The Missing Piece [International]

Dr. Michael Patrick and Will had an another amazing chat, regarding the current affairs. In this latest episode, we talked about the trade war between China and the US, the possibilities of Xi-Trump Summit, and more. Please make sure to follow our channel for all the exciting episodes.

There is no surprise that wars can bring additional financial burden and political division to any nation today. After seeing the political fall-out between the two parties in the US, which was majorly related to the war in Ukraine, little by little, the US is sending strong signals to the world - US is done with involving itself with unnecessary wars. How should we understand the real purposes of avoiding wars today? Should the US put more efforts in handling domestic conflict? Dr. Dan Reiter is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Political Science at Emory University. His scholarly interests include interstate conflict, gender and international relations, civil-military relations, alliances, military effectiveness, public opinion and foreign policy, war termination, and others.

It is rather unfathomable to accept the fact that Ukraine could lose the war to Russia, given the fact that Russia has not given up on fighting. It is one thing to preserve the national dignity, it is another critical factor to know that Russia does not accept any compromise. More than 1000 days, we are seeing how both nations are experiencing somewhat fatigue from fighting. Are we seeing any "peace-deal" soon? How should European nations react to the fall-out between Ukraine and the US? Is it too late for Ukraine to "restart?"

After the White House fallout between US President Donald the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, things are not going so well for Ukraine right now. While waiting for the response from Russia, no one knows what will happen to the war in Ukraine. In this conversation, Dr. Harold James, a well-known scholar, author joins the show to discuss the war in Ukraine and why it is crucial for China to pay attention to the details. Dr. Harold James, the Claude and Lore Kelly Professor in European Studies at Princeton University, is Professor of History and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School, and an associate at the Bendheim Center for Finance. His books include a study of the interwar depression in Germany, The German Slump (1986); an analysis of the changing character of national identity in Germany, A German Identity 1770-1990 (1989); International Monetary Cooperation Since Bretton Woods (1996), and The End of Globalization (2001), which is available in 8 languages. He was also coauthor of a history of Deutsche Bank (1995), which won the Financial Times Global Business Book Award in 1996, and he wrote The Deutsche Bank and the Nazi Economic War Against the Jews (2001). His most recent books include Family Capitalism, Harvard University Press, 2006.

Donald Trump, Victor Orban, Narendra Modi, Rodrigo Duterte, what do those leaders have in common? The answer is rather simple - they all represent modern day the characters of nationalism. As we continue to pay attention to the political changes and economic shifts, we need to understand how nationalism is making waves across the continents. Historically speaking, what was the relationship between nationalism and culture? Dr. Eric Storm is a specialist in Spanish history of the 19th and 20th centuries. He also conducted extensive research into the construction of regional identities in France, Spain and Germany between 1890 and 1940. At present, I mainly publish about nationalization processes in a comparative perspective. Dr. Storm focuses on high culture (art, architecture) and more banal forms of nationalism (tourism, world fairs, domestic sphere, cuisine). His latest book is called "Nationalism: A World History."

Historically speaking, the concept of populism has long been a major concern for all nations, especially among the Latin American region. Looking at what is happening in the US, Hungary, and Europe, more political scientists believe that it is high time that we address the real threat from populism leaders today. If we desire to protect our democracy, it is a must for us to understand how populism continues to spread, and why it is critical for us to eliminate its presence. Guest: Kurt Weyland is Mike Hogg Professor in Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin (kweyland@austin.utexas.edu). Based on research conducted in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela, he has published many journal articles, book chapters, and seven books. One of his amazing book is called Democracy’s Resilience to Populism’s Threat.

Before turning into a shouting match between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, both parties hoped to reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine. It is no surprise that Trump played his card close to the chest, while Zelenskyy refused to barge. Meanwhile, expert believes that it is high time that Russia examines its own military shortage and political chaos, too. After the heated exchange, what is the future for Ukraine? How much is the sacrifice for Ukraine not to be a member of NATO? Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as “Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires” and “Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective.” Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcn9R6zigqqIGeqrM4kr-0A

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit the White House soon to discuss the peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, hoping the US government to figure out a reasonable deal to end the war. Meanwhile, it came as a surprise that North Korean government continues to send soldiers to the frontlines to help the Russians. The 2nd wave of the support from North Korea bears deeper meaning, regarding the political collaboration between the Russian government and the North Korean government. According to Dr. Jennifer Mathers, Senior Lecturer in International Politics in the Aberystwyth University, North Korean government is expecting more. Dr. Jenny Mathers received her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College in the United States and her MPhil and DPhil from Oxford University. She joined the Department in 1992 while completing her DPhil thesis on Soviet ballistic missile defence policy from Stalin to Gorbachev. Her teaching and research spans two broad areas: Russian politics and security and gender and war.

Albert Einstein is one of the most profound and irreplaceable scientists in the world, experience how his inventions indeed contributed human civilization. As part of our new series, Will invited Dr. Kieran Fox, neuroscientist and the author of this amazing book called "I am part of infinity. - The Spiritual Journey of Albert Einstein," to discuss the unknown aspect of Einstein. Watch The Missing Piece for weekly news, plus special coverage. https://open.spotify.com/show/1sCv2FRl8yAI1ri8X4T4ss

It came as a big surprise that President Donald Trump designates portion of his presidency to cultivate the relationships with the Christian community, since more youths are slowly walking away from their Christian commitments. Looking back, over the years, previous leaders in America placed their faiths in God, as the unexpected crisis took place. It indeed strengthened their walks with the Lord. How important is it to understand faith among our American leaders? How did they set examples for us today? William J. Federer is a Senior Fellow at the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship a ministry of Evangelism Explosion International. A nationally known speaker and best-selling author of over 20 books. His new book is called "Prayers and Presidents." You can find him on https://americanminute.com/

The Editorial Board of Washington Post recently came out with one article, highlighting the importance of democracy, as well as believing the fact that it is America's job to spread democracy around the world. Some argue that it is getting more and more difficult to understand the concept of democracy, let alone ensuring its wider impact and its effectiveness. Iran, one of the critical nations in the Middle East is undergoing a major political transformation. Some argue that President Donald Trump could reshape the Iran-US relations, while maintaining the sanctions upon this nation. In this brand-new episode, we will discuss the details. Jamsheed K. Choksy is a Distinguished Professor, former Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, former Chair of the Department of Central Eurasian Studies, and current Director of the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center (US Title VI) at Indiana University - Bloomington. In 2008, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to the National Council on the Humanities and served as a member of the council until 2019.

According to the data which was released by the Chinese government, Chinese consumers spent way more money than American counterparts, despite the economic and political differences. Trump's tariff on Chinese commodities might hurt more American businesses, rather than Chinese business owners. However, there are more bigger concerns behind those numbers. In this episode, we will discuss all the details, regarding the latest trade war which was initiated by President Trump. Dr. Su Xiaochen is a freelance journalist specializing in social, economic, and political issues in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as a US college application mentor at the New Zealand-based global educational consultancy Crimson Education.

Ken Martin, newly elected chair of the Democratic National Committee promised to create new directions and better strategies for the party. Martin might be hopeful about the party, however, he still needs to think about dealing with international issues, especially how President Trump placed multiple heavy tariffs upon Canada, Mexico and China. Is Martin ready for the tasks? How should we understand the future relationship between Trump and China? Dr. Michael Patrick joins the show to discuss all the details.

More than 1000 days, we are still seeing the war in Ukraine, as well as well what is happening in Gaza. During the campaigning, President Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Was Trump bluffing or he really had the power to end the war? For decades, ending the war has been one major troubling task for any leader, especially for the west. In this episode, we will discuss how Trump could end the wars, and why Ukraine should be confident about Trump's political promises.

Isabelle Hau, author of a new book “Love to Learn: The Transformative Power of Care and Connection in Early Education," joins the show to discuss how modern day education in schools are facing more challenges than ever. Plus, as parents, why is it essential to form relationships with children, rather than focusing on the outcome? Is it more meaningful to teach kids the concepts of compassion and empathy?

"Is China ready for Donald Trump?" This has been one of the most fascinating and actively discussed questions across the world. Starting on Monday, President Trump is going to start his administration officially, while the world anticipates how China will react to Trump's tariff on Chinese commodities. How about the "Tik Tok Ban?" Will Trump work with the Chinese government to ease the tension? Dr. Michael Patrick, an international journalist and a well-known author. Patrick has been covering international news for decades, especially the relationship between China and the US.

If one thing is certain to happen in 2025, that would be the most obvious one - President-elect Donald Trump is going to change the war in Ukraine. More than three years, we are seeing the war in Ukraine, sadly. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has no signs of ending the war, while the entire international community ponders the next move from the US. How should we understand the outcome of the war? Will Trump end the war by making strategic moves? Is 2025 going to be about Ukraine and Russia? Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as “Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires” and “Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective.”

It is the beginning of the year, and people are very much concerned about what we can anticipate of the China-US relationship, politically and economically. There is no denying that both nations are gearing up for something much stronger, either the continuation of the trade war, or political disputes. No one would like to see the failures of either of the nations. How should we understand the complexity today? How much do we believe that China is going to make the first move? Emily Conrad is a PhD candidate in international politics at Fudan University in Shanghai and a fellow with the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations. She is a former journalist, she published her first book, The Faithless? The Untold Story of the Electoral College, in 2020.

On October 6, 2024, Tunisia held the nation's first presidential elections since adopting a new constitution in 2022. Three candidates were on the ballot, and the winning candidate was elected to a five-year term. What will happen to this nation in 2025? Will democracy prevail while authoritarianism is on the rise? Sabina Henneberg is a 2023-24 Soref Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Junior Research Program. Author of the 2020 book Managing Transition: The First Post-Uprising Phase in Tunisia and Libya (Cambridge), she has also worked as a lecturer at American University’s School of International Service. Dr. Henneberg has wide-ranging experience in the analysis of international affairs for government agencies and private industry. She has worked with Libya-Analysis LLC, Hanover Research, American Institutes for Research, and Creative Associates International. She has served as a country specialist for Amnesty International’s North Africa Coordination Group. She was previously a post-doctoral fellow in the African Studies Program at the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies and has taught as an adjunct faculty member in the School of International Service at American University.

It is the end of the year, and the world continues to be puzzled about the ongoing political changes in Iran, given the fact that the current administration is looking for BIG changes. Some experts believe that Iran's new approach might involve diplomatic strategies and peaceful dialogues with the west, while other hold different opinions. Should we be positive about the upcoming changes? How much should we believe Iran's new peace deal? Professor Jamsheed Choksy is a Distinguished Professor, former Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, former Chair of the Department of Central Eurasian Studies, and current Director of the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center at Indiana University - Bloomington. Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcn9R6zigqqIGeqrM4kr-0A