Show Notes
In episode two of The State of the World, Talking Policy host Lindsay Morgan speaks with Neil Narang and Brandon Kinne about the evolving nature of war and peace in an era where great power competition exists alongside terrorism, non-state armed groups, rebel organizations, and transnational violence. Neil is associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Research Director at IGCC. Brandon is an associate professor of political science at the University of California, Davis.
The State of the World is a special series on IGCC’s Talking Policy podcast that explores the biggest global challenges that will shape our future. The series is part of a suite of activities celebrating IGCC’s 40th anniversary. Since 1983, IGCC scholars from across the University of California and the UC-managed National Labs have used rigorous research, training, and policy engagement to improve policies and practices in ways that help reduce conflict and build a more peaceful world. To celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’ve created The State of the World, a Talking Policy miniseries featuring faculty from across the University of California on the biggest global challenges that will shape our future.
Archival audio used in this series is from NPR; the University of California, Irvine, audio recordings collection; Freesound.org; the Internet Archive; the Library of Congress; and the United States Government. Used with permission, where applicable. Any unauthorized duplication is strictly prohibited.
More from Talking Policy
Why do people believe the things they do, and how do those beliefs affect how they vote? In this second episode of our Talking Policy miniseries on U.S. elections, guest host Georgia Kernell is joined by professors Ben Bishin and Jennifer Merolla at the University of California, Riverside for a closer look at how group identities shape voters' attitudes and behaviors at the ballot box. They argue that political messaging that emphasizes a common plight—such as economic policy issues—may be the key to uniting a currently divided American public. This episode was recorded on September 15, 2026, with additional recording on October 14, 2026. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.
Political campaigns in the United States devote millions of dollars to advertising and media strategies in an attempt to influence voters. But can the media truly change the way voters see the world and what they do at the ballot box? In this first episode of a new Talking Policy miniseries on U.S. elections, guest host Georgia Kernell, a political scientist at UCLA, is joined by Stuart Soroka and Lynn Vavreck to examine the information environment surrounding U.S. elections, and how even the smallest persuasive effects or changes to the media ecosystem can lead to major impacts on the political landscape. This episode was recorded on April 2, 2026, with additional recording on October 8, 2026. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.
In September 2026, UC Press published the second IGCC-led issue of Current History, a century-old magazine of global affairs. The issue features a collection examining rising strains in civil-military relations in the United States and other democracies, where militaries are being pulled into undemocratic politics. On this episode of Talking Policy, host Lindsay Shingler speaks with two scholars of civil-military relations and contributing authors to the September issue, Rebecca Best and Lindsay Cohn, about the changing relationship between the U.S. military, political leadership, and the American public. They examine the forces driving the politicization of the armed forces; what the structure and traditions of the U.S. military reveal about its role in a democratic society; and how recent controversies—including the removal of senior military officers and the deployment of troops in American cities—are testing longstanding norms surrounding civilian control, military professionalism, and public trust in the armed forces. This episode was recorded on September 2, 2026. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
In July, IGCC hosted the 36th Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD) in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 1993 to reduce the risk of conflict in Northeast Asia and beyond, the convening brought together scholars and current and former officials from China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. What are the forces reshaping Northeast Asia’s security landscape—and how do they look from Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Moscow, and Washington? In this special episode of Talking Policy, host Lindsay Shingler sits down with an expert from each of the five countries represented at NEACD to explore the questions that animated this year’s discussions and what they reveal about the region’s changing geopolitical order. These interviews were recorded over the course of July 23-24, 2026, with additional recording on August 6, 2026. The episode has been edited for length and clarity.
In a moment when discussions about the shifting global order are crowded by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Persian Gulf; the rise of China; and the repositioning of the United States and Europe—the role of Africa in the international system is often overlooked. On this episode of Talking Policy, Stephan Haggard, IGCC research director and senior editor of Current History, speaks with Folashadé Soulé, a contributing author to the July 2026 issue of the UC Press journal that is now under the editorial management of IGCC. Soulé shows how African states have used diplomacy, regional organizations, and international law to advance sovereignty, challenge global power imbalances, and expand Africa’s influence on the global stage. This episode was recorded on July 7, 2026. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.