What is POFA?

The Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs (POFA) is an entirely student run Podcast at Johns Hopkins University created by three first-year students in 2017. At POFA, we speak to professors, students, and foreign policy professionals about the most pressing issues in international relations and global political affairs. In our three years of podcasting, we have had guests from Hopkins’ Homewood campus, SAIS, think tanks including Brookings, CSIS, AEI and Heritage, and even a Vice President.

POFA is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and for special episodes, Youtube!

POFA currently has ten team members and will be welcoming new members in the fall. We post over an episode a week on topical issues in international affairs. At Hopkins, POFA aims to engage with the student body to address the world’s most pressing conflicts and current events. At POFA, we believe that knowledge of the world is essential to a well rounded student and global citizen.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for the latest episodes and updates from our team!

The Future of NATO

1 Dec 20211 Dec 2021 by hopkinspofa, posted in Uncategorized

Established in 1949 as a military alliance to protect against Soviet encroachment into Western Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has worked towards “uniting efforts for collective defense and the preservation of peace and security”, a goal that has remained unchanged over the years. However, in the face of shifting interests and newly emerging threats … Continue reading The Future of NATO

A Post-Duterte Philippines

29 Nov 202129 Nov 2021 by hopkinspofa, posted in Podcast

Rodrigo Durterte has brought the world’s attention to the Philippines with his brash, populist rhetoric and tough-on-crime policies. In this episode we look at the president’s rise to power, his major foreign, and domestic policies, and to what extent he will step back from Filipino politics. Joining us to answer these questions is Joshua Kurlantzick. … Continue reading A Post-Duterte Philippines

China’s Evolving Nuclear Arsenal

24 Nov 202124 Nov 2021 by hopkinspofa, posted in Podcast

In late July, China conducted a test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that entered low earth orbit, circled the globe, and struck a predetermined target in China. The test allegedly stunned U.S. military and intelligence officials for its complexity, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley calling the test a near “sputnik … Continue reading China’s Evolving Nuclear Arsenal

A Fraught Moment for African Democracy

19 Nov 2021 by hopkinspofa, posted in Podcast

Since August, of last year there have been more coups in sub-Saharan Africa than at any time for the past two decades – Mali in August 2020, Chad in April 2020, Mali again in May 2021, Guinea in September, and Sudan just last month. In this episode we discuss the recent trends of turmoil and … Continue reading A Fraught Moment for African Democracy

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