Worlds Apart

Pros of inter-dependence? Ivan Zuenko, Senior Research Fellow at the MGIMO Institute for International Studies
A Chinese proverb has it that “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative” — a principle fully lived out in the Russian-Chinese relationship, which has won official praise for its unprecedented trust and unlimited...
Sep 14, 2025 05:02
Worlds Apart is a fast-paced, in-depth discussion on the most pressing issues facing the world today.It strives to depart from the traditional Q&A form of interview in favor of a more emotive and engaging conversation. Host Oksana Boyko is not afraid to ask the hard questions that others avoid, with the aim of promoting intelligent public debate.

Pros of inter-dependence? Ivan Zuenko, Senior Research Fellow at the MGIMO Institute for International Studies
A Chinese proverb has it that “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative” — a principle fully lived out in the Russian-Chinese relationship, which has won official praise for its unprecedented trust and unlimited...
Sep 14, 2025 05:02
Dragon, elephant & bear? Zhang Weiwei, Director of the China Institute at Fudan University
At the latest meeting with his Indian counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of the dragon and the elephant coming together and creating a more harmonious ecosystem for the two of them. What does it mean in practical terms...
Sep 7, 2025 07:51
Sugar daddy vs sovereignty? Ulrike Guerot, Founder of the European Democracy Lab
A few years back, it would have seemed like a grotesque sketch, but kowtowing to Daddy in Washington now seems a conscious foreign policy choice by Europe’s elites. The more resentful they are of Russia, the more fawning they seem to become of...
Aug 31, 2025 10:38
Simulating God? Roman Yampolskiy, Associate Professor at the University of Louisville
From Socrates to Albert Einstein, the most advanced thinkers of our civilization have recognized that their ability to understand the nature of reality around them decreases as their knowledge grows. This paradox of consciousness may also apply to...
Jul 27, 2025 06:53
Ferocity or animosity? Tony Norfield, author of ‘The City: London and the Global Power of Finance’
The Ukraine conflict has turned many geopolitical givens upside down, including the legacy of the Cold War. What seemed like potentially apocalyptic nuclear one-upmanship now appears to be an example of responsible diplomacy; while today, mutually...
Jul 20, 2025 08:51
Welfare in warfare? Evarist Bartolo, former Maltese minister for European & foreign affairs
From welfare state to warfare state – the EU’s attempt to resolve its structural crises through militarization, under the aegis of a potential conflict with Russia, may allow current politicians to bide their time, but what would it mean...
Jul 13, 2025 10:37
Sci-fi and soul? Chen Qiufan, award-winning author
A few years ago, it was cliche to say reality is stranger than fiction, but with the latest geopolitical and technological developments, it’s beginning to sound ominous. As the future continues to impose itself on the present, are there still...
Jul 6, 2025 10:05
Demise of the unwise? Steve Jermy, retired Royal Navy commodore
It’s become a cliche in Western circles to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin has a poor hand of cards but he plays them well. This may seem like a compliment to the Kremlin’s tactical ability, but it ignores the fact that Russia...
Jun 29, 2025 07:23
Mulling the mullah? Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs
During his first presidential term, Donald Trump was praised for not starting a single war, a notable departure from his predecessors. In the first six months of his second term, he and his team actively tried to appropriate the peace-making mantle,...
Jun 22, 2025 13:34