Delphi, one the side of the 1st Delphi Dialogues on “Technology and Democracy” organized by the European Cultural Centre οf Delphi (ECCD)https://eccd.gr/en/democracy-and-technology/ The quotes at the beginning of the podcast are taken from the Dialogues from the following speakers:1.     Étienne Balibar, University of Paris X-Nanterre and University of California2.     Philip N. Howard, University of Oxford3.     Jeffrey Schnapp, Harvard University4.     Panagiotis Roilos, Professor at Harvard University, President of the European Cultural Centre of Delphi

On the 28th of May 2023 Erdogan won the presidential elections of Turkey, extending his rule to the third decade. In his victory speech he claimed Turkey won. Gilles Kepel, one of the most estimated experts on Islam and the Middle East explains to Marilisa Anastasopoulou and “Ti Kosmos” Podcast what these elections really mean for Turkey.  Professor Keppel talks about what is at stake internally, how ideology has been more important than economy and portrays how now Turkey entails two different countries within its borders.  Moreover, professor Kepel explains how the system of international relations has shifted towards the East and the respective role and foreign policy of Turkey in the area.To whom will President Erdogan turn to ask for help now that the economy of his country is nearly collapsing? Gilles Kepel authored more than 20 books on the Middle East, North Africa, Islam in France and Europe, translated in many languages (lastly, Away from Chaos / The Middle East and the Challenge to the West, Columbia Univ. Press). He has taught at Sciences Po in Paris, the LSE in London, Lugano in Switzerland, among others, and advised senior European and Arab political and business leaders. He also contributes weekly to al monitor.  Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/gilles-kepel#ixzz83Nb9WS6Y

The world is watching. For many the upcoming elections the 14th of May are the most important of the year. How important are they for the future of Turkey? What is their significance? Will Turkey change its foreign policy if the opposition wins? How democratic is Turkey?We discuss these issues with the esteemed analyst and professor at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Mr. Soli Özel. This podcast is hosted by Marilisa Anastasopoulou.The discussion took place during the VIII Delphi  Forum.

How do modern dictators operate? Why has Putin opted for old-style fear dictatorship? Is Erdogan a modern dictator? What do the two men have in common? What is the future of democracy? Marilisa Anastasopoulou hosts Daniel Treisman, “modern” dictatorship expert and discuss how Putin and Erdogan have ruled for the last two decades and what they have in common.  Moreover, they talk about democracies, spin and fear dictatorships in the world today and what are the current trends.  Daniel Treisman, professor of political science at the university of California, has co-authored together with Sergei Guriev, the book "Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century ". In their book they argue that the dominant model of dictatorship has changed. There is a new type of dictatorship that is not so brutal and bloody and based on fear, the way Mao and Stalin ruled for example, but that is less violent, and it manipulates information and the system so that people genuinely support the leader. This intermediate modern model is called "Spin Dictatorship".Interesting links related to this podcast: Andrei Shleifer & Daniel Treisman: A normal country: Russia after communism (2005)https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/0895330053147949 Daniel Treisman: The reverse evolution of spin dictatorship- Putin goes to war (2022)https://re-russia.net/en/expertise/026/ Guardian video: Putin's Russia: dictator syndrome and the rise of a 'mafia state'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irzB-C9eSrQ ABC News video: The New Tsar: How Putin Became Russia's Dictator | Foreign Correspondenthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAncC-f5uGQ

While Ukraine has managed to win this war in the “hearts and minds of the people” (predominantly of the West) analysts argue it’ s going to be a long war.Michael C.  Kimmage, professor of History at the Catholic University of America, author of the book “The Abandonment of the West”, and regular contributor at the Foreign Affairs is our guest  in this “Ti kosmos” podcast. Issues discussed:What are the scenarios for the end of the crisis? Will there be an escalation or a spill over in other countries? What are the tragedies associated with this war? What is “Wartime Putinism”? Can Russia be defeated? How the debate in the US regarding the support of the war will be shaped in the coming months? Does this war bring the US closer to Europe?Today’s Ti kosmos podcast cooperates with the Institute of International Relations and is co-hosted by Marilisa Anastasopoulou and the executive director of IDIS, Ms. Ino Afentouli. Relevant Linkshttps://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2020-04-14/abandonment-west-history-idea-american-foreign-policyhttps://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/wartime-putinismhttps://history.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/kimmage-michael/index.html

Ένα χρόνο μετά την εισβολή της  Ρωσίας στην Ουκρανία οι σχέσεις Κίνας- Ρωσίας βρίσκονται στο προσκήνιο. Η Δύση ανησυχεί για περαιτέρω σύσφιξη των σχέσεων Κίνας - Ρωσίας. Οι ΗΠΑ προειδοποιούν ότι η Κίνα μπορεί να δώσει οπλικά συστήματα στη Ρωσία για να τα χρησιμοποιήσει στον πόλεμο στην Ουκρανία.  Μέχρι που μπορεί να φτάσει η σχέση Κίνας- Ρωσίας; Είναι πράγματι μία φιλία «δίχως όρια»; Ο Δρ. Γιώργος Τζογόπουλος, λέκτορας στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Ευρώπης, senior fellow στο ΕΛΙΑΜΕΠ και ειδικός σε θέματα Κίνας συζητάει με την Μαριλίζα Αναστασοπούλου. 

To understand the current situation, after almost a year from the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Ti kosmos Podcast, in cooperation with the Institute of International Relations (IDIS)*, invited Mr. Alexander Cooley, one of the leading experts in the studies of Russia and Eurasia.  This podcast is co-hosted by Ms. Ino Afentouli, Executive Director of IDIS, and journalist & researcher, Marilisa Anastasopoulou. The discussion addresses issues such as:•How have expectations changed after almost one year of war?•The reaction of the West •What is happening inside Russia?•Has the war weakened or strengthened Russia and how?•What is the reaction of global south?•What can we expect from now on?Alexander Cooley is the Claire Tow Professor of Political Science and Vice Provost for Academic Centers and Libraries at Barnard College, Columbia University, and an Academy Adjunct Faculty member at Chatham House. From 2015 to 2021 he served as the 15th Director of Columbia University's Harriman Institute for the Study of Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe.https://www.alexanderacooley.com/*https://idis.gr/

The war in Ukraine has radically changed the European security landscape. European and Euro-Atlantic institutions face unprecedented challenges as a conflict by conventional and hybrid means is being waged in the heart of the European continent with no end in sight.The implications of the war for the EU and NATO and the consequences for peace, stability, and security in Greece and the wider region of Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean were the focus of discussions at the international meeting “Athens Security Forum” organized by the Institute of International Relations (IDIS) on the 24th of November in Athens with the participation of leading academics and policymakers.In this “Ti kosmos” podcast  Marilisa Anastasopoulou asks questions to the speakers of the Forum and selects extracts from their speeches to convey  key messages addressed at the forum. This podcast includes Peter Altmaier, former Minister of Finance and Energy of Germany; Mikulas Dzurinda, President of the W. Martens Centre and former Prime Minister of Slovakia; Mircea Geoana, NATO Deputy Secretary General; Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission; Dimitris Keridis – MP &Professor of International Politics, Panteion University; Efraim Inbar - President Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Israel;  and Mustafa Aydin - President, International Relations Council of Turkey, Turkey. You may follow the whole forum at the website of Institute of International Relations (IDIS): https://idis.gr/asf/.  The 4th and concluding event of the 2022 Athens Security Forum was organized by IDIS, under the auspices of the City of Athens and in partnership with the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Harriman Institute at Columbia University and NATO. “Ti kosmos” podcast is supported by the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO. 

“If you think in sort of pictures, you can think of Russia as sort of a hurricane in international affairs, but you should think of China as sort of the climate change in terms of the scale and the magnitude of China's ability to change the international order, if Western countries and other likeminded allies do not put some limits on what China can do.” (Ben Schreer, IISS)While in Europe the war in Ukraine attracts most attention, the US focuses on China and rings the bell of concern to its NATO partners. Why US - China relations are at such a low point? How is Europe positioned between them? How China affects the Indo-Pacific and how it relates directly to Europe? How significant are recent protests in China?Marilisa Anastasopoulou and “Ti Kosmos” (What a world!) podcast host Dr. Ben Schreer*, Executive Director in Berlin of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and discuss the dangerous liaisons between China and the West. *https://www.iiss.org/people/european-security-and-defence/ben-schreer“Ti Kosmos” podcast is part of a program on international affairs that is supported by the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO.«Αν σκεφτείτε με εικόνες, μπορείτε να σκεφτείτε τη Ρωσία ως ένα είδος τυφώνα στις διεθνείς υποθέσεις, αλλά θα πρέπει να σκεφτείτε την Κίνα ως ένα είδος κλιματικής αλλαγής όσον αφορά την κλίμακα και το μέγεθος της ικανότητας της Κίνας να αλλάξει τη διεθνή τάξη, αν οι δυτικές χώρες και άλλοι σύμμαχοι με κοινή αντίληψη δεν θέσουν κάποια όρια στο τι μπορεί να κάνει η Κίνα.» (Ben Schreer, IISS)Ενώ στην Ευρώπη οι προβολείς είναι στραμμένοι στον πόλεμο στην Ουκρανία, οι ΗΠΑ επικεντρώνονται στην Κίνα και προσπαθούν να ευαισθητοποιήσουν σχετικά τους εταίρους τους στο ΝΑΤΟ.Γιατί οι σχέσεις ΗΠΑ - Κίνας βρίσκονται σε τόσο χαμηλό σημείο; Πώς τοποθετείται η Ευρώπη ανάμεσά τους; Πώς η Κίνα επηρεάζει τον Ινδο-Ειρηνικό, παράλληλα και την μακρινή Ευρώπη; Πόσο σημαντικές είναι οι πρόσφατες διαδηλώσεις στην Κίνα;Η Μαριλίζα Αναστασοπούλου φιλοξενεί στο podcast «Τι Κόσμος» τον Δρ. Ben Schreer*, εκτελεστικό διευθυντή στο Βερολίνο του Διεθνούς Ινστιτούτου Στρατηγικών Σπουδών (IISS) και συζητούν τις επικίνδυνες σχέσεις της Κίνας με τη Δύση. *https://www.iiss.org/people/european-security-and-defence/ben-schreerΤο podcast «Τι κόσμος» υποστηρίζεται από τη Διεύθυνση Διεθνούς Διπλωματίας του ΝΑΤΟ.