The Bosnian War in the early 1990s was at the time the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. Some 100,000 people were killed and more than 2 million displaced amid widespread ethnic cleansing and massacres.
In 1995, the warring parties struck a power-sharing deal in negotiations just outside Dayton, Ohio, in what came to be known as the Dayton Accords. But the deal didn’t really resolve the underlying problems. Bosnia continues to be plagued by ethnic division, and the country’s political structure is widely seen as ineffective and unstable.
Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.
In our season finale, we’re tackling the question: Did the Dayton Accords set Bosnia up for failure?
Arguing that the agreement put Bosnia on a path to perpetual crisis is Jasmin Mujanović, a senior nonresident fellow at New Lines Institute. He is the author of two books, Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans and The Bosniaks: Nationhood After Genocide.
And making the case that the Dayton Accords were essential to bringing peace and maintaining stability is Chris Hill. A career diplomat, Hill was part of the U.S. delegation that brokered the agreement. Most recently, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Serbia under President Joe Biden.
Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.
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21/5/2025
38:39
Should the U.S. Completely Decouple From China?
The United States and China took a step back this week from their trade war, announcing that tariffs imposed just a few weeks ago would be slashed significantly—at least for now. But even as the tension seems to be ebbing, some people in the United States are questioning whether it’s beneficial for the two economies to be intertwined at all.
Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.
Today, we’re tackling the question: Should the United States completely decouple from China?
With us to make the case for a tough stance against China is Derek Scissors, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the chief economist of the China Beige Book. He is also the author of the China Global investment Tracker.
Arguing that broad decoupling won’t work to counter China is Lizzi C. Lee. She’s a fellow on Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.
Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.
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14/5/2025
38:02
Is Western Aid Helping or Harming Africa?
The Trump administration has moved quickly to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees U.S. aid around the world, with major repercussions for food supplies, child poverty, pandemic prevention, and much more. The decision has hit Africa particularly hard. African countries were getting about about 30 percent of U.S. foreign aid annually.
While many people in Africa are deeply worried about the cuts, some are wondering if the end of USAID might present an opportunity for the continent.
Welcome to Counterpoint. Each week, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.
On this episode, we’re tackling the question: Is Western aid helping or harming Africa?
With us to argue for the importance of continuing Western aid to Africa is Ndidi Nwuneli, the president and CEO of the ONE Campaign, a global advocacy organization focused on ensuring economic opportunity and healthier lives in Africa.
And making the case that aid has caused more problems than it has solved is Ken Opalo, an associate professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service specializing in African politics and development.
Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.
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07/5/2025
37:12
Should South Korea Develop Nuclear Weapons?
South Korea has long relied on the United States for deterrence against its nuclear-armed neighbor, North Korea. But since his reelection, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised questions about Washington’s core commitments around the world.
He and members of his cabinet have suggested Washington might withdraw from the Korean Peninsula altogether, or make Seoul pay billions for the defense the U.S. provides, including a nuclear umbrella against Pyongyang. As a result, a majority of Koreans now want the country to develop its own nuclear arsenal.
This week on Counterpoint, we tackle the question: Should South Korea develop nuclear weapons?
Arguing in favor is Jennifer Lind, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth College and the author of the forthcoming book, Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Reinvented Tyranny.
Making the case against Seoul developing its own nuclear weapons is Lami Kim, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and the former director of the Asian studies program at the U.S. Army War College.
Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.
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30/4/2025
42:34
Is Syria on the Right Path?
Late last year, Syrian opposition forces captured Damascus and put an end to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian dictator, whose family had ruled the country for more than 50 years, fled to Moscow. Across the country, Syrians celebrated.
Assad’s fall exposed the brutality of his regime, including gruesome discoveries in government prisons, tens of thousands of disappeared people, and mass displacement. But the group that replaced it also has a record of violence—and a former affiliation with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Welcome to Counterpoint. Each week, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view. Today, we’re tackling the question: Is Syria on a path to realizing the hopes of the revolution?
With us to make the case for viewing Syria’s new government with skepticism is David Adesnik, the vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Arguing that Syrians are capable of securing a democratic future for themselves is Alia Malek, a journalist, former civil rights lawyer, and the author of The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria.
Counterpoint is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy. The show is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.
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Every day, experts from around the globe present their arguments for solving the world’s biggest problems. And every day, these experts disagree in small and large ways. At Foreign Policy, our approach is to share a wide range of opinions, side by side, day by day. But what if people could hear those arguments tested, in real time, under pressure from an opposing view–by an international cast of diplomats, journalists, academics and activists?
That’s the idea behind Counterpoint, a new debate show from Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.
Join FP deputy editor Sasha Polakow-Suransky and his guests, including anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, Britain’s former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, South African author Sisonke Msimang, veteran Middle East peace negotiator Dennis Ross—and many more.
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