Robert Patman
International relations specialist on SIS, MI6 raid on Czechoslovakian embassy
New Zealand's security intelligence agency, the SIS, carried out multiple clandestine raids, breaking into foreign embassies in Wellington in the latter part of the 1980s, in breach of the Vienna… Audio
International professor of law talks about Iran and the US
Otago University Professor Robert Patman talks about the developments in the situation with Iran and the U.S. Audio
What next for the Iran-US conflict
Donald Trump has announced that Iran is standing down from escalating conflict with the US, but Otago University international relations Professor Robert Patman says there could be more to come. Audio
Iran-US conflict: what it means for NZ
A professor of international relations is criticising the United States' actions against Iran as strategically incoherent, saying they could undo years of work rooting out terrorists in the region.
… Audio
Trump becomes third US president ever to be impeached
Donald Trump has become the third US president in history to be impeached. Audio
Explainer: What does impeachment really mean?
A formal impeachment hearing will be opened against President Donald Trump. There's has been a lot of reaction to the news, but what is impeachment and what can history tell us about the process? Audio
May's cabinet culled as Boris Johnson stamps mark
Boris Johnson has conducted a thorough purge of Theresa May's cabinet, stacking the most influential roles in the British government with hardline Brexiteers. Otago University professor Robert Patman… Audio
Defence Force upgrades have multifaceted purpose - Patman
The government is defending its spending of more than $20 billion to upgrade the country's defence hardware, in what it calling a "humanitarian plan."
Included in the spending is more than $1 billion… Audio
Theresa May and the political future of the UK
It's been another huge day for UK politics. Theresa May has seen another cabinet minister resign and is expected to do so herself soon. But that's been the case before. Audio
No right-wing extremists or white supremacist groups on UN list
There isn't a single right-wing extremist or white supremacist group or individual on a list of terrorist threats created by the United Nations. The police have published the list of Designated… Audio
Peters heads to Turkey as Erdogan threatens over mosque attacks
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is on his way to Turkey to talk to the government about incendiary comments made by the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Erdogan had described the shooting in… Audio
What to do about 'Kiwi Jihadi' Mark Taylor?
Mark Taylor the New Zealander captured in an Islamic State battlefield, is stuck in Syria without a passport. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she's not willing to risk other people's lives in… Audio
Huawei takes full-page 5g ads in NZ newspapers
This morning Huawei has gone on the offensive taking out full page ads in New Zealand newspapers. The ad's headline reads "5G without Huawei is like rugby without New Zealand." It says without Huawei… Audio
Winston Peters to meet Pompeo, Pence in US
Foreign Minister Winston Peters leaves today for a trip to the United States where he'll meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence. While in Washington, Mr Peters will… Audio
The Russia Probe for Dummies
The investigation into Russian interference in the US election gained some real traction over the weekend. For those not following this closely it can start seeming a bit murky. So we thought we'd do… Audio
Qatar sold $12bn in fighter jets
The US president Donald Trump has accused Qatar of funding terrorism. We ask Robert Patman of the University of Otago why the US then sold the state $12bn worth of fighter jets. Audio
Conflict on the Korean Peninsula
Conflict on the Korean Peninsula is looking more and more likely with rhetoric from both North Korea's leader and President Trump ramping up. Audio
New Zealand's time on the UN Security Council comes to an end
The start of the new year marked the end of New Zealand's time on the United Nations Security Council. Audio
The Rise of the Right
From Europe to the US, and even in Australia, nativist right-wing movements are on the rise. Otago University professor of politics and international relations Robert Patman and Marc Wilson, the… Audio
Book Review - Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets
Robert Patman reviews 'Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets' by Svetlana Alexievich (translated by Bela Shayevich), published by Text Publishing Audio