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Visit us at Network2020.org.  The U.S. military’s recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere. This unprecedented intervention has not only removed a long-standing head of state but has also challenged established international norms regarding sovereignty and the employment of military force. Beyond the immediate headlines, the regional fallout remains deeply uncertain as neighboring nations may recalibrate their security postures and diplomatic ties in response to this sudden shift. What does the capture of Maduro mean for regional stability and the political cohesion of the Americas? What are the broader implications of the U.S. action and its new foreign policy approach to the region? How might volatile political dynamics in Venezuela impact U.S. strategic objectives? Join us for a discussion with Dr. Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House and a leading expert on Latin American politics and foreign policy when he explores the broader implications of the U.S. military action in Venezuela and its potential repercussions on regional stability. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Since the end of World War II, the global order has been shaped largely by a Western liberal system led by the United States. Yet, recent developments, from the release of the U.S. National Security Strategy to the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces have underscored what many observers of international affairs argue is the end of that liberal, rules-based order. At the same time, rapid technological advancement and the rise of other powers, particularly China, further complicate the picture, dispersing power, shifting economic and political ties, and, in some cases invigorating and redirecting global institutions. How dead is the U.S.-led rules-based order? What, if anything, might replace it? And what might such a transition look like? Will the emerging international system be relatively peaceful and cooperative, or defined by heightened competition and conflict? What roles will major powers play in shaping a new order or disorder or is reform of the existing rules-based system still possible? Finally, will the United States continue to act as a global enforcer, or retreat into a more unilateral and unpredictable role? Join us for a panel discussion featuring Professor Amitav Acharya, UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance, and Distinguished Professor at the School of International Service at American University, and author of The Once and Future World Order: Why Global Civilization Will Survive the Decline of the West; Professor Daniel Drezner, Academic Dean and Distinguished Professor of International Politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; and Professor Stacie Goddard, the Betty Freyhof Johnson ’44 Professor of Political Science and Associate Provost for Wellesley in the World at Wellesley College. Together, they will explore these questions and assess what the future may hold for the international order. Music by Alex_Kizenkov from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The U.S. dollar has long anchored global trade, investment, and financial stability. Yet, in recent years, forces both within and outside of the United States are rethinking dollar dominance. President Trump’s proposed Mar-a-Lago Accord aims to devalue the dollar while retaining its global reserve status. Simultaneously, threats to Federal Reserve independence and Washington’s growing debt are eroding the value of the dollar, which is down over 5% in the last year vs other major currencies. Internationally, the BRICS nations are expanding trade in local currencies, to reduce exposure to U.S. sanctions and policies. These trends are prompting policymakers to reexamine the role of the dollar in the global economy. Is the era of uncontested dollar dominance ending? What would a more multipolar monetary order mean? Join us for a discussion with Dr. Otaviano Canuto, Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and Former Vice-President and Executive Director of the World Bank, and Dr. Jeffrey A. Frankel, Professor of Capital Formation and Growth at Harvard Kennedy School and former member of the Council of Economic Advisors. This conversation will unpack the drivers of de-dollarization, assess the real prospects for BRICS and other challengers, and explore the policy choices that will shape the future of the international monetary system. Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The global economy has entered an age of confusion, roiled by trade wars and technology as it gained its post-pandemic footing. The global rise of populism and an AI-fueled market surge further complicate the story. The result? A world that feels less predictable, less secure, and far harder to govern. What explains the breakdown of the old order? Can the U.S. and China coexist without destabilizing the global system? What is the future of democratic capitalism ? Where do tariffs and industrial policy help or harm? And what kind of international framework could emerge from this era of disorder? Join us for a conversation with Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times, as we examine what a world in economic disorder means for the future of growth, stability, and international cooperation. Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  On January 3rd, U.S. forces launched a military strike on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and flying him to New York to face federal narco-terrorism charges. President Trump announced the U.S. would "run the country" until a transition of power could take place. This episode was recorded before those events—but the conversation helps explain how we got here. Venezuela was once the wealthiest country in Latin America. Between 2012 and 2020, it experienced the largest peacetime economic collapse ever documented—a 71% decline in per capita GDP. After Hugo Chávez built a system dependent on oil revenue, the crash in global oil prices triggered an economic freefall. Nicolás Maduro's increasingly authoritarian rule, combined with hyperinflation, shortages, and soaring crime, drove roughly a quarter of the population to flee. As the crisis deepened, the United States responded with sweeping economic sanctions, framing drug trafficking and mass migration as national security threats. How did Venezuela reach this point? What role did U.S. policy play in the crisis? And was there ever a path toward stability that didn't end in military confrontation? Today we're joined by Francisco Rodríguez, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and Faculty Affiliate at the University of Denver's Korbel School of International Studies. He is the founder of Oil for Venezuela and author of The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012–2020. Music by SPmusic from Pixabay

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Africa sits at the center of the global energy transition. From cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo to major infrastructure initiatives like the Lobito Corridor, the continent’s mineral wealth—an estimated 30% of the world’s supply—is now indispensable to green-energy supply chains. As global powers compete for influence and investments, African governments, private-sector leaders, and human rights organizations face mounting pressure to ensure this moment leads to long-term development rather than a repeat of extractive history. How are geopolitics impacting critical mineral competition in Africa? What safeguards are necessary to protect communities facing the social and environmental impacts of mineral extraction? And how can investment models, regulatory reforms, and geopolitical positioning converge to turn mineral wealth into inclusive and sustainable development? Join us for a conversation with Mr. Emmanuel Umpula Nkumba, Executive Director of AFREWATCH; and Mr. Christian-Géraud Neema, nonresident scholar in the Carnegie Africa Program and Africa Editor at the China-Global South Project. Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The Arctic is rapidly moving to the center of global politics. Melting ice is opening new shipping lanes and granting access to vast, untapped natural resources. Russia has expanded its military footprint along its Arctic coastline and deepened regional cooperation with Beijing, while the United States and its allies are bolstering their strategic presence through joint drills and upgrades to security infrastructure. Greenland, with its valuable minerals and strategic location between North America and Europe, has also drawn renewed international interest. As the Arctic transforms, will it become a domain of cooperation or competition? And what will the consequences be for trade, energy security, and environmental sustainability? Join us for a discussion with Pavel Devyatkin, Senior Associate and Leadership Group member at The Arctic Institute; Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Researcher in the Global Security and Worldviews unit at the Danish Institute for International Studies and Jennifer Spence, Director of the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.  Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

For the context of this conflict, see our earlier episode here: Revisiting Sudan’s Conflict: Context and Implications Sudan is in the midst of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, a catastrophe that has become both a moral and political failure. More than 12 million people have been displaced and over 150,000 lives lost as violence, famine, and chaos engulf the country. Since 2010, using satellite imagery and open-source data, Nathaniel Raymond and his team have uncovered evidence of intentional village burnings, attacks on humanitarian facilities, and mass civilian displacement, and even, at times, predicted future assaults by the Sudanese Armed Forces. His work later contributed to the U.S. Department of State’s genocide determination in Sudan. As the conflict continues, what does the situation on the ground look like now? And how is technology reshaping humanitarian response, uncovering hidden atrocities and pushing the world toward accountability when traditional diplomacy fails? Join us for a conversation with Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University’s School of Public Health and a pioneer in using satellite and open-source intelligence to document war crimes. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

 Visit us at Network2020.org.  The architecture of international engagement is shifting, and subnational diplomacy is taking center stage. As federal governments scale back traditional foreign policy and funded diplomacy, cities and states are emerging as more prominent actors on the global stage, forging direct international ties to address global issues such as climate change, migration, trade, and public health. As local leaders are increasingly shaping the frameworks of cooperation once reserved for national capitals, this trend raises important questions: How might cities and states recalibrate aid and international engagement to reflect their own priorities? What lessons can be drawn from U.S. cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta as they assert themselves on the global stage? This panel will examine what it means for New York and other cities to be more global in this changing landscape and will explore how public-private partnerships, business engagement, and city-level climate diplomacy are giving new contours to international engagement. Join us for a discussion with Pablo Fernández Marmissolle-Daguerre, Assistant Secretary-General for Partnerships at the United Cities and Local Governments; Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Senior Vice President at the United States Council for International Business and former Deputy Commissioner in the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs and current, and Dr. Raffaele Marchetti, Professor in International Relations at the Department of Political Science and the School of Government of LUISS and the Director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies.   Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay 

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Over the past decade, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have experienced a resurgence of authoritarian practices. Leaders have expanded executive power, undermined judicial independence, curtailed press freedom, and increased the use of mass incarceration and militarized policing—all under the banner of security and stability. These developments echo past dictatorships but take on new forms in today’s political and technological context, connecting local governance to broader global trends of democratic backsliding. What tactics are modern authoritarian regimes using, and how do they differ from past dictatorships? How can civil society and international actors push back against democratic erosion? What lessons can be learned from countries on a different trajectory, like Guatemala? And what do these trends mean for the future of democracy in the region and globally? Join us for a discussion with Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, and Marc Edelman, Professor of Anthropology at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center where we will delve into these questions and more.  Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org. U.S. higher education is more than just a domestic institution— it is a pillar of the country’s foreign policy and global engagement. By attracting students, scholars, and researchers from around the world, American universities have helped shape generations of leaders, built lasting international networks, and boosted the U.S. economy and labor market. Yet, recent immigration and visa policies under the Trump administration have caused a 15 percent drop in international enrollment and the U.S. is projected to lose $7 billion in revenue and 60,000 jobs as a result. This shift has also exposed questions about underlying national security concerns among critics of the international approach of U.S. higher education. How should U.S. universities balance national security concerns with attracting top talent? What are the implications for U.S. influence if students take their ambitions elsewhere? What other approaches can universities take in order to retain the U.S. edge in a rapidly evolving global education landscape? Join us for a discussion with Dr. Madeline Zavodny, First Coast Systems Professor of Economics at the University of North Florida and Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics, and Professor John Aubrey Douglass, Senior Research Fellow of Public Policy and Higher Education at the Center for Studies in Higher Education at UC Berkeley. This conversation will provide insights into higher education’s role at the intersection of U.S. global influence, its economy, and security. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The United States has long been recognized as the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), a technology transforming trade, foreign policy, and military strategy. China, once seen as years behind, is rapidly closing the gap, most recently with the launch of DeepSeek. With competition heating up in both chip technology and AI innovation, Washington has sought to maintain its edge through export controls and a recently unveiled AI Action Plan. As the world heads into a new technological era, will the U.S. be able to sustain its AI dominance? What advantages might allow Beijing to overtake Washington? And what are the ramifications for the rest of the world, particularly if there’s a split into competing AI systems? Join us for a discussion with Janet Egan, Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, Owen J. Daniels is the Associate Director of Analysis and an Andrew W. Marshall Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET); and Sam Winter-Levy, Fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  In June, strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran’s nuclear facilities reignited one of the most dangerous questions in global security: how do you stop a country determined to keep its nuclear options open? What followed has tested not only Iran’s willingness to abide by international limits, but also the credibility of the entire nonproliferation system. In this episode, Kelsey Davenport, Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, explains how Iran’s program reached this point, what the strikes may have changed inside Tehran, and why the erosion of global arms control frameworks makes this moment so precarious. She also explores what tools—old and new—might still contain the risk of a wider nuclear cascade. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Sudan’s war—between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, sparked in April 2023—has entered a deadlier phase. Recent attacks on the Abu Shouk camp near El-Fasher, a widening cholera outbreak, and aid blockages that leave much of the country in need have pushed the crisis to a breaking point. We’re re-running this episode to explain how a promised transition to civilian rule unraveled into open war, how Darfur’s past atrocities and broader questions of accountability continue to shape today’s violence, and how outside powers have amplified the fight. These headlines aren’t the focus of the original conversation—but they make its analysis newly urgent. Hosted by Network 20/20, in conversation Mr. Sami Hamdi, an expert on the MENA region and the Managing Director of the International Interest, a global risk and intelligence company. Music by StudioKolomna from Pixabay.

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The U.S. has slapped a 25% tariff on most Indian exports and threatened further measures over India’s continued oil and arms deals with Russia. India isn’t backing down—defending those ties as “time-tested” while rejecting an American offer of F‑35 fighter jets. To make sense of this standoff, we’re revisiting a 2023 conversation on India’s foreign policy dilemma: Can the world’s largest democracy maintain strategic autonomy while deepening ties with the U.S. and other major powers? How does India balance its historic relationship with Moscow against its rivalry with Beijing? And what role will domestic politics play in shaping India’s future on the global stage? This episode unpacks the forces driving India’s choices—and why its push for sovereignty could redefine alliances, trade, and security across the Indo-Pacific. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.