London Politica Podcast

In this episode of The Latam Monitor Podcast, hosts Fernando Prats and Carlos Cruz Infante sit down with Juan Cruz Díaz, Managing Director of Cefeidas Group and Special Advisor at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. Juan Cruz, a seasoned political risk and corporate governance expert, shares his perspective on South America’s evolving role in the global geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. From untapped opportunities and overlooked risks for foreign investors to navigating regulatory challenges and expanding into markets like Chile and Peru, this conversation provides essential insights for understanding and engaging with the region’s complex dynamics.

In our first episode, we talked with Juan Pablo Córdoba, CEO of Nuam Exchange. Nuam Exchange is a platform that aims to integrate the Santiago (Chile), Lima (Perú) and Colombia stock exchanges to co-create a new stock market. With this, Nuam seeks to generate economies of scale that benefit investors, issuers and intermediaries in a broader, deeper and more liquid market, positioning Nuam Exchange as an attractive investment ecosystem. We discussed the vast opportunities an integrated stock exchange will bring to the region, alongside the regulatory hurdles it has faced in the integration process, as well as some prospects for the future of both integrated markets and Latin American markets in general. Juan Pablo Córdoba, CEO at Nuam Exchange, holds a Phd in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Nuam, Córdoba served for 18 years as the Chairman of the Colombian Stock Exchange, as well as having worked in international financial institutions and government agencies in Colombia. Hosts:Fernando Prats, Programme Director (Latam Programme) at London Politica. He especialises in political risk analysis, especially within Latin America and with a focus on Southern Cone countries. Carlos Cruz Infante is a Consultant at London Politica. He holds a Phd from Sapienza University of Rome, and has over 10 years of experience advising companies, investors and Chilean government agencies.

“The war is going to be won by demonstrating a greater will, a greater commitment than the opposite side”In this episode, Manas Chawla interviews Fabrice Pothier. As the CEO of Rasmussen Global, Fabrice explains what makes the political consultancy unique in the transatlantic policy space and their particular focus on transformative issues. The pair then outline the current state of the war in Ukraine and critique the lack of aid and confidence characterising the current Western response. Lastly, Fabrice discusses the importance of extending a NATO invitation to Ukraine, before pondering how the US election may affect the conflict.Fabrice Pothier is the CEO of Rasmussen Global, an international political consultancy which has worked closely with the President's office in Ukraine to ensure long-term security and prosperity in the country. Fabrice was a former strategic advisor to two consecutive NATO Secretary Generals and has a wealth of experience in global public policy.

“I’m not one hundred per cent convinced it’s true we are living in this world of geopolitical chaos”In this episode, Manas Chawla interviews Matt Peterson, Ideas Editor for Barron’s. The two embark on a timely exploration of 2024's key geopolitical risks and their economic ripple effects. Matt discusses his recent work on energy, particularly within the context of the US election, and examines the impact of a potential Trump presidency on the Ukraine conflict and climate agreements. Peterson also delves into the intricate relationship between rising insurance costs and climate spending before turning to the looming US debt crisis, which can no longer be wilfully ignored come November 2024. Ending on an optimistic note, Matt highlights the positive developments in renewable energy and the economy at large, acknowledging the potential disasters avoided along the way.Matt Peterson is the Ideas Editor for Barron’s Group. He has previously held positions at the Atlantic, Eurasia Group, and Yale University building a wealth of experience in the economy, politics, and global affairs spanning over 15 years.

“We’ve been quite good at breaking things and we haven’t been very good at finding our new space in this world” In this episode, Manas Chawla interviews Arthur Snell as the two conduct an incisive exploration of British foreign policy. Discussing his book, “How Britain Broke the World”, Snell offers a critical perspective on the UK's historical role in international affairs, as a nation struggling to find its identity on the contemporary global stage. He challenges us to examine the impact of past interventions and consider their consequences for the world today. The two also consider the UK’s international orientations under a potential Starmer-led government, the root causes of overlooked foreign policies, and Britain's intricate relationship with the Israel-Palestine conflict. Snell concludes on a note of optimism for Britain, as a country which is rediscovering its European identity post-Brexit.Arthur Snell is an author, political commentator, and former senior British diplomat with extensive experience navigating the complexities of international affairs. His career on the global stage, encompassing hotspots like Afghanistan and Iraq, informs his critical perspective on British foreign policy.

“Montenegro is not selfish at all. We want to see more Europe, more EU, more common values.” In this episode, London Politica’s CEO Manas Chawla sits down with Dritan Abazović at the Bled Strategic Forum. The discussion deeply touches upon a range of topics from the future of hybrid warfare, the need for a post-pandemic economy, and Europe's role in Ukraine. Abazović highlights the importance of European integration and harmony, the impact of the Ukrainian crisis, and the role of Montenegro amidst global geopolitical challenges. They also delve into the future of world politics, underscoring the importance of young leadership and the value of persistence in making a difference.Dritan Abazović holds the historic mark of being Montenegro's first ethnic Albanian and Muslim Prime Minister (2022-2023). In 2012, he was the youngest Member of Parliament, and served as MP until 2020, when he was appointed to a new position. Abazović is also a published academic and author of two books: "Cosmopolitan Culture and Global Justice" and "A Critique of Global Ethics”.

“We are not giving diplomacy—giving international cooperation and dialogue of discussion—the space that it requires in order to help us balance all these forces.” In this episode, London Politica’s CEO Manas Chawla sits down with Arancha González. The interview, conducted during the Bled Strategic Forum, delves deep into pressing global issues such as the European Union’s enlargement, geopolitical transformations, and rising political dichotomy in a world of shifting power paradigms. Drawing upon her diverse experience at the nexus of international organizations, governments, and academia, González provides valuable advice to the next generation of leaders in politics, emphasizing the need to reclaim the value of international cooperation and encouraging a shift away from binary narratives towards more open global discussions.Arancha González is the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po and former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Spain. 

"Both the pandemic and the Ukraine crises have demonstrated anew that multilateralism is in trouble."In this episode, Manas Chawla interviews Dr Shashi Tharoor. The two discuss several fascinating topics, including the future of the emerging world order with specific reference to India’s role in an increasingly multipolar world. Given India’s growing assertiveness in international affairs, the two talk about the evolving role of international institutions including the UN and G20 given the shift away from a US-centric unipolar world. They discuss the concept of "geopolitical swing states" and how rising powers from the Global South are pursuing independent foreign policies. Debating ongoing spats between India and China, Manas and Dr Tharoor share insights on developments in trade and economic dependence that may frame future conflicts.Dr Shashi Tharoor is a distinguished Indian politician, best-selling author, and public intellectual. He served 29 years at the United Nations, culminating as Under-Secretary-General, and was named as a "Global Leader of Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum.

“The primary concern is: how can we leverage technology for the betterment of humanity?”In this episode, Manas Chawla interviews Robert Opp on the evolving nature of technological risks and the potential of digital technology in advancing global development. During his conversation with Manas, Robert explores the importance of inclusion in the digitalisation process, the increasing global differential in technological access, and the potential for digital technology to “leapfrog” development in the Global South. Robert also considers where we may see the next big technological innovation and the role of the UN in enabling opportunities for international development.Robert is the Chief Digital Officer of the United Nations Development Programme. He leads the agency’s digital transformation, aiming to harness the power of new technology to improve the lives of those furthest behind. Prior to this role, Robert was Director of the Innovation and Change Management Division within the World Food Programme, where he founded and led ShareTheMeal, a smartphone app dedicated to fighting global hunger.