Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in his third five-year term as the nation's president, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the US. Nonresident senior fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.  

This episode originally aired on August 4, 2022. 

Reading List: 

• The Next Taiwan Strait Crisis Has Arrived, Paul Heer, The National Interest, August 2, 2022  

• Engagement With China Has Not Failed, Paul Heer, The National Interest, July 14, 2022  

• Understanding U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Paul Heer, The National Interest, October 20, 2020 

Dive into the world of lasting change with Deep Dish! Join host Brian Hanson and author Sascha Haselmayer in a captivating exploration of 'The Slow Lane.' We’ll uncover the secrets behind why instant solutions often miss the mark, and how embracing patience and strategic thinking can pave the way for sustainable transformation to address global challenges.

Reading List 

• The Slow Lane: Why Quick Fixes Fail and How to Achieve Real Change, Sascha Haselmayer & Anne-Marie Slaughter, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, July 18, 2023 

From Hamas to Russia to Iran, hostage-taking is on the rise once again and hostage diplomacy has entered that arsenal of foreign policy tools by countries around the world. This week, Northwestern University’s Dani Gilbert guides us through what is new, what has worked and failed in the past, and why countries need new ways to respond to hostage-taking today.  

Reading List: 

• Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different, Danielle Gilbert, Good Authority, Oct 13, 2023 

• Biden’s hostage diplomacy, explained, Danielle Gilbert, Good Authority, Sept 20, 2023 

• The Prisoners Dilemma, Danielle Gilbert, Foreign Affairs, Aug 24, 2022 

Deep Dish explores how America’s hyper partisan politics are impacting foreign policy actions. Author Jordan Tama shares revelations from his new book, while the Council’s Dina Smeltz unveils fresh survey data to expose how partisanship plays out in US foreign policy. 

Reading List: 

• Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy: Cooperation in a Polarized Age, Jordan Tama, Oxford University Press, September 1, 2023 

• Public Opinion Survey Reports, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing a seismic shift in power dynamics as nations like Japan, Australia, and the US forge a game-changing partnership to counter China's influence. The big question: could this lead to a new NATO for the Pacific? And what would that mean? Experts Michael Green and Karl Friedhoff dissect the motives, strategies, and potential outcomes. 

Reading List: 

• Never Say Never to an Asian NATO, Michael Green, Foreign Policy, September 6, 2023 

On Sunday, Poland’s opposition parties won a victory in the country’s general election signaling a radical change for the country. After emerging as a major EU success story, Poland’s politics shifted dramatically almost a decade ago, putting it on a nationalist path dominated by a far-right coalition. But now the country appears headed back in a pro-EU direction. Expert Monika Sus and host Lizzy Shackelford shed light on the country's shifting politics and changing role in the global landscape.

Deep Dish delves into the heart of the Gaza Strip. Expert Michael Merryman-Lotze and host Brian Hanson discuss its complex history, its people, the role of the region in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its place in the Israel-Hamas war that has shaken the world.

Related Content:

• 5 things you need to know about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza, Michael Merryman-Lotze, American Friends Service Committee, October 9, 2023 
• Martin Indyk on Breaking the Hamas-Israel Cycle of Violence, Deep Dish Podcast, May 20, 2021

How is energy insecurity shaping the world's power dynamics? From the urgency of collaboration to the delicate balance between environmental sustainability and national interests, guests Jason Bordoff and Meghan O'Sullivan offer a fresh perspective on the complexities of green energy underlying our modern global landscape.

Reading List 

• The Age of Energy Insecurity: How the Fight for Resources Is Upending Geopolitics, Jason Bordoff and Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2023 

Deep Dish demystifies the world of BRICS+ and delves into the intriguing expansion that is making waves in international diplomacy. Discover its origins and the significance behind its newest members. Atlantic Council’s Colleen Cottle joins host Lizzy Shackelford to explore the motivations, the dynamics at play, and its potential impact on the world stage. 

Reading List

• BRICS has invited 6 countries to join. What does this mean for the US and its allies?, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, Sep 08, 2023 

Can smart cities truly deliver on their promises of innovation and sustainability? On Deep Dish, author and winner of the Pattis Family Foundation Global Cities Book Award, John Lorinc joins host Brian Hanson to navigate the intersection of urban planning technology and ethical concerns in his book Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopias. 

Related Content: 

• Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopia, John Lorinc, Coach House Books, August 23, 2022 

• Meet the Pattis Family Foundation Global Cities Book Award winner and finalists and submit books for the 2024 award! 

• 2023 Pritzker Forum on Global Cities: Harnessing AI: Tools for Urban Leaders, Event, November 13-15, 2023 

• Your Data Were ‘Anonymized’? These Scientists Can Still Identify You, Gina Kolata, New York Times, July 23, 2019 

This episode is brought to you by UL Solutions. 

The expulsion of Muslim schoolgirls for refusing to remove their abayas serves as a stark reminder of France's ongoing struggle to balance its historical commitment to laïcité with its growing religious and cultural diversity. The Council’s Ariel Schwartz joins host Brian Hanson to explore laïcité’s historical roots, modern challenges, and global implications in contemporary society.