The US and Europe Unite with Ukraine—What Comes Next?
What do Putin and Trump have in common? Both turn grievance into power, and our guests explain how.
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About the Episode
As Ukraine calls for security and support, world leaders juggle high-stakes negotiations and competing interests. Alexander Cooley and Alex Dukalskis, authors of Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics, unpack how authoritarian strategies are influencing the talks and argue that negotiating peace isn’t just about stopping the fighting—it’s about who walks away with the leverage.
About the Experts
Claire Tow Professor of Political Science, Barnard College
Alexander Cooley is the Claire Tow Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and former Director of Columbia University’s Harriman Institute for the Study of Russia, Eurasia and Eastern Europe.
Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin
Alex Dukalskis is an Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin, specializing in authoritarian states, Asian politics, and international human rights.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She brings more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of international affairs, research, policy, and public engagement.
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