Out Of Order

In the second episode of Out of Order, GMF Fellows Amy Studdart, Andrew Small, and Peter Sparding take a look at China and its approach to the liberal international order. First, they discuss the so called “China shock" ˗ the analysis that China, as a massive rising economic power, has been one of the causal factors for the crisis in Western democracies, in particular by taking manufacturing jobs in some regions. They then analyze responses from the United States and Europe and wonder if, in some cases, the cures that are now being contemplated may be worse than the disease. Then the podcast looks at the question of interference in Western democracies and whether China is acting similar in this regard to other powers, such as Russia, and what the differences are. Finally, Amy, Andrew, and Peter contemplate the "contest for the future" and what it means if an illiberal power like China takes the lead in various technological areas, such as AI, space, genomics, and nano-tech.

In the pilot episode of Out of Order, GMF Fellows Rachel Tausendfreund, Amy Studdart, Hans Kundani, and Peter Sparding take a look at the political situation in Germany. Following the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom and the U.S. presidential elections in 2016, many observers saw Germany as the last man/woman standing. Some even went as far as to anoint German chancellor Angela Merkel to be the new defender of the liberal international order. Yet, a year later and following the German federal elections in fall of 2017, the country is struggling to form a new government, right wing populists have entered the Bundestag, and a debate has ensued about the future of Germany’s relationship with the United States. Rachel, Amy, Hans, and Peter discuss recent developments in Germany, explain why Germany may be caught between a rock and a hard place in its relationship to the U.S., and look at the implications for Europe and Germany’s role in the world. In the “Think or Tank” segment, all discussants are asked t