At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Jeff Taliaferro: Against the Grain, The Making of a Realist
In this episode, I speak with Professor Jeffrey Taliaferro of the Fletcher School, a leading scholar of international relations and a key voice in the development of neoclassical realism. We explore the formative experiences that led him to study great power strategy and the complex relationships between great powers and their allies. Jeff reflects on realism’s resurgence after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the degree to which international relations theories shape policy - or fail to - and how orthodoxies can create blind spots even for scholars. We close with his observations on teaching new generations of students and the enduring lessons of history for today’s world.
Recorded on 21 August 2025.
Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jeff-taliaferro-3a403a/.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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