This week on World Review, guest host Bobby Ghosh sits in for Ivo Daalder for a look at elections and selections.

Israel's election (2:00): Neither Netanyahu's bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot's reaches the 61 seats needed to govern, and Arab parties win a record 19. The panel discusses the stalemate, fraud claims, fears of renewed war with Iran, and how the global south sees the result.

Serbia's election (18:30): A student-led movement wins a majority, ending Aleksandar Vučić's 14-year rule. The guests weigh how protesters become governors, what Brussels can offer, and lessons from Hungary.

UN Secretary-General race (38:16): Richard Gowan explains straw polls and vetoes, the sidelining of frontrunner Rebecca Grynspan, and the controversial late bid of the UAE's Lana Nusseibeh. They cover concerns over Sudan and China's hesitation.

Guests: Catherine Philp (The Times of London), Yannis Palaiologos (Kathimerini), Richard Gowan (International Crisis Group).
World Review is a Belfast Center for Science and International Affairs podcast from Harvard Kennedy School.

Key Topics

• Protests over the cost of living and failing public services escalated into major riots in France.
• France’s political deadlock and rising debt have intensified debate over pensions and the country’s future.
• Young people feel squeezed by housing costs and a system that protects older generations.
• Declining trust in democracy is fueling support for more radical political movements.
• The panel questions whether U.S. deals with Russia could weaken pressure on Moscow.
• A possible summit on Ukraine without Ukraine raises concerns about its sovereignty and influence.
• Ukraine’s strikes on Russian infrastructure are discussed as a source of strategic leverage.
• European support remains important to Ukraine’s ability to resist pressure.
• Brazil’s runoff election reflects voter anger over crime, corruption, and weak economic growth.
• China’s growing economic role and Trump’s influence are reshaping politics across Latin America.

Links

Yaroslav Trofimov - https://www.wsj.com/news/author/yaroslav-trofimov
Eduardo Porter - https://www.theguardian.com/profile/eduardo-porter
Steven Erlanger - https://www.nytimes.com/by/steven-erlanger

Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org
World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Key Topics

• U.S. pressure on Ukraine — How Trump’s approach to Zelensky and Ukraine is shaping the war and diplomatic negotiations.
• Intelligence and Starlink support — Why intelligence-sharing, targeting, and communications can be as critical as weapons on the battlefield.
• U.S.–Russia relations and the diesel deal — The implications of reported U.S. energy dealings with Moscow for sanctions, oil markets, and Putin’s position.
• Europe’s support for Ukraine — Whether European countries can sustain support and compensate if U.S. backing weakens.
• NATO’s security challenges — Alliance cohesion, hybrid threats, and the changing demands of collective defense.
• U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy — How political pressures in Washington, including the midterms, may influence decisions abroad.
• Houthi attacks and Saudi Arabia’s security — The impact of attacks on airports and energy infrastructure.
• Drones and asymmetric warfare — How lower-cost weapons challenge conventional military defenses.
• Red Sea security and global trade — The risks that regional conflict poses to shipping routes and supply chains.
• The future of U.S. alliances — How uncertainty about American commitments is affecting the calculations of partners in Europe, Ukraine, and the Gulf.

Links

Carla Anne Robbins - https://www.cfr.org/experts/carla-anne-robbins

Shona Murray - https://events.euronews.com/euronews-on-air/speaker/1136912/shona-murray
Elise Labott - https://substack.com/@eliselabott

Michael Shear - https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-d-shear

Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org
World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder