Diplomacy and International Relations by Bastian Friborg

Summer 03: The Hidden Actors of Global Politics 02.06.2026 44min

Listen to this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations summer series where we unpack states, organizations, corporations, and individuals and their role on the global stage.If you want to support the podcast, please go to Patreon and subscribe for weekly and monthlybriefings on Danish politics, and access to bonus episodes of the podcast.Follow this link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

Summer 02: Diplomacy - The Hidden Machinery of Global Power 26.05.2026 49min

Listen to this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations summer series where we explore the US-Iran hostage crisis to nuclear deal, revealing how diplomatsmaintain the "long peace."If you want to support the podcast, please go toPatreon and subscribe for weekly and monthly briefings on Danish politics, and access to bonus episodes of the podcast. Follow this link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

Summer 01: The Violent Invention of the Modern State 19.05.2026 33min

Listen to this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations summer series where we trace how empires, wars, and state formation created today's international system — and Denmark's place within it.If you want to support the podcast, please go to Patreon and subscribe for weekly and monthlybriefings on Danish politics, and access to bonus episodes of the podcast.Follow this link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

Summer Intro: Why World War 3 Hasn't Happend 12.05.2026 23min

Listen to this first episode of the summer series that will take the listener through the basics of International Relations. Relevant for students and practitioners alike.If you wantto support the podcast, please go to Patreon and subscribe for weekly and monthlybriefings on Danish politics, and access to bonus episodes of the podcast.Follow this link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

Plato and Diplomacy 05.05.2026 25min

Plato’s political failures, ethical insights, and critique of democracy still shape how we think about power, war, and justice today. In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations, we revisit Plato’s Seventh Letter, his doubts about democracy and written words, and the evolution of just war theory through Christian thought to ask what his legacy means for modern diplomacy and global conflict.If you like what you hear, please consider supporting on Patreon, where you will also gain access to weekly and monthly briefings on Danish politics.https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture

When AI and Algorithms Rewrite the Rules of Statecraft 28.04.2026 11min

Listen to this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations if you are interested in how the algorithms of Big Tech and AI influence how we see the world and thereby Statecraft.Also, follow on Patreon where you can gain access to briefings and insights from Danish politics.https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

How Consultants and Lobbyists Shape Power 26.04.2026 20min

In today’s political landscape, decision-making is no longer confined to elected officials alone. A powerful, professionalized class of consultants and lobbyists now operates behind the scenes, using advanced data analytics, psychological insights, and strategic communication to shape both policy and electoral outcomes.In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations, we explore how political consulting has evolved into a multi-billion dollar global industry, and the tensions this creates between winning elections and sustaining democratic integrity. As we move into 2025, the growing use of artificial intelligence in voter micro-targeting, alongside the expanding influence of “dark money,” raises urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and public trust in democratic systems.If you like what you hear and want to support this podcast, you can follow and subscribe on Patreon and gain access to more episodes and weekly and monthly briefings on Danish politics.https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

Denmark's Foreign Policy Explained 21.04.2026 12min

This episode will take a look at Danish Foreign Policy and how it has changed in recent years.Listen if foreign policy interest you and you want to hear how it can change due to circumstances.Also, get this episode and much more on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

How a Tiny State can Influence European Energy Politics 14.04.2026 41min

Denmark is small, but in EU climate policy it’s a heavyweight. In this episode of “Diplomacy and International Relations,” we unpack how the 2012 Danish EU Presidency used a smart toolbox of coalitions, technical expertise and non‑state actors to shape the Energy Efficiency Directive—and how today’s ambitious climate goals and public‑private partnerships make Denmark a green front‑runner setting standards far beyond its borders.https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

Geopolitics when the map washes away 07.04.2026 20min

In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations we take a look at Climate politics and its consequences. Listen along.If you like what you hear and want briefings on Danish Politics, please follow me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/iqulture/

The Danish Model - The Economic Bumblebee 31.03.2026 19min

Denmark stands at a crossroads: a small, high-tech economy riding a pharmaceutical boom, yet increasingly aware of how dependent it has become on a few winners like Novo Nordisk. At the same time, long-run trade data suggest that export patterns are surprisingly sticky, changing only slowly even as governments talk about diversification and resilience.In this episode, we unpack new insights from a 2025 report by the Embassy of Switzerland and an academic study from Aalborg University on export specialization across OECD countries. We explore how Denmark’s recent growth has been powered by its pharma sector, why looming labor shortages and overreliance on a single industry giant pose strategic risks, and what “path dependence” really means for a small open economy. We also look at the subtle global trend toward de-specialization, where countries gradually broaden their trade profiles instead of betting everything on a few sectors.Finally, we zoom in on the evolving economic relationship between Denmark and Switzerland, especially in chemicals and machinery, and ask what a more diversified, resilient Danish economy could look like over the next decade. If you’re interested in how export structures, industrial policy, and international partnerships shape a nation’s future room for maneuver, this conversation is for you.If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the podcast either on Apple Podcast or on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe Also follow my content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/IQulture or Medium: https://medium.com/bastian-friborg-consulting

Extra - Danish Election and How Danish Prime Ministers have navigated internationally 28.03.2026 46min

This extra episode of Diplomacy and International Relations explores the results of the recent general election and Denmark’s evolution into a "super‑Atlanticist" state, moving from Cold War restraint to a more militarized, activist foreign policy aimed at securing top‑tier status with the United States. We connect increased defense spending, the end of the EU defense opt‑out, and deeper European integration to Copenhagen’s search for security in a more volatile world.At home, we look at how Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen fuses left‑wing welfare politics with hardline immigration policies, and how the 2026 elections, inflation, healthcare, and tensions over Greenland are reshaping Denmark’s political landscape. Together, these dynamics show a small state trying to balance humanitarian values with the pragmatic demands of alliance loyalty and national defense.If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the podcast on Apple Podcast or here on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Denmark's Diplomatic Ties to Latin America - A Green Pivot 24.03.2026 18min

In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations, we trace nearly two centuries of ties between Denmark and Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Argentina, from 19th‑century trade treaties to today’s partnerships on green energy, technology, and climate diplomacy. We look at how commerce, royal and presidential visits, and a shared agenda on sustainability have turned distant partners into strategic collaborators across the Atlantic.We also confront the more uncomfortable chapters of this story: Denmark’s colonial legacy in the Caribbean and the hybrid identities of Danish immigrant communities in South America. Along the way, we unpack how questions of memory, migration, and climate justice shape Denmark’s modern soft power—and why Copenhagen is now investing in climate policy advocacy throughout the region.If you are curious how a small Nordic state has maintained influence and presence across the Americas through a mix of trade, colonization, and 21st‑century cooperation, this episode offers a nuanced, long‑term perspective.If you want to support the podcast, please consider doing so either on Apple Podcast or Spotify using this link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Denmark Becomes Architect of European Security 17.03.2026 53min

In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations, we unpack the 2025 European Defence Fund (EDF) work programme and its €1.065 billion push to hard‑wire strategic autonomy into Europe’s security architecture. From cyber defense, space technologies, and next‑generation combat systems to the role of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in knitting together Europe’s armed forces, we explore how Brussels is turning industrial policy into defense capability.We then zoom in on Denmark’s proposed 50 billion DKK defense buildup and its new national strategy for protecting critical infrastructure, asking how a traditionally cautious small state is becoming a front‑runner on operational technology (OT) security and digital sovereignty. Along the way, we discuss why Ukrainian participation in EU defense projects matters for Europe’s long‑term security order, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping everything from situational awareness to resilience against hybrid threats.If you want to understand how a more unified European defense landscape is emerging—through technology, cross‑border partnerships, and a new focus on resilience—this episode is for you.If you want to support the podcast, please consider subscribing either on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Expat in Denmark - what to know 14.03.2026 43min

Moving to and working in Denmark involves navigating a comprehensive welfare state that prioritizes a high quality of life and a healthy work-life balance. Professional life is defined by flat hierarchies, informal communication, and the "Flexicurity" model, which blends labor market flexibility with strong social safety nets. Newcomers must manage a highly digitalized bureaucracy, centered on obtaining a CPR number and MitID to access essential services like healthcare and banking. While the country offers social stability and family-friendly policies, expats often face challenges such as a high cost of living, competitive housing markets, and a reserved social culture governed by the egalitarian "Jante Law". Successful integration typically requires learning the Danish language and participating in the local "foreningsliv" or club culture to build community. Diverse cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense provide distinct opportunities ranging from international business hubs to family-oriented tech centers.If you like the podcast, please subscribe on Apple Podcast or Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Arctic power shifts from Copenhagen to Nuuk 10.03.2026 21min

An arena of ice is turning into a frontline of power politics. In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations, we unpack how the Arctic, and especially Greenland, is becoming a strategic hotspot as great‑power rivalry moves northward.We explore Greenland’s evolving relationship with the Kingdom of Denmark, and how melting ice is opening new shipping routes and access to vast mineral resources that attract the United States, Russia, China, and an increasingly assertive European Union. Drawing on recent assessments from Danish intelligence, we examine why a shift toward U.S. hemispheric security raises questions about Washington’s long‑term commitment in the High North, and how this uncertainty shapes allied planning and regional governance.The episode also dives into the politics of Greenlandic independence and how internal demands for greater autonomy complicate external military, economic, and environmental interests. Finally, we ask what enhanced coordination among Western allies might look like in practice if the Arctic is now a primary arena for major‑power rivalry—and what is at stake for small states, Indigenous communities, and global stability.If you like the podcast, please consider subscribing: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Make-Believe Statehood in Turkey and Cyprus. The power of documents 03.03.2026 11min

In this episode of Diplomacy and International Relations, we take a closer look into the anthropology of documents and the affective life of the state: how passports, ID cards, forms, and borders become “phantasmatic” objects that provoke anxiety, dependence, and desire. Drawing on research from Turkey and Northern Cyprus, we explore how secularist and Islamist identities are crafted and contested through symbols like the veil and the image of Atatürk, and how ruins, checkpoints, and looted landscapes shape everyday experiences of sovereignty. Rather than treating borders as neutral lines on a map, we ask how states are lived as “make-believe” spaces built out of paperwork, rituals, and shared fantasies—and what this means for diplomacy, conflict, and belonging in modern polities.https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Denmark's Pivot from F-16s to Wind Turbines - Diplomatic Relations with the Middle East 24.02.2026 15min

In this episode Diplomacy and International Relations focus on Denmark and the Middle East and North Africa. From Enlightenment-era expeditions and cultural curiosity to post-9/11 military interventions, alliance politics, and climate-driven “green” diplomacy, the show unpacks how a small state navigates a turbulent region at a geopolitical crossroads. If you like what you hear and want to support the podcast, please subscribe using this link https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe or on Apple Podcast.

Denmark Between Arctic Foes and Risky Allies 17.02.2026 13min

Listen to this episode on how small and medium states deal with the uncertainties of today's world.We focus on Denmark and what a small state can secure itself.We talk APECC and Arctic.If you enjoy this podcast, please consider subscribing via this link or on Apple Podcast.https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe

Losing Sovereignty to the Digital? 14.02.2026 33min

In a world where minds, not borders, have become the new battleground, national sovereignty begins with the sovereignty of thought. This episode of Diplomacy and International Relations explores how technology, data, and psychopolitics have colonized the human interior—and what it will take for leaders and citizens to reclaim autonomy.From Byung-Chul Han’s “digital camp” to Heidegger’s “They” and Nietzsche’s Amor Fati, we trace how surveillance capitalism subtly transforms freedom into servitude and isolates the diplomatic imagination. The conversation examines why authentic dialogue and solitude are now matters of strategic security, not just self-care, and how digital minimalism can serve as a form of decolonial resistance.Drawing on existential thinkers—from Kierkegaard to Camus and Fanon—we outline a toolkit for the modern diplomat: reclaim agency, pursue ethical intentionality, and cultivate the courage to stand apart from the herd. In the end, the episode challenges each of us to become an Authentic Rebel—to restore humanity, empathy, and sovereignty in an age of algorithmic control.Call to Action: Track your “eyeball minutes,” reclaim your attention, and join the 30-day Digital Declutter. Because the real struggle for freedom now begins not in negotiation halls—but within the mind itself.If you enjoy the podcast please consider subscribing either on Apple Podcast or on Spotify using this link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/iqulture/subscribe