Shows
The World UnpackedTrump’s Greenland Fixation and the China-Russia Strategic Opportunity in the ArcticIn this episode of The World Unpacked, host Isaac Kardon is joined by Alexander (Sasha) Gabuev, Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin and one of the world’s leading experts on Russia-China relations. Together, they unpack the growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic—a region increasingly shaped by strategic cooperation between Russia and China, and generally neglected or misunderstood by U.S. policymakers.This conversation dives deep into the overlooked maritime theater connecting the U.S., Russia, and China. Kardon and Gabuev explore the security implications of a warming Arctic, the dynamics of great powe...
2025-08-0642 minThe World UnpackedThe New Geopolitics of Subsea CablesSubsea cables carry 95% of the world’s data—but remain largely invisible in global policy debates. In this episode, Isaac Kardon is joined by Carnegie experts Jane Munga and Sophia Besch to unpack the geopolitics, economics, and security risks surrounding undersea data infrastructure. From Africa’s digital development to Europe’s hybrid warfare concerns, they explore who owns these cables, why they matter, and how governments can respond to emerging infrastructure threats.Notes:Sophia Besch and Erik Brown, "Securing Europe's Subsea Data Cables," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 16, 2024.Jane Munga, "Beneath the Waves: Addressing Vulnerabilities in Afric...
2025-07-1040 minThe World UnpackedParty-State Capitalism: China's Communist Party and Rule by MarketHow should we understand China’s unique variety of party-state capitalism? In this episode of The World Unpacked, Isaac Kardon sits down with Dr. Meg Rithmire, a renowned scholar of political economy in China and the James E. Robison Professor at Harvard Business School, to discuss how capitalism functions in a party-state that tries to maintain “rule by market” without ceding too much control to private capital. Their discussion is based on Dr. Rithmire’s chapter in a new volume released from Carnegie called The Life of the Party: Past and Present Constraints on the Future of the Chinese Communis...
2025-06-1951 minThe World UnpackedWhy We All Need to Care About Nukes AgainThe world is entering a new nuclear age—one defined by proliferating arsenals, eroding arms control, and rising geopolitical tensions. In this episode, Isaac Kardon sits down with international security expert and Stanton Senior Fellow Ankit Panda to discuss the return of nuclear weapons to the center of global strategy. As Russia issues nuclear threats, China and North Korea expand their capabilities, and emerging technologies like AI reshape the battlefield, the risks of confrontation are growing. Can new approaches to stability and deterrence pull us back from the brink? Learn more in this week's episode of The World Unpacked....
2025-06-0955 minThe World UnpackedHow China Is Reshaping International Security CooperationAs U.S.-China tensions deepen, Beijing is carving out a new role for itself—not just as an economic powerhouse, but as a global security player. What does China’s vision of “comprehensive national security” mean for countries caught in the middle of great-power competition? And how are smaller states navigating the shifting landscape of global security partnerships? In this episode, Isaac Kardon sits down with Sheena Chestnut Greitens to explore how China is providing security assistance to governments around the world—and how Beijing is reshaping the current landscape of international security cooperation.Notes:Sheena Che...
2025-05-2252 min
ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists#56 with Dennis KardonWelcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.My guest today is Dennis Kardon. Dennis is a Brooklyn-based painter known for his influential work 49 Jewish Noses and his most recent solo shows at Lubov Gallery and Massimo De Carlo. He has exhibited widely in the US and abroad, received major career grants including a Guggenheim Fellowship, and written for top art publications such as Artforum, Artnet and Hyperallergic to name a few. I sat down with Dennis at his studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yards during a massive rain storm a co...
2025-05-151h 04The World UnpackedOutposts of Influence: Great Power Competition and Overseas Military BasesIn this episode of The World Unpacked, Isaac B. Kardon sits down with Ashley J. Tellis, Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Andrew Yeo, Senior Fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution. They explore how the role of overseas bases has changed over time and how the U.S., China, and Russia—among other countries—use them to project power today. Despite advances in technology and long-range weapons, bases remain key to grand strategy, political influence, and sustained military reach.
2025-05-0851 minThe World UnpackedCan the U.S. Rebuild Its Maritime Power? Competing with China and Cooperating with KoreaIn this episode of The World Unpacked, Isaac Kardon is joined by Darcie Draudt-Véjares to explore how the shipbuilding industry is reshaping global security and industrial policy. They discuss Washington's faltering commercial shipbuilding sector, China's rise through state-led integration, and South Korea and Japan’s dominance in high-tech ship production. Can the U.S. rebuild its maritime power—and what lessons can it learn from its global allies?
2025-04-2539 min
The National Security PodcastChinese strategy and statecraft: coercion and competition in the Indo-PacificWhat are the objectives of China’s foreign and security policies under Xi Jinping? What is the role of Australia and other middle powers in responding to Chinese actions in the Indo-Pacific? Are the United States’ China policies set to change with future shifts in the international order? In this episode, Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Dan Blumenthal join David Andrews to discuss the drivers of the China and the United States’ security policies, the role of China in the international order, middle powers, and deterrence. Sheena Chestnut Greitens is an Associate Pr...
2024-06-0645 min
The US-China PodcastIs the U.S. or Chinese military bigger? | U.S.-China Counterpoints The military force of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is the largest standing army in the world. However, the United States maintains the highest military expenditure in the world. How can Americans evaluate whether the U.S. or Chinese military is bigger? In an interview conducted on April 15, 2024, Isaac Kardon discusses the comparative capabilities of the PLA and U.S. militaries, and how strategists evaluate the threat the PLA holds towards American territories. U.S.-China Counterpoints explores common perspectives on the U.S.-China relationship held by tho...
2024-05-2124 min
The World UnpackedChina: Rising Tensions in the South China SeaAs China ramps up its military capabilities and tensions persist in the Taiwan Strait, there are growing concerns about the risk of conflict that could involve the United States. But it’s not just Taiwan that could spark conflict. China’s increasingly assertive presence is felt everywhere in the South China Sea from the Philippines to Malaysia. How will these conflicts develop? What do we know about China’s maritime strategy, and what lessons can we draw from Beijing’s behavior in the South China Sea for the country’s global ambitions? And how are countries in the region m...
2024-05-1637 min
The US-China PodcastChina’s Role in Red Sea SecurityThe United States and its allies have been combating Houthi attacks that have left vital Red Sea shipping lanes vulnerable. China, however, has contributed little to these international efforts. Tensions have risen amid calls for China to join the international effort, prompting discussions on the nation’s role in safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea. How can China and the United States work together or separately to help restore stability and security in the crucial Red Sea region, and what is holding back cooperation? In a discussion moderated by Dawn Murphy on March 18, 2024, Isaac Kardon and Sun Yun ...
2024-03-2536 min
CHINA-MENAChina's Law of the Sea in the Middle EastJoin us as we dive deep into China's maritime dynamics with Isaac B. Kardon, a top expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Isaac's expertise in maritime disputes, global port development, and PLA activities sheds light on China's evolving role in shaping international waters.Discover Isaac's groundbreaking book on China's maritime strategies and delve into his research on China's impact beyond its shores. Uncover China's ambitions in global waters, from deep-sea mining to infrastructure development with dual implications.Tune in for an engaging discussion on China's maritime might and its implications for the global order....
2024-03-0648 min
Small World, Big ProblemsChinese Maritime Strategy: A Comprehensive Approach to PowerIn the 2000s, China has undertaken an unprecedented naval buildup, expanded its investment in overseas ports, and pushed new interpretations of laws of the sea to secure sovereignty in its “near seas” while protecting its interests in the “far seas.” In discussing China’s comprehensive approach to maritime power, Dylan Yachyshen sits down with Dr. Isaac Kardon to analyze China’s strategic conception of the “near” and “far” seas, China’s attempts to advance new interpretations of the law of the sea, and its investment in overseas ports. Dr. Kardon’s new book China’s Law of the Sea: The New Ru...
2024-01-1942 min
Horns of a DilemmaChina's Law of the SeaOn this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, Isaac B. Kardon discussed his book China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order. Kardon discussed his research into how the Chinese Communist Party thinks about maritime sovereignty, how it applies this thinking to individual disputes in its surrounding seas, and what that means for the United States and its allies. The discussion focused on how the Chinese Communist Party views international law, the role of The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and maritime dispute resolution. This was recorded at the Clements Center for N...
2023-10-0340 min
China in the WorldChina’s Law of the SeaAmid renewed tensions in the South China Sea, Paul Haenle speaks with Dr. Isaac Kardon, Senior Fellow in the Carnegie Endowment’s Asia Program, about his new book, China’s Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order. The two discuss Kardon’s book, China’s approach to international maritime law, the China-Philippines maritime standoff, and more.Isaac Kardon is a Senior Fellow in the Carnegie Endowment’s Asia Program. Isaac was formerly assistant professor at the U.S. Naval War College, China Maritime Studies Institute, where he researched China’s maritime affairs, and taught naval office...
2023-08-3046 min
Sea PowerEpisode 10: China’s (Civilian) Maritime PowerGuests Mike Dahm and Lonnie Henley join host Isaac Kardon to discuss their China Maritime reports and forthcoming chapters in a China Maritime Studies Institute volume of open-source analysis on China's cross-strait amphibious capability, doctrine, and planning.China Maritime Report No. 26: Beyond the First Battle: Overcoming a Protracted Blockade of Taiwan - Lonnie D. HenleyChina Maritime Report No. 28: Bitterness Ends, Sweetness Begins: Organizational Changes to the PLAN Submarine Force Since 2015 - J. Michael Dahm and Alison ZhaoGuests:Mike Dahm is a retired Naval Intelligence Officer who has focused on Ch...
2023-08-2954 min
The Cognitive Crucible#150 Jill Goldenziel on China and the PhilippinesThe Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Dr. Jill Goldenziel of the National Defense University discusses information lawfare and uses ongoing dynamics between the Philippines and China as a case study. Our conversation also traverses the INDOPACOM Counter Lawfare program, the Belt and Road Initiative, institutional lawfare, global legal domination, and the 21st Century space race. Research...
2023-05-3039 min
Sea PowerEpisode 3: Mahan and the Struggle for World PowerA discussion on The Road to Pearl Harbor: Great Power War and the Pacific (USNI Press, 2022).Hosted by Isaac KardonGuest: Dr. John H. MaurerBio: John Maurer, PhD, serves as the Alfred Thayer Mahan Distinguished University Professor of Sea Power and Grand Strategy at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. As Chair of the Strategy and Policy Department, he led a major reform of the College’s curriculum on strategy.
2023-05-2343 min
Sea PowerEpisode 2: The Russian Energy ChallengeA discussion on Russia’s energy coercion and the maritime security implications.Hosted by Isaac KardonGuest: Dr. Emily J. HollandBio: Emily Holland, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Russia Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College. Previously, she was an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, a postdoctoral fellow at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University and a visiting fellow at the German Institute for Economic Research (Berlin) and the European Council on Foreign Relations (Berlin).
2023-05-0943 min
National Committee on U.S.-China RelationsChina’s Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime OrderConflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of China’s maritime disputes, which are about much more than sovereignty over islands and rocks in the South and East China Seas. Rather, the main contests concern the strategic maritime space associated with those islands. To consolidate control over these vital areas, China’s leaders have begun to implement “China’s law of the sea”: building domestic legal institutions, bureaucratic organizations, and a naval and maritime law enforcement apparatus to establish China’s preferred maritime rules on the water and in the diplomatic arena.
In China’s Law of the Sea, Isaac B. Kardon...
2023-05-0832 min
Sea PowerEpisode 1: The Russian Challenge in the Black Sea and the ArcticA discussion on Ukrainian Black Sea grain shipments. Guests: Michael Petersen and Adm. James G. Foggo III (USN, Ret.).Hosted by Isaac KardonGuest: ADM James G. Foggo III (USN, Ret.)Bio: Admiral James G. Foggo III, USN (Ret.), is dean of the Navy League of the United States Center for Maritime Strategy. A submarine officer, he is a former commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa and Allied Joint Force Command, Naples. He commanded BALTOPS in 2015 and 2016 and Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE in 2018.Co-Host: Dr. Michael PetersenBio...
2023-04-2450 min
Unlock the Power of Words With Our Captivating Full AudiobookChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order Audiobook by Isaac B. KardonListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 646633
Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order
Author: Isaac B. Kardon
Narrator: Chris Monteiro
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12:00:44
Language: English
Release date: 03-28-23
Publisher: Tantor Media
Genres: History, World, Asia, Global Politics
Summary:
China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order-specifically, the international law of the sea.
Conflicts over specific rules lie at the...
2023-03-2812h 00
Press Play On The Sensational Full Audiobook Now, Curious Minds!China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633to listen full audiobooks.
Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order
Author: Isaac B. Kardon
Narrator: Chris Monteiro
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 28, 2023
Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics
Publisher's Summary:
China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, wh...
2023-03-2812h 00
Get Top Full Audiobooks in History, WorldChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633 to listen full audiobooks. Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order Author: Isaac B. Kardon Narrator: Chris Monteiro Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 12 hours 0 minutes Release date: March 28, 2023 Genres: World Publisher's Summary: China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, which are ab...
2023-03-2830 minGet Top Full Audiobooks in History, WorldChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633to listen full audiobooks.
Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order
Author: Isaac B. Kardon
Narrator: Chris Monteiro
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 28, 2023
Genres: World
Publisher's Summary:
China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, which are about mu...
2023-03-2812h 00
Explore: This Riveting Full Audiobook For Book-Lovers.China's Law of the Sea by Isaac B. KardonPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/127365to listen full audiobooks.
Title: China's Law of the Sea
Author: Isaac B. Kardon
Narrator: Chris Monteiro
Format: mp3
Length: 12 hrs
Release date: 03-28-23
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 2 ratings
Genres: China
Publisher's Summary:
Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, which are about much more than sovereignty over islands and rocks in the South and East China Seas. Instead, the main contests concern the strategic maritime space associated with those islands. To consolidate control over this vital maritime space, China's leaders have begun to implement "China's law of the...
2023-03-2830 min
Explore New Full Audiobooks in History, AsiaChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633 to listen full audiobooks. Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order Author: Isaac B. Kardon Narrator: Chris Monteiro Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 12 hours 0 minutes Release date: March 28, 2023 Genres: Asia Publisher's Summary: China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, which are ab...
2023-03-2830 minExplore New Full Audiobooks in History, AsiaChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633to listen full audiobooks.
Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order
Author: Isaac B. Kardon
Narrator: Chris Monteiro
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 28, 2023
Genres: Asia
Publisher's Summary:
China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, which are about mu...
2023-03-2812h 00Grab the Essential Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Current Affairs, Law, & PoliticsChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633to listen full audiobooks.
Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order
Author: Isaac B. Kardon
Narrator: Chris Monteiro
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 28, 2023
Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics
Publisher's Summary:
China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, wh...
2023-03-2812h 00
the Essential Free Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Current Affairs, Law, & PoliticsChina's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order by Isaac B. KardonPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/646633 to listen full audiobooks. Title: China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order Author: Isaac B. Kardon Narrator: Chris Monteiro Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 12 hours 0 minutes Release date: March 28, 2023 Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics Publisher's Summary: China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order—specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the di...
2023-03-2830 min
PekingologyChina’s Power Position in Global PortsIn this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Isaac B. Kardon, an assistant professor in the Strategic and Operational Research Department at the U.S. Naval War College, to discuss his paper Pier Competitor: China’s Power Position in Global Ports, which is co-authored with Wendy Leutert. The views expressed by the guest are his own and do not necessarily represent those of the Navy or Department of Defense.
2022-05-1942 min
Conversation SixPeter Dutton and Isaac KardonPeter Dutton and Isaac Kardon on China's global ports development
2021-09-1006 min
China GlobalChinese Investment in Global Ports and PRC Strategy with Dr. Isaac KardonChinese companies are investing in ports that are strategically located along sea lanes of communication, connecting China to resources and markets that are vital for China’s economy. These ports, called “strategic strongpoints” by Chinese military writers, can be found all over the world—in Europe, the Americas, and countries situated adjacent to the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and the Horn of Africa. A growing number of observers believe that these commercial ventures will eventually become dual-use facilities or even military bases that will enable the Chinese navy to project power further from its shores.
In this...
2021-07-2043 min
National Committee on U.S.-China RelationsHigh Stakes on the High Seas: The South China Sea under President BidenApproximately 20 to 33 percent of global trade passes through the South China Sea, and many of its land features are in dispute. In the last decade, tensions have escalated as China has grown increasingly assertive. Many in the international community perceive China to be violating international norms after it passed legislation this year allowing the China Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels. What policies will the Biden administration adopt toward the region? Will tensions escalate? If so, what would be the impact on the economics and security of the region? What innovative policies could ease tensions and promote cooperation instead...
2021-07-091h 20
NCUSCR EventsHigh Stakes on the High Seas: The South China Sea under President Biden | Richard Heydarian, Isaac Kardon, Yan YanApproximately 20 to 33 percent of global trade passes through the South China Sea, and many of its land features are in dispute. In the last decade, tensions have escalated as China has grown increasingly assertive. Many in the international community perceive China to be violating international norms after it passed legislation this year allowing the China Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels. What policies will the Biden administration adopt toward the region? Will tensions escalate? If so, what would be the impact on the economics and security of the region? What innovative policies could ease tensions and promote cooperation i...
2021-07-091h 20
Tabadlab's Dragon RoadS01 E04 - China's Strategic STRONGPOINTS Part IIn the first of a two-part series, Arif Rafiq separates the various strands of the “String of Pearls” theory with Isaac B. Kardon, which assumed the establishment of Chinese naval military bases from the South China Sea westward to the northern Indian Ocean in Chinese-operated commercial ports. These included ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. However, China’s first overseas military base was set up in 2017 in the East African country, Djibouti, further fueling speculation about China’s ‘strategic strongpoints’. Kardon explains whether missions are prepared for offensive or defensive operations. He talks about the nexus between Chinese party-state...
2021-06-2540 min