Guy Burton

Pinning the list of books I've published here, which gives you some idea of what I've done, can do and am interested in. I'm looking for policy/think tank related work in Brussels which might cover these areas (or not), so if you know of any relevant contacts or leads, then please DM me!

Our latest @footpolpodcast.bsky.social episode is now out. Do check it out!

On @france24.com last night discussing Saudi Arabia’s sporting postponements. The Houthi attacks are the trigger, but Riyadh was already reshaping its diversification strategy before the fighting, so investment-linked events are less affected. Thanks to Piera Rocco & Marc Owen.

Is Man City sportswashing or something bigger? I spoke to @tomthehack.bsky.social at the @scmpnews.bsky.social about the UK–UAE ties behind the case. Burnham’s first response was tone deaf, and rival clubs who feel they lost out will chase this for years. ⚽️ www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Can Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup survive the region’s wars? I spoke to @tomthehack.bsky.social at the @scmpnews.bsky.social about the Gulf’s sporting ambitions. What sets it apart from past hosts is the volatility: no one knows if the threats will escalate or subside. www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Here's some other commentary from me about the BRICS after last weekend's summit. This time an interview for Astro Awami TV's Amirul Aiman in Malaysia. international.astroawani.com/video/us-pre...

I was quoted in @aljazeera.com on BRICS before last weekend's summit. My main points were: The 'West' is breaking down, so it's unclear what BRICS would even challenge. On Iran: membership gives Tehran a platform - but members aren't aligning with it. www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/...

Without saying your age, what’s your favorite movie that came out when you were 20 years old?

US policy towards Iran has shifted from deterrence to compellence. The 2026 war shows the costs of that shift — and its failure to deliver. I explore what this means for Trump’s options in my new article for CEBRI-Journal, Brazil’s leading public policy journal. cebri.org/revista/en/a...

This was too important a story not to discuss, so co-host @drfrancescobelc.bsky.social squeezed time in from his holidays to join me and talk about it.

It's been a fun season, doing the @footpolpodcast.bsky.social with @drfrancescobelc.bsky.social. We've had great guests talk to us about football and politics this year. We're off on a well earned summer break, but we already have plans for new episodes, topics and guests come September. Stay tuned!

This was our last episode of the season. There was a lot to get through and @drfrancescobelc.bsky.social kept me on my toes as I wanted to get it all in within a limited amount of time. I think we did it justice, but we'll let you be the judge of that! Have a listen and let us know what you think.

Our latest @footpolpodcast.bsky.social episode is out! We recorded before the knockout stage and before the biggest controversies. But if anything, they just reinforce the points Gaby made. Personally, I think FIFA is working as intended... But that's not necessarily good for players or fans.

A bit of a change from the World Cup, but still an incredibly important topic and I'm glad that we were both able to cover it and with @cmrobertz.bsky.social do it real justice. Do listen and let us know what you think!

My latest commentary for @eastasiaforum.bsky.social is out. China isn’t mediating the US–Israel–Iran war because it isn’t trying to. Its Middle East strategy is commerce first, not security leadership. A key risk though is prolonged disruption in Hormuz. Do read! eastasiaforum.org/2026/07/01/c...

This is a big deal for us. Podcasts are saturated with football content, but ours is very different. We've found our audience and the reviews have been kind. But we want to achieve more. If you can help us do it by listening, sharing and subscribing, it would really help! www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/

The dominant narrative says Ukraine is gaining the upper hand and Russia is weakening. But what if that's the wrong way to read the war? In the latest Ten Minutes On..., I argue the conflict may be heading towards escalation, not resolution. 🎙️ www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

Our new episode is out! And it's a timely one, given that we're into the World Cup where we've already seen empty seats as a result of the excessive pricing. So it's just as well that we had @moneill94.bsky.social come and explain to us why this points to football's "enshittification." Do listen!

Switzerland held a referendum. Northern Ireland saw protests and disorder. Same underlying issue: migration. Why do similar pressures produce such different political outcomes? That's the question I explore in this week's Ten Minutes On… podcast. www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

Yes, I know Pique divides opinion but I have a soft spot for him. 1986 was the first World Cup I followed. I'm still working out the trauma of England's defeat to Argentina and Brazil going out on penalties to France—which led my 8-year old sister to ask if they could play the game again!

The World Cup starts this week. But do tournaments like this actually transform countries? In the latest Ten Minutes On... episode, I explore the economics, politics and legacy of mega-events—from Barcelona 1992 to USA 1994 and Mexico 1986. 🎧 Listen now. www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

The World Cup starts this week and our latest @footpolpodcast.bsky.social episode is out this week, covering the subject. Unfortunately, I was away when it was recorded, so my co-host @drfrancescobelc.bsky.social did a fantastic job doubling for us both! Do have a listen!

Ebola is back in the DRC. But this isn't just a health story—it's about conflict, aid cuts, weak institutions and global health security. In 10 minutes, I explain why this outbreak matters and what it tells us about future crises. 🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis... ▶️ youtu.be/BAVr09DRbio

I'm catching up on last week, which includes my most recent article for @apsamena.bsky.social on AI in the Gulf and its effort to offer a "Third Option" between the US and China. It was mostly written before the Iran war, so some of the ambitions may face tempering. zenodo.org/records/2019...

A bit late from me, owing to the long weekend and having friends visiting, but I am grateful to @tomthehack.bsky.social for including my words alongside George Cafiero and Dania Thafer in his article on UAE-Israel relations amid the Iran war. www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Pakistan was never supposed to be the key mediator between the US and Iran. So why has Islamabad suddenly become central to Middle East diplomacy? New episode of Ten Minutes On… examines Pakistan’s risky geopolitical balancing act. www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis... #Pakistan #Iran #Geopolitics

This was a great one to record. Living just inside France, it's great to know more about the game in the country here. And @jonathanervine.bsky.social was a really informative guest!

What if Washington no longer wants Cuba’s regime to collapse? After Venezuela and Iran, the US may fear chaos, migration and failed-state collapse more than Havana itself. 🎧 Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis... ▶️ YouTube: youtu.be/NGyjtFBjBbk?...

My contribution on the Trump–Xi meeting: why expectations of a decisive geopolitical turning point may be overstated. The real story is in structural US–China rivalry, strategic ambiguity over Taiwan, trade tensions & uncertainty around US policy coherence. themedialine.org/top-stories/...

Britain’s local elections poses a key question: what happens when electoral systems no longer reflect fragmented societies? New episode of Ten Minutes On… explores democracy, legitimacy & electoral reform from the UK to Canada, France, Japan, Chile & beyond. www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

Our latest @footpolpodcast.bsky.social episode is now out. It's a great complement to tyhe other 3 we've done on World Cup debutants, in which we dig beyond what's happening on the pitch to get a sense of the country itself: its history, politics, society, economy as well as football development.

Not everyone can be a “science Kardashian.” Visibility may bring funding and opportunities, but many equally capable researchers remain unseen. This isn’t just about effort - it’s structural. Celebrity logic elevates a few and leaves the rest overlooked. www.ifo.de/en/cesifo/pu...

I have a New Ten Minutes On episode out today, on El Niño 2026–27 and why it matters. How a climate event can intensify extreme weather, disrupt food production, and raise global prices—especially amid current geopolitical tensions. Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

This whole Mandelson business is so laboured and tedious. Bottom line: No 10 wanted him in, regardless of vetting. It was a political decision, not a failure of process. Does that need a paper trail? Pinning it on civil servants is just deflection. Why can't they admit they got it wrong?

My new podcast episode: Ten Minutes On… After Berlin Last week’s Sudan conference highlights a bigger issue—global humanitarian aid is falling short just as needs hit record levels. Why is funding shrinking, and what does it mean for crises worldwide? www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

I was asked by @tomthehack.bsky.social what the Houthis may do in response to the US blockade of Iran and what options are available to the US in his latest @scmpnews.bsky.social article here: www.scmp.com/week-asia/po... My response:

I was quoted in this @scmpnews.bsky.social by Fan Chen on whether the US is trying to get China into its war wtih Iran. Short answer: I don't think so, at least not directly. For more, here's the link: www.scmp.com/news/china/d...

Back after Easter and I have a new 10 minute podcast episode for you. I look at the economic impact of the US–Israel war on Iran , how it's driving oil prices, inflation & weaker global growth — and why the IMF is warning of a worsening outlook. Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis...

We're back! Our new @footpolpodcast.bsky.social episode looks at football in Jordan, from the historic divisions of the Al-Faisaly/Al-Wehdat rivalry to the unity of the national team and its success in qualifying for the World Cup. We also cover football in refugee camps and among women. Do listen!

On February 27 the Strait of Hormuz was open. US & Israel go to war against Iran. Iran responds by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The US demands a ceasefire and talks. They don't go well. Now the US is talking about blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Who is for opening the Strait of Hormuz?

I should probably put this out there again. It's a short primer I did a few weeks back ahead of the election in Hungary this weekend. Do listen!

New episode 🚨 Courts are starting to treat Big Tech differently: not as platforms hosting content, but as systems designed for harm. Meta rulings this week could reshape liability, regulation & platform design. 🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/2354388/epis... #TechPolicy #BigTech #AI

This is well worth listening to! Sandeep gave a really insightful look at football in India, which takes us away from the elite level to examine how it is embraced in local communities, including marginalised areas of India. I always enjoy these episodes, as they open a door into less studied areas!