The world is experiencing significant shifts, and the recent US election stands as one of the most influential. This could introduce a new level of unpredictability to global politics, economic relations and social dynamics worldwide.

Donald Trump’s decisive victory has surprised many, and his re-election raises several important questions about how it will impact on global dynamics. A continued focus on "America First" could strain international alliances and fragment global cooperation, if US interests overshadow multilateral agreements.

As Trump prepares to take office for the second time, he may also adopt a more assertive approach to foreign policy, likely impacting NATO relations and potentially intensifying tensions with China, Iran and Russia. His previous scepticism about the climate crisis may see reduced federal action which will hinder global climate agreements and slow carbon reduction efforts.

In this episode guests analyse what to expect from Trump's return to the White House, both for the US and the world, including potential shifts across foreign, security, development, climate and migration policies.

Guests

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI Global
• Karin Von Hippel, Director-General, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
• Ramsey Day, ODI Global Washington Board member and former USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa
• Jeremy Konyndyk, President, Refugees International

Related resources

• Managing anti-immigration populism (Insight, ODI Global)
  
  
• Public narratives and attitudes towards refugees and other migrants: US country profile (Briefing paper, ODI Global)
  
  
• Four cost-effective ways the U.S. can pay its “fair share” of climate finance (Insight, ODI Global)
  
  
• Institutional misogyny is a threat to reproductive justice everywhere (Insight, ODI Global)
  
  
• Global approaches to refugee response: what difference can they make? (Insight, ODI Global)
  
  
• American journeys (Feature, ODI Global)

In the wake of our decision at ODI to suspend all activity on X (formerly Twitter), this episode examines the polarisation and hate so prevalent in today’s social media landscape and what is driving it.

Since Elon Musk took ownership of X two years ago there has been a rise of hate speech, mis- and disinformation on the platform. The UK riots, which we dissected in a recent episode, are a case in point. This worrying trend – alongside the commercialisation of its validation functions – led many politicians and organisations to stop using X.

But are we just putting plasters on a much deeper issue? To what extent has this divide in society already existed?

This episode examines these questions, and asks what action is needed to build safer, fairer digital societies. Guests explore the potential of social media to tackle subconscious biases, and take a stand against misinformation and online hate.

We hear about the role policy-makers should play in tackling fake news and misinformation as well as social media platforms themselves, and what role AI could play in influencing these dynamics.

Guests

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI
• Nanjala Nyabola, Kenyan author, political analyst and and activist
• Sandra Pepera, Chief Strategy and Governance Officer, ODI

Related resources

• ODI suspends activity on X (Statement, ODI)
  
  
• Riots, race and misinformation – has alarmist rhetoric on migration gone too far? (Think Change podcast, ODI)
  
  
• How to tackle mis/disinformation with a human centred approach (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• 10 things to know about misinformation and disinformation (Graphics/Briefing note, ODI)
  
  
• Has AI ushered in an existential crisis of trust in democracy? (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• Influencers and incumbency: digital disinformation and discontent in Nigeria's Presidential elections (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• Misinformation in Brazilian elections: can the judiciary stem the tide of political misinformation? (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• A war on many fronts: disinformation around the Russia-Ukraine war (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• How can AI become a force for social good? (Think Change podcast, ODI)
  
  
• Hidden in plain sight: how social media infrastructure shapes gender norms (Report, ODI/ALIGN)

Income inequality is high or worsening within many countries globally. This not only raises serious moral concerns. It also contributes to political instability and undermines inclusive economic growth.

Governments can use taxation to reduce inequality. They do this by taxing people fairly and spending a share of the revenue on social safety nets for the poor, sick, unemployed or those most impacted by negative shocks, such as Covid-19 the climate emergency, and by investing in human capital through education and health.

But many lower income countries cannot afford comprehensive social safety nets. Their options are limited because of rising costs of borrowing and narrow tax bases. This means not enough revenue is collected and not everyone pays their fair share.

In this episode, guests examine how lower income countries can build more effective tax and transfer systems that can support fairer, more resilient and sustainable societies.

The episode unpacks what is really meant by tax systems and social spending, why equitable taxation is critical, how governments can go about improving tax and social protection systems in practice.

Guests

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI
• Hazel Granger ( Senior Research Fellow, ODI)
• Professor Andrés Velasco (Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and former Minister of Finance, Chile)
• Alex Cobham (Chief Executive, Tax Justice Network)
  
  

Related resources

• TaxDev - The centre for tax analysis in developing countries
  
  
• Income inequality, gender and the role of tax and transfers (Event video and podcast, ODI)
  
  
• Fiscal policy and gender income inequality: the role of taxes and social spending (Report, ODI)
  
  
• The problem with tax potential estimates – key considerations to develop sustainable tax systems (Insight, ODI)
  
  
• Inflation, incomes and inequality – how can lower-income countries use fiscal policy to the greatest effect? (Insight, ODI)