Altamar - Navigating the High Seas of Global Politics

In a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, alliances are changing fast. The US, Russia, and China are using their influence to rally support from previously neutral countries. Increasingly, nations -- especially developing nations -- are forced to pick a side. Is non-alignment possible in an increasingly polarized world? Who are the fence sitters, and how long can they hedge their bets? The Altamar hosts are joined by Matias Spektor, founder and professor at the School of International Relations at Fundacao Getulio Vargas. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines the history of the Non-Aligned Movement. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Several years into Brexit, the country has not found its footing politically, economically, and in its very soul. The UK is working to rebuild relationships with Europe while dealing with renewed calls for independence from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The economy has fared better than expected, even though inflation has resulted in a deep cost-of-living crisis. Rising economic inequality and anti-immigration sentiments add to the uncertainty. The Altamar hosts are joined by Jon Sopel, former award-winning BBC journalist and television personality. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines unfavorable youth views on the monarchy and economy. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine eroded the concept of neutrality as an effective policy in a polarized world. That’s especially true for countries in close geographic proximity to Russia. Recently, Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, ending 100 years of neutrality. With 830 miles of border between Russia and Finland, NATO’s newest addition changes the strategic balance in Europe. These major geopolitical shifts are likely to outlast the actual Russian invasion of Ukraine. What does that mean for the global world order? The Altamar hosts are joined by Mika Sinuhe Wallinheimo, Finnish Member of Parliament since 2011. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines the increasingly conservative youth vote in Finland and Sweden. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

These days, Mexico is one contradiction after another. For example, President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador – or AMLO, as he is called – declared a rhetorical war on the private sector, yet the economy is holding on pretty well – at least for now. On the tourism front, it’s one of the world’s booming tourist destinations, despite travel advisories warning of drugs and crime at popular destinations. And on trade, the government is on a protectionist streak, yet the North American Free Trade Agreement was renegotiated. What’s really going on in Mexico? The Altamar hosts are joined by Jorge Guajardo, former Mexican diplomat and global savant. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines issues at the border between the US and Mexico. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

COVID-19 turned many workplaces and schools into virtual or hybrid environments. Artificial intelligence has become part of daily life with new products such as Chat GPT. The UK just had a hugely successful 4-day workweek trial. With all of these new developments, what is the future of work? But not every industry or every country will transform in the same way. We discuss what skills are needed, where and how we work, who will be the winners and losers, and, of course, how much of the world will actually change at all. Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Dany Bahar, an associate professor at Brown University and nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines inequalities in the service industry. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Nigeria’s presidential vote constituted one of the most closely watched and significant elections of the year. One of the world’s top oil producers, Nigeria has suffered political and economic upheaval since its independence from the UK in 1960. In lead up to this election, young people were galvanized, and many hoped for change. But then, the election was defined by a small margin, low turnout, and rampant corruption. There were widespread accounts of voter irregularities, sporadic violence at polling stations, disorderly delays, and other logistical issues. Why doesn’t the enthusiasm for change actually bring change to Nigeria? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Ayisha Osori, a Nigerian lawyer, international development consultant, and politician. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines the rise of Nigeria’s galvanized youth. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Country rankings – whether it’s about the economy, democracy, or environmental standards – are important for a country’s reputation. The Economist produces its annual Economic Rankings, which look at several economic factors to assess economic stability. Since COVID, the process of “measuring” countries has been turned upside down. The 2022 Economist Economic Ranking is a good example of the confusion. In the ranking, Turkey, on the verge of dictatorship and with sky-high inflation, ranks well above the US. Colombia was higher than Denmark. And Greece was the #1 economically successful country in the world. What determines these rankings at a time of deep economic uncertainties? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Callum Williams, senior economics writer at The Economist. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines Greece’s rise in several other rankings. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

OSINT is the gathering and analysis of publicly available data from unlimited and all-encompassing sources. This new tool is shaping the frontlines of war, terror, and other geopolitical threats. Open Source Intelligence is a tool, and like any tool, its purpose and morality depend on how it’s used. Analysts use open sources to find illegal activity and identify threats. Bad actors use it to plan and target networks through hacking and cyberterrorism. Ukraine has used geo-location from Russian soldiers sending pictures back home to figure out the location of Russian troops. Companies benefit from it in employee screening, research, and analytics. OSINT is changing the nature of geopolitical threats – and the defense against them. How will this powerful tool be used next? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Arthur Bradley, Senior OSINT Analyst at Tech Against Terrorism. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines how open sources have changed the way we all consume news. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Biodiversity is crucial for our planet’s food security, climate resilience, supply chains, and our economy. Half of global GDP relies on nature. Governments are scrambling to create policies on conservation – is it too little too late? Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity. It has growing economic value as most industries rely on healthy ecosystems. Companies are paying closer attention to biodiversity and environmental, social, and governance initiatives have become mainstream. After decades of inaction, international agreements and regulations are slowly becoming building blocks to a more sustainable world. Will this slow building of a protective wall suffice? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Collin O’Mara, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines strategies to unlock financing for conservation and nature-based solutions.

News around the world centered on the violent protests in Brazil by those who rejected election results and sought to overthrow the government following the presidential transition (sound familiar?). The riots were – at best – a collapse of military preparedness or – at worst – included the help and connivance of the military and business elites. How stable is Brazil? Will another shoe drop? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Ricardo Sennes, a political analyst and Brazil expert. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines how the Brazilian insurrection is yet more proof of the failure to regulate social media. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

2022 put energy in the headlines nearly every day. The list of interlocking energy issues is huge: Europe’s spiraling prices and gas shortages, the war in Ukraine and the cutoff of Russia’s oil and gas from world markets, canceling Nordstream 2, the rift between the US and the Saudis, COP 27 and the green energy transition to renewables are only a few of the issues that will spill over into this new year. – to name just a few. Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by David Goldwyn, a globally recognized thought leader, educator, and policy innovator in energy security. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines two challenges for the global green energy transition. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

The big issues of our time transcend borders, countries, and geographies. This past year, power has become more diffuse. Many leading western countries are stifled by crises and polarization. New players are asserting themselves, taking a slice of the power pie. We identified eight macrotrends: shifting demographics, economic uncertainty, China’s stagnation, the green energy transition, the uncertain future of tech, the rise of Africa, ‘everything-washing,’ and women’s rights. What’s Tom Friedman’s list? What do you think of our list? What did we miss? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Tom Friedman, internationally renowned author, reporter, and NYT columnist. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines our eighth trend – changes in women’s rights around the world. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

As the first championship in the Middle East, the Qatar World Cup is both historic and controversial. Notwithstanding numerous bribing allegations, Qatar was selected as the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup. And the political controversies have been on full display during the Cup – from LGBTQ rights to Iran’s protests, the world was watching. Are these political debates the new normal? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Nick Sprague, a sports analyst and tech entrepreneur who traveled to Doha for the World Cup. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines FIFA’s controversial decision not to allow players to wear arm bands in support of LGBTQ+ rights on the field in Doha. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister – Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu – is back with a new strategy. This time, Bibi aligned himself with hard-right extremist parties to clinch a victory in a narrow election. His new allies are the ultra-nationalist Religious Zionist Party, who have expressed racist and homophobic propaganda. Will this new coalition add even more instability to this historically tumultuous region? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Gil Tamary, Chief International News Editor for Israel's leading news Channel, News 13. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines Israeli youth’s move to the far right. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

There was a lot at stake in the American midterm elections. The loss of the House will greatly impact Biden’s ability to accomplish his agenda in his last two years as president. But, Republicans did not win nearly as big as expected. The red wave was a fizzle. Democrats held on in important races and some unexpected upsets that led to doubts about Trump’s capacity to endorse candidates. What are the elections’ key takeaways? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Paul Maslin, a leading pollster and campaign strategist. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines the Hispanic vote in the United States. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

The Brazilian presidential election was a bickering, contentious and rancorous race between two opposing views of Brazil. Lula and Bolsonaro have dominated the country’s political story for over a decade, one a veteran politician with allegations of corruption, both beloved and criticized. The other an autocratic, right-wing populist with little regard for institutions. After a brutal and dirty campaign, leftist leader Lula emerged as the winner by a narrow margin. Will Bolsonaro respect the results? And what does this election mean for Brazil? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Lourival Sant'Anna, a Senior Fellow at the Brazilian Center of International Relations (CEBRI) and a journalist and International Affairs Analyst at CNN Brazil. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines fake news surrounding the campaigns. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Shifting realities following Russia’s invasion have put Berlin in a tough position. Germany’s long history of trade and business with Russia has placed it deep into the crossfires of this conflict. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing an energy crisis and a difficult governing coalition at home while being criticized for not doing enough to help Ukraine. How is Germany’s relatively new Chancellor handling these new dynamic threats? How will Russia’s war change Germany? And what’s next for Europe? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Liana Fix, a Fellow for Europe at Council of Foreign Relations. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines private sector ties between Germany and Russia. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Giorgia Meloni will be Italy’s first woman leader and first rightwing Prime Minister since WWII. The rise of the Brothers of Italy party is a case study in the continued prominence of culture war politics and the implosion of centrist parties. Just how radical will Meloni’s government be? The country progressing under the steady, technocratic and respected leadership of Mario Draghi has just done a shocking U-turn. Italy just elected a coalition under the leadership of the far-right Brothers of Italy party. Giorgia Meloni will be the next Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, its first woman leader, and the first rightwing Prime Minister since WWII. While campaigning, she positioned herself as more moderate, backed away from the party’s neo-fascist roots. Meloni made anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant and anti-US comments, but has since moderated her tone to attract younger voters. She has also been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine and regularly criticizes Putin. However, other members of the incoming ruling coalition are vociferously pro-Putin. What will be the direction of the new Italian government? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Erik Jones, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines youth apathy and low voter turnout.

Immigration seems unsolvable in the United States. The number of immigrants crossing the border has been spiking since at least 2013, haunting several presidents. The Trump administration was criticized for being inhumane. The Biden administration took a friendlier stance, but border traffic has increased exponentially. To make a political point and burnish their right-wing credentials, the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona (and now Florida) are sending tens of thousands of migrants to cities such as Washington, DC, and New York. Beyond the political stunt, border states are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of incoming migrants. How does this issue get solved? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines the political fight around immigration in the United States. ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Western nations are struggling to cope with the onslaught of international and national crises from climate to a tide of authoritarianism. Developing countries have an even harder time as they face greater inequality with fewer resources to help their citizens. Government and international bodies have been unable to find lasting solutions to the economic, social, and political tensions. It’s time for bold ideas and strategic action. Lord Mark Malloch Brown, former UN deputy secretary general and UK government minister, thinks that the world needs a new Marshall Plan. Is an old success story a template for renewed action? Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Mark Malloch-Brown, president of the Open Society Foundations. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines public support for a large-scale global program. ----- Produced by Simpler Media