The Ukraine Series (The Military Dimension -- Part 2 of 2)

The Ukraine-Russia War, the largest armed conflict in Europe since WW2, will reach the 2-year mark on February 24, 2024. It’s a critical milestone to assess the overall progress and what lies ahead. We flew to Berlin for another in-depth and engaging conversation with Dr. Marina Miron of King’s College (London). We covered a wide range of topics including Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive (what went right/wrong), the key lessons learned, relative strengths and weaknesses, strategic and tactical factors, the rapid advances in drone warfare, NATO’s challenges and opportunities, PMCs and the overall outlook for 2024. We also discuss Russia’s broader war and multipronged effort in geopolitical realignment, information/cyber warfare and active measures. This is a conversation you need to hear. 

Join us for a special, holiday-themed episode of The Global List Podcast as we travel around the world – from Germany to Spain to Scotland to the Bahamas – to find the most interesting Christmas traditions, intriguing characters and fascinating customs. Our special guest is Alex Palmer, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas” as well as “The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World”. So grab some eggnog (or mulled wine), sit back and get ready for a Christmas journey unlike any other.

How do you tackle Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation in the age of Artificial Intelligence, Social Media, and Hyper Partisanship? What tools can be used to fight “Information Disorder”? Why is Finland unique in this respect and how can you effectively teach digital & media literacy? Join us as we travel to Spain for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Kari Kivinen, one of the leading global experts on Misinformation & Disinformation. Dr. Kivinen is the former Secretary-General of the European School system and the ex-Head of the French-Finnish School of Helsinki where he championed the Finnish Curriculum, which teaches students how to identify Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda from the primary school level.  

More than ever before, global companies are forced to deal with critical issues in the supply chain such as forced labor and conflict minerals. For example, the average smartphone contains more than 40 different minerals including four “conflict minerals" (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold). Cobalt, a critical component in lithium-ion batteries, is mostly produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has struggled with periodic violence and human rights abuses. So, how can companies (especially manufacturers) guarantee responsible sourcing, gain visibility into the supply chain, effectively manage risks and ensure sustainability? How can they keep up with emerging regulations as well as stakeholder expectations? As part of our “Sustainable Business” series, we traveled to Washington D.C. and the DRC to speak with Jamie Wallisch of Assent on the key trends, challenges, and opportunities.

How do you get inside the mind of an extremist? What are the building blocks of radicalization and what does de-radicalization look like? How is technology fueling extremism and what’s behind current trends in global and domestic terrorism? In this first episode of season 2, we fly to London for an eye-opening conversation with Prof. Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, King’s College, and founder of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. It has been 22 years since the tragic September 11th attacks and launch of the Global War on Terror but there are old challenges and new threats to contend with – abroad and at home. Join us as we dig deeper into a complex topic that affects us all.

The global water crisis is inextricably linked to climate change and it is intensifying. Currently, 771 million people in the world (1 in 10) lack access to clean water. By 2050, five billion people will face water shortages. So, can you “harvest” water to meet growing demand? How exactly can you “grow” H2O? It is an intriguing concept and the perfect topic for the season 1 finale of The Global List Podcast. This time around, we travel to Melbourne, Australia, to sit down with Terry Paule, Co-Founder and CEO of Botanical Water Technologies. Join us for an informative and thought-provoking conversation and find out why global water security is so critical; how Botanical Water Technologies is tackling the water crisis from India to California; and get the story behind the world’s first blockchain water trading platform.

The world of cryptocurrency continues to draw a lot of interest as well as controversy. But it is time to go beyond sensational headlines for some clear-minded, expert analysis. What are the mechanics of the blockchain infrastructure? What does decentralization mean? How did the banking crisis influence crypto's emergence and how has crypto evolved over the years? What will drive mainstream adoption and which new innovations are on the horizon? In this episode of The Global List, we travel to England for an informative conversation with Prof. Christopher Carr, a  Lecturer based at the University of Exeter, specializing in cryptography and blockchain technology.

Lithium has emerged as the “metal of the future”. It is the critical component in lithium-ion batteries, powering everything from smartphones to Electric Vehicles (EVs). The low-carbon future requires lithium. But which countries are poised to lead the way in lithium mining and what are the challenges and opportunities? Can supply keep up with rising demand? What does the future hold and who will lead the lithium revolution? Chile, which holds the world’s largest lithium reserves, is the first stop in our new “Future Metals” series. We flew to Santiago for an informative conversation with Daniel Weinstein, Partner at Urzua Abogados, covering Chile’s lithium potential, mining experience, unique advantages, and a little-known Cold War regulation that holds the key to the future.

This is the second part of our interview with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College (Defence Studies Department – Centre for Military Ethics) focusing on the military dimension of the Ukraine-Russia war. This part of our conversation focuses on the critical, next phase of the war and includes an analysis of tank warfare & air warfare; NATO’s ability to support Ukraine and adapt to the varied needs on the ground; the changing contours of the battlefield in East and South Ukraine; the critical window between now and the delivery of new weapons; and the key geopolitical and economic factors in the background. What role can Leopard 2 tanks play in the months ahead? Can fighter jets be deployed effectively? What are the pros and cons? What are the realistic expectations? Listen to this episode and find out what.

This marks the start of a new series focused on the military, political and humanitarian dimensions of the Ukraine-Russia War. In this series opener focused on the military dimension, we spoke with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College (Defence Studies Department – Centre for Military Ethics). This in-depth conversation covers a wide range of topics including contrasting modes of military leadership; early expectations versus outcomes; the critical reasons behind Ukraine’s performance; Russia’s under-performance and lingering issues; NATO’s role, challenges and lessons learned; cyber/information warfare; the ever-changing battlefield & weapons; the geopolitical “war beyond the war”; and the key factors to consider in the critical, next phase.