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  Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus

  Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Jeffrey Mankoff

  Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya at CSIS host the podcast show, Russian Roulette. In this episode, they are joined by Richard Giragosian and Jeffrey Mankoff, Distinguished Research Fellow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for Strategy and Military Power. They talk about the current geopolitical moment in the South Caucasus, with a particular focus on the dynamics at play in the relationships between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

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  China's Quest for Military Supremacy

  Maria Carrai, Phillip C. Saunders, and Joel Wuthnow

  Dr. Phillip Saunders and Senior Research Fellow Dr. Joel Wuthnow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, discussed their new book China’s Quest for Military Supremacy on the podcast, Mapping Global China, hosted by Maria Carrai at NYU Shanghai.

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  China’s Quest for Military Supremacy: A Conversation with Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phil Saunders

  Phillip C. Saunders, Joel Wuthnow, and Bonny Lin

  In this episode of the ChinaPower podcast, Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phil Saunders discuss their new book on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA): China’s Quest for Military Supremacy. They begin by explaining the motivations behind their book and the growing demand for a comprehensive resource on the PLA among students, policymakers, and defense practitioners. Dr. Wuthnow then outlines how the PLA has entered a “new era” under Xi Jinping, characterized by greater confidence, structural reforms, and an expanding operational reach. Dr. Saunders then highlights how the PLA is increasingly being used to shape the Indo-Pacific region, citing China’s recent live-fire exercises near Australia and New Zealand as an example of its more assertive posture. Both experts also delve into key challenges facing the PLA, from Xi Jinping’s efforts to tighten party control to persistent corruption and political reliability issues. They also assess how the PLA’s rigid command structure and political indoctrination could undermine effectiveness in a crisis. Finally, the two experts assess the PLA’s progress becoming more joint, its nuclear modernization efforts, and the broader implications for U.S. and regional security. They conclude by discussing their views on how a second Trump administration could impact PLA behavior and China’s strategic calculations.

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  Russia's Feisty Neighborhood

  Brian Whitmore and Jeffrey Mankoff

  In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Jeff Mankoff, a Distinguished Research Fellow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for Strategy and Military Power, about rising tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan following a brutal crackdown and arrests on both sides. They explore how Azerbaijan’s assertiveness reflects shifting power dynamics in the former Soviet space and its growing confidence after victory in Karabakh. The conversation also covers Azerbaijan’s energy clout, ties to Turkey, and Moscow’s costs from escalating tensions. Later, they examine Russia’s faltering effort to rally the Global South against the West, with BRICS losing momentum.

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  Dr. Clint Work on Korea 24 Radio Show

  Clint Work

  Dr. Clint Work, a Research Fellow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for Strategy and Military Power, provided commentary on potential changes in the U.S. force posture on the Korean Peninsula for Korea 24, a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. The episode aired on 10 June 2025. Korea 24 is part of KBS World, one of the major public service media providers in Korea.

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  ROK-U.S. Alliance: The Near Future—A Dialogue with Dr. Clint Work

  Clint Work

  The ROK–U.S. alliance is entering a decisive window. With Seoul signaling momentum on wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer and Washington emphasizing “alliance modernization,” the question is no longer whether change is coming—but what form it will take. In the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) Dialogue podcast, Dr. Clint Work in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for Strategy and Military Power, offered a historically grounded, candid assessment of what lies ahead.

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  How the U.S. and China Use Deterrence to Preserve Peace

  Joel Wuthnow and Oriana Skylar Mastro

  Dr. Joel Wuthnow, in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, joined an episode of Faultlines by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. He discussed the U.S. and Chinese views on how to avoid a catastrophic military conflict between the U.S. and China. This series examines the strategic differences between the United States and China. The two nations differ in how they see economic, military, cultural, and governance issues, but was this always the case? By examining the view from both sides of the faultline can piece together how we got here and where we’re going next.

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  Joel Wuthnow and Phillip Saunders on China's PLA

  Joel Wuthnow, Phillip C. Saunders, and Aaron MacLean

  Dr. Phillip Saunders and Senior Research Fellow Dr. Joel Wuthnow, in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), discuss their new book China’s Quest for Military Supremacy on the School of War podcast. The two join the show to discuss the origins, organization, and strategic outlook of China’s military.

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  China’s Military Ambitions: Inside the PLA with Joel Wuthnow & Phillip Saunders

  Steve Yates, Joel Wuthnow, and Phillip C. Saunders

  In this compelling episode of The China Desk, host Steve Yates speaks with leading experts Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phillip Saunders about the rise of China's military power. Drawing from their new book China’s Quest for Military Supremacy, the discussion dives deep into the modernization of the PLA, the evolving role of the Chinese Communist Party in military affairs, and what it all means for U.S.-China relations. From nuclear strategy and joint operations to internal corruption and political control, this episode is essential listening for anyone concerned with national security and great power competition.

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  Unpacking China’s PLA Restructuring: A Conversation with Dr. Joel Wuthnow

  Bonny Lin and Joel Wuthnow

  In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Joel Wuthnow joins us to discuss China’s recent restructuring of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and particularly the disbanding of its Strategic Support Force and establishment of a new Information Support Force. Dr. Wuthnow explains the major organizational changes involved and how the new force fits into China’s overall military structure. He argues that while the PLA has long recognized the importance of dominating the information domain, this move suggests dissatisfaction with the previous organizational structure and its ability to effectively integrate capabilities for modern information warfare. He explains that these reforms do not indicate an acceleration of China’s military modernization goals or a shift towards a more offensive posture. Finally, Dr. Wuthnow shares his expectations for changes and priorities that may take shape for the PLA in the future.

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  The Russo-Chinese Alliance and Great Power Competition with Dr. Tom Lynch

  Kelly McFarland and Thomas F. Lynch III

  This week, Kelly talks with retired Army Officer and National Defense University Research Fellow Dr. Tom Lynch about the impact of Ukraine's war on great power conflict and US-China competition.

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  China’s Expanding Nuclear Capabilities: A Conversation with David Logan and Phil Saunders

  Bonny Lin, David Logan, and Phillip C. Saunders

  Dr. Phil Saunders in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs and David Logan join this episode of the ChinaPower podcast. They recently co-authored a new report titled Discerning the Drivers of China’s Nuclear Force Development: Models, Indicators, and Data. They lay out the six models developed in the report and explain which models are the most compelling for explaining China’s behavior. Dr. Logan dives into the expansion in size, structure, and capabilities of China’s nuclear stockpile in the last 10 years but highlights the fact that there has been no official announcement on China’s reasoning for this build-up. In the context of this expansion, Dr. Saunders points out that China is showing signs that its nuclear strategy could be shifting, and he notes that the prospects of strategic arms control have become more complicated.

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  Double Crisis Double Feature

  Colleen Wood and Jeffrey Mankoff

  With Kyrgyzstan and Nagorno Karabakh in crisis, Colleen Wood and Jeff Mankoff join to help us break down both.