The Director's Chair

May 20 2024 6
The Director's Chair Podcast artwork

On The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute, speaks with political leaders and policy makers about their lives, their careers, and their views on the world. The Director's Chair is a podcast from the Lowy Institute.

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Kurt Campbell on China, Russia, AUKUS, and US foreign policy in Asia

May 20 2024 30 mins  
In the new episode of The Director’s Chair, the Lowy Institute’s Executive Director Michael Fullilove is joined by US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. They discuss Kurt Campbell’s new role in the State Department, American policy towards China, the relationship between Moscow and Beijing, Xi Jinping’s recent visit to France, Dr Campbell’s aims for the AUKUS pact,

David Lammy on the UK's foreign policy, Europe, China, AUKUS, the Windies and 'Big Ange'

May 06 2024 42 mins  
In this episode of The Director’s Chair, the Lowy Institute’s Executive Director Michael Fullilove is joined by UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy. They discuss David Lammy’s journey from cathedral chorister to the House of Commons, what kind of prime minister Keir Starmer would make, foreign policy under a Labour government, the UK’s relationship with Europe, China an

Leigh Sales on journalism, the United States and not interviewing Trump

Apr 17 2024 48 mins  
In the first episode of this new series of The Director’s Chair, the Lowy Institute’s Executive Director Michael Fullilove is joined by respected Australian journalist Leigh Sales. They discuss Leigh’s experience as a foreign correspondent in Washington, the shifts in American society that led to the rise of Donald Trump, why she still believes that journalists should be impa

Fareed Zakaria on the United States, China, India — and Henry Kissinger

Dec 17 2023 52 mins  
From Ukraine to the Middle East, we are confronted by serious challenges to peace and security. Meantime, the prospect of Donald Trump's return to the White House looms. Around the world there has been a startling rise in illiberalism. Fareed Zakaria joins Michael Fullilove on this episode of The Director’s Chair to discuss these issues, the state of the world today, and a life s

Eliot Cohen on Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, Trump — and Shakespeare

Nov 29 2023 32 mins  
In this episode, Michael Fullilove speaks with leading strategist and historian Eliot Cohen. They discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the intelligence failures that led to the 7 October attacks on Israel, the prospect of Trump returning to the White House, and why people who care about international politics should read Shakespeare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio

Shivshankar Menon on India, Narendra Modi, China, Australia, and Israel

Oct 08 2023 35 mins  
In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks to the leading Indian scholar and diplomat, Shivshankar Menon. They discuss Hamas’s attack on Israel, how India manages its relationship with China, and why he is an optimist about the relationship between India and Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kaja Kallas on Estonia’s support for Ukraine, resisting Russia and reinforcing global democracy

Aug 16 2023 30 mins  
In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks with Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia. They discuss Estonia’s strong support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion, the future of Russia in world affairs, and why democracies must work together to counter aggression and reinforce support for the international rules-based order. Kaja Kallas has

Henry Kissinger on leaders in history, the Ukraine war, and Australia's relationship with China

Dec 12 2022 27 mins  
In this episode of The Director's Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks with Dr Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser. They discuss the role of individuals in history, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the future of Australia's relationship with China. Dr Henry Kissinger was National Security Adviser to both the Nixon and Ford administrations, an

Sanna Marin on the Ukraine war, European security, and why Finland is joining NATO

Dec 02 2022 37 mins  
In this special episode of The Director's Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks with Sanna Marin, the Prime Minister of Finland. They discuss Finland's decision to join NATO, and the security challenges facing all of Europe as a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This conversation was recorded at a live event at the Lowy Institute on 2 December 2022. Sanna Marin was appointed

Sir Lawrence Freedman on the military lessons from Russia’s Ukraine war, and Australia’s strategic outlook

Nov 16 2022 37 mins  
In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks with Sir Lawrence Freedman, who is in Australia as the Lowy Institute’s 2022 Distinguished Fellow for International Security. Michael and Sir Lawrence discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the lessons it offers for military strategists around the world. They discuss the implications for China and Taiwan, and how