The Focus (Auscast Network)

In this episode, we are joined by Haitian-born writer and journalist Monique Clesca to speak about the tragic situation of her home country - the Republic of Haiti. Riven by endemic corruption, gang violence, foreigners backing anti-democratic forces and hit by natural calamities, is there any hope for this country? Join us to find out.

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In this episode, we’re joined by US-based international debunker, Mick West where we discuss the recent claims made by former US intelligence officer, David Grusch, on the US government hiding a UFO/UAP crash retrieval program. We’ve dealt in some seriously interesting topics, but this one takes the cake!

Show Notes:

For more about the centrality of Skin Walker Ranch to the current UFO/UAP narrative see Steven Greenstreet’s take-down of the place on his YouTube series on the following links:

Part 1 - https://youtu.be/VwfaAz9kxcc

Part 2 - https://youtu.be/sCQRMGOc9M8

Part 3 - https://youtu.be/8Bp0weO-hiI 

Part 4 - https://youtu.be/Q9Kwv_p2Cww

Final - https://youtu.be/3Tsg0X4onCo 

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In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Ori Goldberg, a leading expert on Iran’s political and religious landscape, to dive deep into the complexities of Israel-Iran relations. 

Show Notes
X: @ori_goldberg

Articles by Ori
"What Israelis Don’t Want to Hear About Iran and Hezbollah" (Published in +972 Magazine on September 20, 2024)

https://www.972mag.com/iran-israel-hezbollah-ori-goldberg/

"Israel’s Attack on Hezbollah’s Communications Network Is Not the Victory It Claims" (Published in New Lines Magazine on September 20, 2024)

https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/israels-attack-on-hezbollahs-communications-network-is-not-the-victory-it-claims/

"For Israeli Protesters, Palestine Might as Well Not Exist" (Published in The Nation on September 9, 2024)

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/israel-protests-hostage-deal-palestine/

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The last German National election (26 Sept. 2021) was atypical in that there was no incumbent from the ruling party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) fighting for re-election. Indeed, long-time German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the steady hand of German politics had retired, leaving the party’s fortunes to new CDU leader Armin Laschet. With Laschet & the CDU having lost the election, what lies ahead for Germany and Europe? Will there be change or will things remain the same. To discuss this, John is joined by the Academy for Political Education’s Prof. Ursula Muench.

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In this episode, Nicolas Michelon joins John in discussing the key issues and dilemmas surrounding the 2022 French Presidential Election. Macron might be slated to win, but far-right candidates will maintain their growing hold on the French electorate as people are angry at a French EU political class that has abandoned them for the power politics of the European Parliament in Brussels. The Yellow Vest movement and the issues that have sparked this revolt against the French version of ‘the swamp’ are unlikely to go away as Macron seems safe, almost arrogantly so about the inevitability of his second term. But as Nicolas says, the far-right will evolve, as will the Yellow Vest movement leading to a period of profound instability and domestic political violence in the near-term.
John apologises for having used the term 'yellow jackets’ for ‘yellow vests’! Sometimes things like this slip out while in full discussion!

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Ever wondered what the QAnon phenomenon is and how far reaching its power over the United States body politic? Well fear not dear listener. In this episode we speak with journalist and author Mike Rothschild on his latest book - The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything. I was shocked to find out just how wounded American society and politics is because of this strange and perplexing movement where truth is turned on its ear. Once you listen to this episode, you can’t un-listen to it. And before you say anything Mike is not from THAT Rothschild family. Or is he?

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As the Russia-Ukraine War grinds on, the Western media have been replete with stories of Russian war crimes against Ukrainians. But do these war crimes amount to genocide? The language of genocide has certainly been used by the Russian president, but saying something doesn’t necessarily make it real. And what exactly are the legal parameters of genocide? Join us as John speaks with Prof. Dirk Moses on this thorny issue, Dirk is Frank Porter Graham Distinguished Professor of Global Human Rights History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Are We Ready for AI to Surpass Human Intelligence by 2045?  

Join The Focus Podcast with technologist Evanna Hu as we delve into how AI developments, and AI regulation will impact on our future!

Show Notes:

Omelas Website –

https://www.omelas.io/#1

Evanna’s bio:

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/evanna-hu/

Scowcroft Centre for Strategy & Security

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/scowcroft-center-for-strategy-and-security/

Evanna’s article cited in this podcast:

https://afsa.org/sites/default/files/flipping_book/0624/34/

pages 35-37

Previous Episodes of The Focus dealing with AI:

Steven Feldstein – The Dark Side of AI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpyBcwVmExI&t=85s

Prof. Toby Walsh – Artificial Intelligence: Drone World rather than West World?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gAoq38-Rg&t=201s

Prof. Sam Moyne – Humane War: Making a Better World?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFx0gBV_tm0&t=232s\

Peter Warren – The Future of Chatbots: A Closer Look

https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/the-future-of-chatbots-a-closer-look-with-peter-warren/

Dr. Russell Brinkworth – Drones from the Biology of Insects

https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/drones-from-the-biology-of-insects/

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🔥 What Will Trump 47 Mean for America and the World? 🚨 From immigration crackdowns to a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, we're diving deep with Dr. Roy Casagranda into the policies, global impacts, and controversies that could define Donald Trump’s second term. 🌍 Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on how his leadership might reshape domestic politics, the economy, education, and America’s role on the world stage. 🎙️ Tune in now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else!

Show Notes:

Roy Casagranda Links

X: @RoyCasagranda 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

Books by Roy:

The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

Articles by Roy:

Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

Glossary of Terms:

Affluenza is a term that combines "affluence" and "influenza" to describe the negative psychological, social, and ethical consequences of excessive wealth or materialism. It often refers to a condition where individuals, particularly in affluent societies, prioritize material gain and consumerism over meaningful relationships, personal fulfillment, or social responsibility.

Key characteristics of affluenza include:

1.     Entitlement Mentality: A belief that one deserves special treatment or privileges due to wealth or social status.

2.     Lack of Accountability: Difficulty in understanding or facing the consequences of one's actions, often attributed to a sheltered or overly privileged upbringing.

3.     Emotional Detachment: Feelings of emptiness, dissatisfaction, or unhappiness despite material abundance.

4.     Consumer Culture: A compulsion to acquire more possessions, equating them with happiness or success, often leading to financial strain or debt.

The term is often used in both psychological discussions and cultural critiques to highlight the downsides of material wealth and unchecked consumerism. It gained broader recognition after being used in legal contexts to describe the behavior of individuals whose privilege was cited as a factor in poor decision-making or lack of moral responsibility.

Filibuster is a parliamentary tactic used primarily in the U.S. Senate to delay or block legislative action by extending debate on a proposed bill or other matters.

World War I, Battle of Jutland The Battle of Jutland, fought from May 31 to June 1, 1916, was the largest naval battle of World War I and a pivotal clash between the British Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet. It took place in the North Sea, near Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula.

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Since the tragedy that gripped the country of Cambodia during the 1970s under the genocidal rule of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge, the country has managed to re-stabilise itself and even to prosper under long time Prime Minister Hun Sen. But after 37 years in power, has Hun Sen’s lustre waned? In this episode John speaks with journalist David Hutt to find out more.

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The broken state of Libya has long been the jump-off point for African and Middle Eastern refugees fleeing the trouble-plagued African continent for a dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean to Europe. But Libya is hardly a place of welcome. Having only just recovered from a brutal civil war, Libya is now an EU-funded holding-pen for African refugees, Brussels and other European capitals eager to avoid a renewed surge of undocumented arrivals as occurred in 2015. In this episode of The Focus John speaks with Sally Hayden. Sally is an award-winning journalist and photographer currently focused on migration, conflict and humanitarian crises. She is also author of the book: My Fourth Time, We Drowned: Seeking Refuge on the World's Deadliest Migration Route published in 2022 by Melville House.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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🔥 Iran's Largest Missile Barrage Yet! 🔥 In this explosive episode of The Focus, we dive into the unprecedented Iranian missile strikes on Israel in 2024, the largest of its kind since the conflict began. With 200 ballistic missiles fired, retaliation for the assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and Israel's air defenses pushed to the limit, we sit down with Professor Scott Lucas, an expert in international relations, to break down what this all means for the future of the Middle East. Could this be the flashpoint for a larger conflict? 🚨 Don't miss this must-listen episode!

SHOW NOTES:

X: @ScottLucas_EA

Website: eaworldview.com

Books:

(Eds. Bevan Sewell & Scott Lucas ) Challenging US Foreign Policy: America and the World in the Long Twentieth Century, 2011.

(Eds. Scott Lucas & Ali Fisher) The Trials of Public Diplomacy, 2010.

Scholarly Articles:

Lucas, Scott & Paraszczuk, Joanna. (2014). The Middle East: Between Geography and Power. Bustan: The Middle East Book Review. 5. 17-23. 10.1163/18785328-00501002. 

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In this episode of The Focus, we speak with Burmese journalist-in-exile Mratt Kyaw Thu. Mratt escaped from Myanmar in the aftermath of the Burmese military coup that unseated leader Ang San Suu Kyi in February of this year. We ask Mratt about his own travails and the problems within his long-troubled & often overlooked country.

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Like the old classic song by Kenny Rogers, The Gambler goes: 

“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em,

Know when to fold ’em,

Know when to walk away,

And know when to run,

You never count your money,

When you’re sittin’ at the table,

There’ll be time enough for countin’,

When the dealin’s done”

In this episode, John speaks with former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia, Eka Tkeshelavili, on Ukraine and Putin. Is the Russian President about to pull off another of his signature surprises and stun the world by taking Ukraine in part or completely? Or, has he overstretched Russia’s strategic limits and boxed himself into a corner through a miscalculated gamble? Who else to better unpack this international puzzle than someone who has experienced a Russian attack on her country back in 2008. 

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In this episode we follow up an old story that we reported back when we were a radio show on Radio Adelaide. It’s arguably one of the world’s most difficult issues to grapple with and it comes down to what we in the West value most, money or morality. In the neoliberal age we live in, often also called a post-ideological age, money and profit are the glues that keep societies together. So long as we all value profit, we can all get along. But can we? If we sell out to the great 'monetary god’, are we not in danger of selling out our soul in a sort of Faustian pact? The West has this problem over what to do with totalitarian China. Elites in the West and the People’s Republic like making money and so long as trade and commerce generates wealth for both, everyone’s happy. But when this wealth is generated on the backs of repressed and persecuted minorities, do we care? This problem dogs the the world’s Muslim countries too. In China, Muslim Uyghurs are being persecuted and repressed. In many Muslim countries, Chinese money and good relations with a secular, ‘godless' communist regime in China IS rated as more important than the fate of Uyghur co-religionists.  Join us as John talks with U.S. based Uyghur activist Rushan Abbas on this important issue.
If you want to know about Rushan Abbas’ Documentary 'In Search of My Sister’, you can rent or buy it for a modest fee on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/insearchofmysister 
If you want to know more about the work of Rushan’s organisation: Campaign for Uyghurs, please follow this link: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/ 

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In this interview with Deakin University’s Emeritus Prof Damien Kingsbury, John discusses the main themes of Damien’s latest book “The Rise and Decline of Modern Democracy”, Routledge, 2023. What is democracy? How old is the variant we are living with? How has neoliberal economics played its part in diminishing its importance around the world, leading to the rise of autocracy. Join us for this fascinating discussion.

https://www.routledge.com/The-Rise-and-Decline-of-Modern-Democracy/Kingsbury/p/book/9781032218168

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In our latest episode of The Focus, renowned demographer Dr. Paul Morland unpacks one of the most controversial and alarming issues of our time: global depopulation. What happens when the world's population shrinks? How does this shift impact economies, geopolitics, and future generations? Are we truly facing a "population crisis," or is there more to the story? Tune in as we dive into shocking data and explore the hidden truths behind declining birth rates, aging societies, and the consequences no one is talking about. This is an episode you can’t afford to miss!

Show Notes

Paul’s website can be seen here: https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/

You can contact Paul on X at - @MorlandDemog

If you are interested in reading his works, including his latest, published this year, No One Left, please check out a list of his recent books below:

• No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children, 2024
• Tomorrow's People: The Future of Humanity in Ten Numbers, 2022
• The Human Tide: How Population Shaped the Modern World, 2019
• Demographic Engineering: Population Strategies in Ethnic Conflict, 2018 

Recent OpEds by Paul can be found here:

• https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/articles-paul-morland

And check out this from The New Statesman – 

• Is there a progressive argument for pro-natalism? The New Statesman, 10/07/2024
•  https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/07/paul-morland-interview-is-there-progressive-argument-for-pro-natalism

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The allegations that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff were involved in office parties while the rest of the UK population were expected to abide by strict lockdown provisions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have become a significant problem for Johnson and the Conservative Party. Unfortunately, the anticipated Gray Report, which should clearly show the culpability of those involved in these parties, has yet to be released when recording this podcast. The importance of this report is that it might trigger the resignation of Johnson as British PM. To discuss this, John speaks with Emeritus Professor Paul Whiteley from the Department of Government, University of Essex.

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What does the dawn of Trump’s second presidency mean for America and the world? In this hard-hitting episode of The Focus, host John Bruni sits down with Dr. Roy Casagranda to break down the first three weeks of the Trump 47 administration.

Show Notes:

Roy Casagranda LinksX: @RoyCasagranda Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

Books by Roy:The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

Articles by Roy:Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

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In this episode, we speak with former British investigative journalist and politician in the Blair government, Chris Mullin. Tony Blair is a man for all seasons. Condemned for his support of US President George W. Bush’s disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq, not all of Blair’s political legacy is negative or about Iraq. However, Iraq haunts the former British Prime Minister in a way that continues to damage his reputation no matter what ‘good works’ he applies himself to. 

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode, John speaks with Dr. Ana Dolidze, leader of the For the People Party who recently challenged incumbent Tbilisi’s Mayor, Kakha Kaladze. How important was this mayoral election to the city of Tbilisi, capital of the Republic of Georgia? Did this election signal a shift in Georgian politics generally? This interview was conducted while Ana was being driven to her office in Tbilisi.  She was holding the phone in her hand and the noise you hear in the background is the that of her jewellery on her arm.

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Join us on The Focus as Dr. Alice Yang dives deep into the volatile dynamics of Taiwan's political landscape, its tense relationship with China, and what the future holds for this strategic island nation. Don't miss this eye-opening discussion that uncovers the real stakes and hidden narratives behind one of Asia's most critical geopolitical issues!

Show Notes:

Dr. Alice Yang Bio:

https://indsr.org.tw/en/member?resid=8&uid=2&pid=90

Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR):

https://indsr.org.tw/en/index

Notable Publications:

Annual Assessment Reports at INDSR: These reports cover various aspects of Taiwan's defence strategy, including military technology trends and China's military developments​ (INDSR)​.

Weaponized Interdependence: China’s Economic Statecraft and Social Penetration against Taiwan: This paper discusses how China uses economic means to influence and penetrate Taiwanese society, published in the journal Orbis​ (TAEF)​.

Building a Disaster Resilient Community in Taiwan: Co-authored with Judy H.S. Wu, this research analyses the social capital in disaster preparedness in Taiwan, published in Politics and Governance​(TAEF)​.

Enabling Human Values in Foreign Policy: This paper explores the transformation of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, emphasizing the human values driving Taiwan's foreign policy, published in the Journal of Human Values​ (TAEF)​.

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Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's use of migrants against the countries of Poland and Lithuania is but one example whereby aggressor-states are now deliberately blurring the lines between war and peace. Plausible deniability of these sorts of non-military ‘attack’ can leave the recipient country in a legal and ethical quandary. Do they counter? Do they simply absorb the attack and do nothing? Welcome to the peculiar world of 21st Century conflict. In this episode John speaks with the University of Canberra’s  Prof. Sascha-Dominik Doc Bachmann on this new, innovative form of conflict and where it may lead.

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It’s been twenty years since the March 2003 Iraq War. The country is still unstable. The U.S. has by and large forgotten about the war and probably will only will re-engage with Iraq if radical group ISIS makes a major comeback. Iraqis are now left to themselves to pick up the pieces from years of international isolation, foreign military intervention and civil war. Was the 2003 Iraq War worth the effort? Did a neutered Saddam really pose a danger to the international order in the Middle East? Join John as he speaks with Yale scholar, Emma Sky to discuss this issue.

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For years, the US military-industrial complex has been hard at work perfecting weapon systems that can leave a lighter footprint wherever the American military is deployed. It's not a perfect path. Indeed there have been many military missions instigated by Washington that have failed despite the technologies employed. Nonetheless, with increasing accuracy, fewer manned weapons are needed to accomplish a military operation and, historically speaking, war is becoming ‘cleaner' over time. For the US and its allies that is, but what about for the rest of the world? Today, from the US, we are joined by Prof. Samuel Moyn. Sam is Henry R. Luce Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School and Professor of History at Yale University. In this episode we’ll be examining the major themes from his latest book, Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War.

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In this episode we are joined by the Council on Foreign Relation’s (CFR) Dr. Benn Steil to talk about his book: The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War. This is a fascinating discussion about the political and strategic manoeuvrings that led to a divided Europe and US global ascendancy in the post-World War II international order.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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🎉 Get ready to dive deep into the thrilling world of international relations! 🌍

In this electrifying episode, we've got the brilliant and dynamic Lauren Sukin, a young scholar hailing from the prestigious London School of Economics. 🎓 Hold on tight, folks, because this Assistant Professor of International Relations is about to take us on a wild ride!

Buckle up for an explosive conversation that zeroes in on one of the most pressing global concerns: North Korea. 🚀 Lauren's expertise in nuclear weapons and alliance politics will leave you at the edge of your seat as we unravel the intricate web of threats posed by this enigmatic nation.

But wait, there's more! 🌟 Discover why America is struggling to rein in North Korea's behavior, and prepare to be blown away by the depth of knowledge and insights that Lauren brings to the table. It's an exceptionally engaging and detailed discussion that you won't want to miss!

Get ready to expand your horizons and gain a whole new perspective on international affairs. Hit that subscribe button, smash that like button, and join us for a mind-blowing journey through the world of geopolitics! 🌐💥

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🔥 Unraveling Yemen's Political Maze: The Shocking Truth Revealed!

💥 Brace yourselves for an eye-opening conversation that shatters every preconceived notion about Yemen! In an exclusive episode, John delves deep into the heart of Yemen's political labyrinth with none other than the European Institute of Peace's Senior Advisor, Hisham Al-Omeisy.

🌍 Prepare to have your worldview rocked as Hisham and John dissect the enigmatic layers of Yemen's intricate politics. Forget everything you thought you knew about this tumultuous nation because the truth is far more baffling than you could ever imagine!

💣 But that's not all! Dive into the murky waters of Yemen's maritime chaos as Hisham and John uncover the startling motivations behind the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. Spoiler alert: It's not what the mainstream media wants you to believe!

🔍 Don't miss out on this riveting discussion that challenges the very fabric of conventional wisdom. Buckle up as we embark on a journey through Yemen's untold stories – the revelations will leave you speechless! Click now to uncover the shocking truth that's been hiding in plain sight!

Show Notes:

Hisham Al-Omeisy’s bio - https://www.eip.org/team-organisation/hisham-al-omeisy/

Hisham’s story as a prisoner of the Houthis - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/prominent-yemeni-activist-detained-houthis-sanaa

Hisham’s take on the West v. Houthis - https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/west-vs-houthis-experts-warn-middle-east-a-powder-keg-call-for-political-solution-to-red-sea-standoff/3112691#

Hisham speaks with CNN’s Christine Amanpour - https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2024/02/06/amanpour-yemen-houthis-hisham-al-omeisy.cnn

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In this episode, John speaks with Prof. Anna Sergi from the University of Essex on the inner workings of the mafia and more particularly the Calabrian Ndrangheta. With its tentacles all over the world how organised is this organised crime syndicate? Do all roads lead back to Reggio Calabria, or is this a more diffuse criminal network?

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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A lot has been said about Neoliberal economics and its socio-political consequences. In this podcast, we are joined by Cambridge University’s Professor Gary Gerstle to discuss the key themes of his new book: The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order. This is a journey into the dark heart of how neoliberal economics came to dominate economic life, everywhere. But it also a surprisingly optimistic in how we might escape the worst aftereffects of this philosophy.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Policing in the 21st Century is no easy thing. There’s the neoliberal impulse to do more with less people and resources. There’s the problem of bureaucratic and legal red tape which never seems to bring timely justice and security to the community and of course there’s the problem of 21st Century technology where crime has been digitised and moved into cyberspace, giving tech savvy criminals the edge over police agencies all over the world. Join John as he speaks with Director of Strategic Solutions at Thomson Reuters and former Police Officer with the London Met, Mark Nuttall, as they discuss the challenges of modern policing.

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In this episode, John is joined by author and journalist John Higgs where they talk about John’s new book, William Blake Versus The World. In this podcast you will get to learn about the extremely forward-thinking English poet and artist about his unique cosmology and way of thinking. If you thought you knew something about Blake before, you’ll know much more after listening to this fascinating interview.

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Today we are joined once again by Dr. Sean McFate in part two of our exploration of the evolution of warfare in the 21st Century. Here we focus on Sneaky War, something Sean raised the last time he was on with us. Oh, and Sean also shares his insights regarding the alleged assassination of Wagner Boss Yevgeny Prigozhin & founder Dmitri Utkin.

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In this episode of The Focus, host John Bruni sits down with Professor John Blaxland to unravel the complexities of the AUKUS security pact and its implications for global power dynamics. As the world shifts into an era of unrestricted competition between China & the U.S., what does AUKUS really mean for the future of international security? Are Australia, the U.S., and the UK prepared for the challenges ahead? Tune in as we go beyond the headlines to uncover the real stakes of this landmark agreement. Don’t miss this essential conversation on the shifting tides of global strategy!

Show Notes:

X : 

@JohnBlaxland1

Books:

Revealing Secrets

By Clare Birgin, John Blaxland 1 May 2023

The US-Thai Alliance and Asian International Relations

By Gregory Raymond, John Blaxland 2 June 2021

In from the Cold

By John Blaxland, Michael Kelly, Liam Brewin Higgins 19 March 2020

The Secret Cold War

By John Blaxland, Rhys Crawley 26 April 2017

The Protest Years

By John Blaxland 1 October 2016

The Australian Army from Whitlam to Howard

By John Blaxland 16 October 2013

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In the age of COVID, there is little ‘good news’ in how countries have dealt with this global pandemic. However, one good news story comes from an unexpected source - Cuba. This small and isolated Caribbean state, lumbered by US sanctions and with a small, underdeveloped economy, has produced and distributed its own version of the COVID-19 vaccine, even assisting other countries in managing their own relationship to the pandemic. In this episode, John is joined by Prof. Jennifer Ruth Hosek from Queen’s University Ontario, Canada. Professor Hosek recently wrote an article for The Conversation extolling the virtues of Cuba’s actions and what sets it apart from how other countries have countered COVID-19. If you would like to know more about Jenn’s latest article in The Conversation, click the following link: Big Pharma vs. Little Cuba: Why Cubans trust vaccines and how they're helping vaccinate the world.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode, we speak once again to Harvard Professor Avi Loeb. This time we talk about his recent Silver Star Expedition. What did he find off the coast of Manus Island (Papua New Guinea)? How will this affect our understanding of the interstellar medium, and if the fragments of IM1 are of ‘intelligent manufacture’, how will this change our view of ourselves in the universe? Join us on a fascinating journey of discovery! 

For those of you who would like to watch ‘Our Future In Space: the Ignatius Forum’ at the National Cathedral in Washington DC back in November 2021, please click on the following link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67KZfeZyw_U

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Few would think that the tiny country of Lithuania has an activist foreign policy agenda, wedged as it is between Poland to its west and Russia to its east. But this country of just over 2 million people has played its part in pushing back the grey zone threat posed by ‘weaponised migrants’ from Belarus, in coordination with fellow EU/NATO state Poland. It has also taken a particularly strong stance against the worst totalitarian excesses of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by overtly backing the Uyghur people of East Turkestan, Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters and supporting an autonomous, democratic Taiwan. In this episode of The Focus, John speaks with Lithuanian MP Dovilė Šakalienė were they discuss this tiny country’s counter migration strategy against Belarus and its bold position against the PRC. What makes this Baltic state so strong in its convictions?

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In this episode we are honoured to have on one of the giants of the Realist School of International Relations, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University, Professor Stephen M. Walt. Stephen talks with John about China’s position in the Indo-Pacific inclusive of China-Russia relations, how America’s rebalance to Asia is proceeding, where India fits in and how strong Australia’s ties are to the US and much more besides. If you want to know about the Indo-Pacific and the key characteristics Sino-American rivalry, then this episode is a must-listen.

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In this espisode, the first one for 2024, we start off hot by speaking with Scott Lucas on events in the Middle East from Gaza to Lebanon and from Yemen to Jordan and Iran, why have things gone so wrong and what lies ahead?

Scott’s latest piece in The Conversation can be found - here

927 Magazine can be found - here

Scott’s website EA Worldview can be found - here

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Join us for an electrifying episode as John reunites with Harvard's esteemed Professor Avi Loeb! It's been almost 11 months since their last conversation, and the world of UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) has been buzzing with groundbreaking developments. From a U.S. Congressional Inquiry shaking up the discourse to the dramatic resignation of the head of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the landscape has never been more intriguing. Plus, delve into the fascinating details of Avi's Silver Star Expedition, where fragments of the mysterious IM1 meteor have undergone rigorous testing. Tune in as we unravel these astonishing updates and much more. Don't miss it!

Show Notes:

https://avi-loeb.medium.com/embracing-nicolaus-copernicus-in-toru%C5%84-6ad3072da35d

https://avi-loeb.medium.com/lessons-from-the-2024-munich-security-conference-78995ef580a9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw9l0mK466I

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In this episode John is joined by Dr. Vittorio Bufacchi from University College, Cork, Ireland, where they spoke on the key themes of Vittorio’s recent book: Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons from Lockdown. In this broadranging conversation they talk about life’s fragility, the art of living, death, the media and politics. What lessons have we learnt from COVID-19? Are we any wiser from the misfortune and injustices that have befallen our societies due to the global pandemic?

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Is there a new 'Harris Doctrine' on the horizon? Join Yale historian Dr. Michael Brenes as we unpack Kamala Harris's foreign policy vision in our latest podcast!

Show Notes:

You can contact Michael here:

X: @mbrenes1

Substack: michaelbrenes.substack.com

Books published by Michael – 

• And, as mentioned in the podcast - The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy, and TO BE published by Yale University Press in January 2025.
• Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic Histories of U.S. Foreign Relations, published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2024.
• For Might and Right: Cold War Defense Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy, published by University of Massachusetts Press in 2020.

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Join us on The Focus as we delve into a gripping conversation with Dr. Andrew A. Michta, senior fellow and director of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council. In this episode, we explore the pivotal moments in history that have shaped our world and discuss the urgent strategic decisions facing the U.S. and its allies today.

Andrew’s Politico Article:

The West’s biggest vulnerability is internal

Andrew’s Bio and Related Sites:

Dr. Andrew A. Michta Bio

Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

The Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

X:

@andrewmichta 

@AtlanticCouncil

@ACScowcroft

Extra:

My Florentine ancestor who wrote De Militia was Leonardo Bruni also known as Leonardo Aretino. He was a major Renaissance Humanist and Historian and Chancellor of Florence 1410-11 & 1427-44.

SACEUR - acronym for Supreme Allied Commander Europe

SHAPE - acronym for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

(U.S.) EUCOM - acronym for United States European Command

Top 5 U.S. Defence Contractors as at 2024 in order of revenue:

1. Lockheed Martin
2. RTX Corporation
3. Northrop Grumman
4. Boeing
5. General Dynamics

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Get ready for an explosive episode with investigative journalist Andrew J. Fowler as we uncover Julian Assange's path to freedom and his future moves.

Show Notes

Books by Andrew J. Fowler - 

Nuked: The Submarine Fiasco that Sank Australia’s Sovereignty, 2024

(New Edition) The Most Dangerous Man in the World: Julian Assange and WikiLeaks Fight for Freedom, 2020

Secret Australia – contributor, 2020

Shooting the Messenger: Criminalising Journalism, 2018

The War on Journalism: Media Moguls, Whistleblowers and the Price of Freedom, 2015

The Most Dangerous Man in the World: Julian Assange and the inside story on WikiLeaks, 2011

Twitter:

@AndrewJFowler

Wikimedia Commons:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Fowler_(journalist)

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The People’s Republic of China and Australia are enjoying their worst relations in decades. Australia sees itself as a front-line state in an overarching Sino-American Cold War in the Indo-Pacific. Central to this Cold War is a battle for influence whereby Beijing dominates all of Asia and displaces America’s forward military presence in the region. Western media has long touted that China is a rising superpower and that its ‘superpowerdom' is inevitable. But how inevitable is it? In this episode, John is joined by Flinders University’s Dr. Michael Sullivan to find out.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode, we are please to have back on The Focus, Dr. Ramzy Baroud. Ramzy speaks to John about the major themes of his latest book -  Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders & Intellectuals Speak Out, published by Clarity Press Inc & the European Centre for Palestine Studies in May 2022.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode John speaks with prominent American strategist Dr. Sean McFate on the increasing use of mercenaries on the modern battlefield. Sean and John discuss mercenaries, the Wagner Group, the fetishisation of modern military technology and nuclear deterrence. Sean says, we are going back to a very old form of war fighting that predates the modern international order. Sean also observes that we are entering an era of 'durable disorder,' another aspect of human affairs that predates what we are used to seeing today. Sadly this episode left much untouched due to time restraints, however, we hope to follow this podcast up with one with Sean entitled 'Sneaky War' in the near future, so stay tuned!

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The Hubble Space Telescope is over 30 years old and is still finding some outstanding new discoveries. Its most recent finding has been the starlight of one of the earliest stars in the known Cosmos, Earendel. In this episode, John speaks with Dr. Victoria Strait. Victoria is DAWN Fellow at the Cosmic Dawn Center within the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen.

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In this episode John speaks with author and journalist David de Jong on his latest book, NAZI Billionaires published by Harper Collins, April 2022. Here we explore the dark history of a handful of German elite families which survived World War II to prosper in the postwar period.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Back in April of this year, we were lucky to have spoken with the University of Portsmouth’s Dr. Frank Ledwidge on the operational aspects of the Russia-Ukraine War. Now, 9 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we speak with Frank again to see how changes on the battlefield have changed the scale and nature of the Russian ’Special Military Operation’. Are we close to determining a winner? Can the Ukrainians defeat the Russians? Will there be a peace settlement before things spiral out of control?

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Join us on The Focus as we delve into the world of deception and skullduggery surrounding the failed Franco-Australian Submarine Deal. Investigative journalist and author Andrew J. Fowler exposes the hidden truths and political manoeuvres that jeopardised Australia's sovereignty and led us to AUKUS. Don't miss this eye-opening episode!

Show Notes:

Connect with Andrew on X - @AndrewJFowler

Buy Andrew’s book Nuked on the following link:

https://www.mup.com.au/books/nuked-paperback-softback

Inside Story piece on Nuked:

https://insidestory.org.au/fear-and-loathing-in-the-american-alliance/

The Newtown Review of Books:

https://newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/andrew-fowler-nuked-the-submarine-fiasco-that-sank-australias-sovereignty-reviewed-by-braham-dabscheck/

Queensland Reviewer’s Collective:

https://www.queenslandreviewerscollective.com/2024/07/02/nuked-by-andrew-fowler/

Previous interviews with Andrew J. Fowler:

Julian Assange: Path to Freedom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPV8xuWpSAk&t=1s

Mike Pezzulo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pezzullo

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As we come out of COP26 Glasgow with a slight taste of disappointment in our mouths, what practical steps are being taken at the everyday level that will help make emission reduction a reality? In this episode John speaks with the University of Calgary’s Blake Shaffer to discuss the practicalities of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Revolution.

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Russia is in the headlines again. With another military mobilisation of some 92,000 Russian troops on the border with neighbouring Ukraine in this episode John speaks with Moscow correspondent for The New Yorker, Joshua Yaffa. John & Joshua discuss Russia’s contemporary strategic positioning and Putin’s power politics within the Russian state. Join us for this extremely insightful interview.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Last month Milorad Dodik sparked international controversy when a vote was cast to pull the autonomous statelet of Republic Srpska out of the Bosnian federation. In this episode of The Focus, John is joined by Bosnian politician and policy analyst Reuf Bajrovic where they discuss the ramifications of this move. Was this in answer to legitimate Bosnian Serb political grievances? How will this affect the area formerly known as Yugoslavia, the site of some of the worst fighting in Europe since World War II. And what will this mean for European strategic stability?

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Join us for an exclusive dive into the July 4, 2024 British election with UK political warhorse Chris Mullin! From insider perspectives to strategic analysis, unlock the secrets of UK politics in our latest podcast episode. Listen now and stay ahead of the electoral game!

Show Notes:

Books by Chris Mullin – 

1982 A Very British Coup

1986, Error of Judgement

2009, A View from the Foothills

2010, Decline & Fall

2011, A Walk-On Part

2016, Hinterland

2019, The Friends of Harry Perkins

2023, Didn’t You Used to be Chris Mullin?

Social Media – 

Website: https://www.chrismullinexmp.com/

X: @chrismullinexmp 

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Today, we have two incredible guests joining us for a deep dive into this pivotal moment in history. Dr. Rodrigo Acuña and Prof. Clinton Fernandes are here to unravel the untold stories, enduring impacts, and the resilient spirit of Chile in the five decades since the historic coup. So, buckle up as we journey through time and uncover the layers of history, right here on The Focus.

Show Notes:
For those interested in getting hold of that book Clinton mentioned by author Nicolas Jose, its called The Idealist & should be out at all good bookstores soon.
For those of you interested in the background and works of Jared Diamond, here’s a little summary for your interest purloined from our friends at Wikipedia: Jared Mason Diamond is an American geographer, historian, ornithologist, and author best known for his popular science books The Third Chimpanzee; Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse, The World Until Yesterday, and Upheaval. And yes, in 1961, he earned his PhD on the membranes in the gallbladder, some suggesting his diverse authorship including on topics such as geography, history and anthropology is on the account of Diamond being a polymath.

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It is easy to focus just on the Russian-Ukrainian war without looking at this war’s broader global impacts. In this episode, John speaks with US-Palestinian Dr Ramzy Baroud on how Palestine and Israel are affected by this European conflict.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In Season 3, Episode 3, John is joined by professional sceptic & science writer Mick West to talk about the recent Chinese spy balloon shoot-down by the US Air Force…and the shoot down of those 'other things'. Were they also balloons? Were they Chinese? Or were they from ‘out of this world’? Join John and Mick as they go through what the evidence has to say about spy balloons, UAPs generally and the reliability of onboard cockpit data and pilot identification. Not all is as straight forward as it seems. For more info on Mick West, please refer to the following links: 

Sutter Buttes UFO Solved & Balloon Identified

youtube.com

Response to David Fravor "debunking" me on Lex Fridman

youtube.com

Gimbal UFO - A New Analysis

youtube.com

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In this episode of The Focus, host John Bruni speaks with British technology and investigative journalist Peter Warren about the impact of chatbots and artificial intelligence on society. They delve into the potential benefits and pitfalls of this rapidly-evolving technology, including its impact on employment, biases and privacy concerns, and the need for ethical and responsible development. Peter Warren provides insights into the hyperbole surrounding chatbots and whether general AI is a reality or still a far-off dream. Join them for a thought-provoking and informative discussion on the complex and ever-changing landscape of AI and its impact on our world.

Show Notes:

Future Intelligence Link can be found here: https://www.futureintelligence.co.uk/

A good explanation of the Kardashev Scale can be found here: https://futurism.com/the-kardashev-scale-type-i-ii-iii-iv-v-civilization

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Today we’re joined from the U.S. by Jeremy Barr. Jeremy is the Washington Post’s news media reporter and he’ll be giving us a run-down on the chaos that has recently struck U.S. media giant Fox News, part of the stables of international media empire builder, Adelaide’s own, Rupert Murdoch.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode John speak with Associate Fellow of the German Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp. Karl-Heinz is a specialist on German foreign and strategic policy and we’ll be delving deep into what appears to be a German military resurgence in Europe. Will this strengthen the Continent, will it be destabilising? And probably most importantly can it be sustained?

Links

German Council on Foreign Relations website can be accessed - here

The Alphen Group website can be accessed - here

University Roma Tre website can be accessed - here

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The upcoming U.S. presidential election between incumbent Democrat Joe Biden & presumptive Republican candidate, former president Donald Trump is likely to be a bang-up contest between two very old men. The most pressing touch-button issue they’ll be facing is the number of undocumented arrivals from Mexico and Latin America. Both candidates admit the current American migration system is broken. But who will have the best fix? Also, as John discussed with guest Assoc. Prof. Julia G. Young, hasn’t America - indeed every settler society - gone through these sorts of issues before?

For more information about the American Immigration issue see:

https://www.pewresearch.org/

&

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/

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In this, our last episode for 2023, we have a treat for all you geopolitical junkies out there! We speak to Jonathan Powell, former Chief of Staff to the Blair government (1997-2007). 2024 will be a big year of elections around the world. One of which, the U.S. presidential election, due in November of next year, will prove decisive for a whole bunch of countries and may impact on our futures in a negative way. Here we analyse the problems and prospects of Britain under a potential Starmer leadership, should Labour win in 2024. What will change and what will remain the same?

• How to contain a recalcitrant Russia? - Financial Review - David Manning & Jonathan Powell
• Talking to Terrorists: How to End Armed Conflicts, Jonathan Powell, Vintage Digital, 2 October, 2014 

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The Civil War in Syria has been ongoing since 2011. A multisided conflict against the regime of Bashar Al-Assad which also involves the United States, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Southern Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel, Syria is a chessboard of a complicated strategic game for the heart of the Levant. To discuss this, John is joined by returning guest, Professor Scott Lucas from the UK’s University of Birmingham.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Roy Casagranda to delve into the high-stakes landscape of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With democracy, alliances, and the global order on the line, Dr. Casagranda unpacks the complexities surrounding Trump AND Harris as presidential candidates, exploring how their policies and political manoeuvres could reshape America and its role on the world stage. Join us for this in-depth analysis of an election that could redefine the future.

Show Notes:

Roy Casagranda Links

X: @RoyCasagranda 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

Books by Roy:

The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

Articles by Roy:

Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

Glossary of Terms:

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), 1 July 2020.

FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt), 32nd President of the United States.

Jill Stein from Pennsylvania is an American physician, activist & politician associated with the Green Party. Her political campaigns primary revolve around the Green New Deal.

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In this our first episode of The Focus for 2023, we look at some fascinating developments in drone technology taking place here in South Australia, at Flinders University. Since the Russia-Ukraine War, drones have been receiving a lot of attention as the 21st Century’s primary weapons/surveillance platforms. But just imagine if we can improve in their capabilities by borrowing from the biology of insects, giving drones ‘instinctive’ sensors, thereby allowing them to move seamlessly in the natural environment. Here we speak to Dr Russell Brinkworth, Associate Professor in Autonomous Systems at the College of Science & Engineering who is working on making that happen. 

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode John speaks with Kazakh academic, Dr. Nurseit Niyazbekov. Nurseit found himself in the middle of Kazakh protests in Kazakstan's largest city, Almaty. Mystery still surrounds why peaceful protests rapidly turned violent & Kazakh President Tokayev found it necessary to call for Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) troops to reimpose order. In the middle of the ongoing strategic crisis between Ukraine & Russia - was this meant to be an orchestrated display of Russian power in the post-Soviet space?

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Was our universe created by intelligent beings? Are we all part of some grand experiment? Harvard Professor and New York Times Bestselling author Avi Loeb speaks with John about his latest controversial supposition which he published in October’s Scientific American. Hold on to your hats folks, this is a pretty wild ride!

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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Yemen is a human tragedy on a massive scale. The ongoing civil war is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The local militant factions, Sunni or Shiite, northern or southern, Saudi-backed or Emirati-backed have lost any sense of their culture or their country. The international media has abandoned Yemen as an issue, Western NGO’s while thick on the ground trying to do some of the world’s worst work in an active war zone are unable, or maybe even unwilling to bend to the needs and requirements of deeply traumatised and desperate locals, mired as NGO's are in their own highly bureacratised policies and processes. Can the fighting end in Yemen? Can peace come to this war-ravaged land?  In this episode of The Focus, John speaks with Yemeni activist, Hisham Al-Omeisy to find out.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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With temperatures in the low 50s, it is true to say that it is hot in the Iraqi city of Baghdad. The country, run by a care-taker administration since last year’s parliamentary election, has failed to solve its political problems. The care-taker government has no authority to pass spending bills. A problem when the country’s temperature is playing havoc with Iraq’s electricity grid and parts of this grid aren’t working leaving Iraqi’s with no means to cool down. But for Iraq, Climate Change is still a First World problem and without a proper government, the country can’t take the international stage and contribute to relevant global policy. Then there’s Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Attempting to exploit the Iraqi political power vacuum, his Sadrist bloc commands a majority of seats in the Iraqi parliament but can’t translate it into decisive political power. In this episode we’re joined by Prof. Scott Lucas from the University of Birmingham, UK, to discuss Iraqi politics and much more besides.

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In this our first episode for 2022, John speaks with American science correspondent and author Brendan Borrell on the race to produce the COVID vaccines. 
Brendan has recently released his book on this topic, The First Shots: The Epic Rivalries & Heroic Science behind the race to the Corona Virus Vaccines. Did the West win the race for the vaccines? Did competition between big pharma companies drive development? How effective were the Chinese and Russian approaches? Was the Trump administration as clueless as it appeared? And was media reporting well managed during the pandemic? 
Join us for this comprehensive breakdown of how we got where we did regarding vaccine development looking at the heroic and not so heroic aspects of this critical development.

Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/

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In this episode, one of the last for 2023, we take a lighter turn as John speaks with Prof. Kenneth Womack, Professor of English and Popular Music at Monmouth University, New Jersey, talking about his latest book – a biography on Mal Evans – the Beatles’ Mr Fixit. This is a fascinating look at the rock and roll industry in the 1960s, how it compares to that of today and the seductive, corrupting influence of the rock and roll lifestyle and how it took its toll on the guy who took care of one of the greatest bands in the world.

Book - Living The Beatles Legend - The Untold Story of Mal Evans by Kenneth Womack

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In this episode, hot on the heels of the latest war in the Middle East, John speaks to writer and journalist Thomas Fazi to discuss ‘permacrisis’. What is it? And how does it threaten our way of life?

Books by Thomas Fazi:

The Battle for Europe: How an Elite Hijacked a Continent – and How We Can Take It Back (Pluto Press, 2014),

Reclaiming the State: A Progressive Vision of Sovereignty for a Post-Neoliberal World (co-authored with Bill Mitchell; Pluto Press, 2017) 

The Covid Consensus: The Global Assault on Democracy and the Poor—A Critique from the Left (co-authored with Toby Green; Hurst Publishers, 2023). 

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Join us on "The Focus" as we dive deep into the Ukrainian Kursk Incursion with Commander of the Royal Danish Navy and YouTuber, Anders Puck Nielsen. This episode provides expert analysis on Russian military tactics and the strategic implications for the region. Captain Nielsen brings his extensive knowledge to discuss the size and scope of Russian forces, those of Ukraine as well as the unsettling potential of unconventional warfare. Tune in to gain a critical understanding of these pivotal military developments directly affecting European security.\

Show Notes - 

Ander’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@anderspuck

His ‘Logic of War’ Newsletter. To see content, you’ll have to subscribe - https://anderspucknielsen.dk/en/frontpage/

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Can Ukraine’s security dilemma reshape the global nuclear order? Join us as we explore the chilling realities of nuclear escalation, broken international promises, and what it takes to secure lasting peace with expert Mariana Budjeryn.

Show Notes:

https://www.belfercenter.org/person/mariana-budjeryn

https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/mariana-budjeryn-personal-perspective-war-ukraine

https://thebulletin.org/2024/11/biden-allowing-ukraine-to-strike-into-russia-is-much-ado-for-little-consequence/#post-heading

https://thebulletin.org/2024/10/why-russia-is-more-likely-to-go-nuclear-in-ukraine-if-its-winning/#post-heading

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-04-08/was-ukraine-wrong-give-its-nukes

https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/02/should-ukraine-have-kept-nuclear-weapons-deconstructing-the-decision-to-disarm?lang=en

Books - 

Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023) 

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In this episode of The Focus we take a blow-torch to the fall of Kabul and the implications of this seminal event. Who’s to blame for the disaster? How did it go so badly wrong? Were there any winners? In this episode of The Focus, John speaks with Georgetown University’s Dr. Christine Fair to find out. We guarantee that you haven’t heard this sort of analysis anywhere on the mainstream media! 

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Last month, a spate of riots and looting in South Africa followed the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma. The international media at the time showed images that truely looked as though South Africa was on the verge of civil war. Since then, things seemed to have quietened down, however, some political commentators have suggested that the riots spoke of something deeply troubling in South Africa. That there seems to be an inherent instability within the country. Can the government of Cyril Ramaphosa stay on top of this instability and address the issues which underpin it? In this episode of The Focus, John speaks with South African academic, Prof. David Everatt to find out.

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In this episode, John speaks with former Executive Director of Human Right’s Watch (HRW) & Princeton’s Prof. Kenneth Roth on Netanyahu v. Hamas. In a war known for having broken the laws of war on both sides, can anyone really say either Hamas or Netanyahu holds the moral high ground?

Show notes:

The Roth & Sparrow piece in Foreign Policy (February 2024) can be seen here - https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/02/09/israel-gaza-health-care-hospitals-genocide-icj/ 

The Forensic Architecture website can be seen here - https://forensic-architecture.org/

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In this episode, we are joined once more by former UK Labour politician, best selling author and investigative journalist, Chris Mullin. John speaks to Chris about the fate of the Johnson government, who’s likely to replace him, Scottish nationalism, the Labour Party and much more. Considering this podcast was recorded just prior to Boris Johnson’s resignation, at the time were were talking about the prospect of what will happen next at Number 10. Now that the resignation has taken place, the rest of the subject matter for this podcast is still on point. We’d also like to acknowledge that Producer Neil has moved back to New Zealand and so we are now a very international, remotely networked show! Anzac forever!

Please note that this podcast was recorded before Boris Johnson's resignation on 07/07/2022.

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Have you ever wondered about what transports our potable water around our city precincts? I’ll confess that I didn’t really know this was a story until Producer Malcolm brought it to my attention. But that overused and constantly ignored bit of infrastructure under our feet has a story and it is an interesting one. In the United States there’s a push to replace lead water pipes with plastic ones. But it seems the obvious health problems associated with lead pipes will be replaced with other health problems associated with plastic. Join us for this unusual but fascinating tale of two piping systems.

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We live in an age of great uncertainly and fear. With Climate Change affecting our global commons with no guaranteed way of stopping it and COVID-19 disrupting our lives it is easy for us all to give into despair. But from ancient times an old European philosophy holds the key to keeping us rational and upright in spite of the things that frighten us. Stoicism. We often talk about people being Stoic, but do we really know what this means? In this episode John speaks with Massimo Pigliucci. Massimo is Professor of Philosophy at City College, New York.

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In this episode John is joined from New York by returning guest Prof. Massimo Pigliucci. John and Massimo speak frankly about the problems posed by modern celebrity looking at the two recent controversies that caught out prolific American podcaster, Joe Rogan. They also look at the celebrity of Canadian Clinical Psychologist Emeritus Prof. Jordan B. Peterson. Hang onto your hats folks, this is a broadranging and interesting take on Stoicism and its response to modern celebrity.

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🧠 In this thought-provoking conversation, Steven Feldstein takes us on a captivating exploration of the dark underbelly of AI, where the lines between technology and tyranny blur. He unveils the unsettling truth about how repressive regimes are weaponizing AI to surveil, control, and silence dissent. 😨🔍

Show Notes

📖 In this episode, we journey into the world of Repressive AI with none other than Steven Feldstein, the author of "The Rise of Digital Repression: How Technology is Reshaping Power, Politics, and Resistance." (📚 Buy it here: Amazon)

🧠 Steven Feldstein, a leading authority in the field, guides us through the complexities of how technology and AI are reshaping the dynamics of power, politics, and resistance. We dive deep into the dark side of AI and its implications for democracy, governance, and global politics.

🔍 In his latest journal article, "The Consequences of Generative AI for Democracy, Governance, and War," published in Global Politics and Strategy, Survival, Volume 65, 2023 - Issue 5, Steven Feldstein sheds light on the far-reaching consequences of generative AI. We discuss the findings and their impact on our world today.

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It is often said that the casualties in war are the innocents. In the Russia-Ukraine War, probably the most innocent of victims are disabled children. Unable to flee the fighting on their own accord, they are dependent on their parents, their families, the state and NGOs to get them out of harm’s way. But sometimes, sadly, logistically and organisationally, this is an impossible task. To discuss this less reported element of the Russia-Ukraine War, from Ukraine, we are joined by Halyna Kurylo. Halyna is Director for Ukraine Rapid Response, Disability Rights International (DRI).

If you want to know more about the work of DRI, please click on the hyperlink provided: https://www.driadvocacy.org/ 

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In this episode, John speaks with University College London’s Prof. Mark Galeotti on the ongoing war in Ukraine. This is a very comprehensive discussion on the origin of the war, the conduct of military operations, the future of Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin. Also, we look at how the war fits into Mark’s new book: The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War, Yale University Press, 2022.

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In this episode John is joined by Professor of Physics at the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, author and public intellectual Paul Halpern where they discuss Paul’s latest book:  Flashes of Creation. George Gamow, Fred Hoyle, AND THE GREAT BIG BANG DEBATE . This debate was central to our understanding of the shape and nature of the universe and an important milestone in the development of contemporary cosmology. 

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In this episode John is joined by former commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe, Lt. Gen Ben Hodges (Ret’d) where they have an honest discussion on the Ukrainian Counter-Offensive, the state of Western and Russian defence manufacture and much more besides. Join us for this fascinating and deeply engaging interview, only on SAGE International’s The Focus!

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It is probably right to say that we are now transiting from the Hubble era of astronomy to the James Webb era.

In this new era, we’ll no doubt know more about planets and stars at interstellar and intergalactic distances. And we’ll also know much more about the shape and nature of the universe.
In this episode John speaks with Harvard Professor of Science & New York Times best-seller for his book Extraterrestrial, Avi Loeb. Here, John & Avi talk about how Avi’s The Galileo Project is faring 12 months after conception. They also discuss the main themes from a paper Avi had written last July, ‘What Lies Beyond the Horizon’ which looks at objects and behaviours of the universe at ’super-horizon’ distances. Intriguing stuff!
For more on The Focus go to: https://sageinternational.com.au/podcast-cat/the-focus/
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Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko has been successfully boxed in by Russian president Vladimir Putin. The country is less of a nation and more of an outlying province of Russia. Belarus has been used as a staging base for Russia’s attack on Ukraine and is now host to some of Russia’s nuclear deterrent. Some twenty-to-thirty thousand troops are primed to enter Ukraine to support Russian forces should they be given the order, but will the Belarusian General Staff obey? What of the Belarusian people? Will they willingly sleepwalk their way to war with their neighbour? In this episode, John speaks with high-profile Belarusian journalist Hanna Liubakova to discuss this and much, much more.

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Prof. Alfred W. McCoy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has recently published a book entitled “To Govern the Globe: World Orders and Catastrophic Change”. It is a highly readable, sweeping historical narrative. But within it pages lurks a stark warning that it is out of disasters that new world orders are born and that we are on the cusp of such a change. Join John as he speaks with Prof. McCoy on international order, disorder and rebirth and what might lie ahead for us all in this fascinating episode of The Focus.  

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In this episode John speaks with Edith Cowan University lecturer in international business, Dr. Naoise McDonagh on the phenomenon of ‘friend-shoring’. We delve deep into what this means for the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party and the world at large. The answers are…complicated, and not what you may expect.

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In this gripping episode of The Focus, we delve into the aftermath of the Wagner Group’s fall from grace and the emergence of a new era in Russian paramilitary operations. Join us as Dr. Ladd Serwat unpacks the intricate power shifts, the rise of the 'Africa Corps', and the lasting impact of Prigozhin's legacy on Russia's global strategy.

Show Notes:

You can contact Dr. Ladd Serwat directly on his X account – here: @LaddSerwat

Or the ACLED X account – here: @ACLEDINFO

If you would like to track down the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) site directly and look deeper into their work – click on the following link to its website - https://acleddata.com/

Glossary of terms used in this episode – 

PMC – Private Military Company otherwise known by the old term, ‘mercenaries.’

Kidal (Tuareg Berber: ⴾⴸⵍ, KDL, Kidal) is a town and commune in the desert region of northern Mali. The town lies 285 km (177 mi) northeast of Gao and is the capital of the Kidal Cercle and the Kidal Region. The commune has an area of about 9,910 km2 (3,830 sq mi) and includes the town of Kidal and 31 other settlements. (Wikipedia).

RSF – Rapid Support Forces, are a paramilitary force that sprang out of the Janjaweed militias in Sudan and are now fighting the government of Sudan for control of the country.

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In this episode John speaks with Katie Stallard. Katie is an author and Senior Editor of the New Statesman magazine and on this, our 47th episode since transiting from radio to podcast, John and Katie discuss Katie’s new book, Dancing on Bones: History and Power in China, Russia, and North Korea, published by Oxford University Press in May 2022. If history is a lie and the autocratic parts of the world have perfected this as a means of political control and legitimacy, how powerful is it? And in the case of China, Russia and North Korea how has mythologising lies manufactured national ethos?

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In this episode of The Focus Raw, we are pleased to have British-based YouTuber, Philospher and keen observer of Russian politics - Vlad Vexler with us. Vlad gives his views on the Prigozhin Mutiny and his analysis of the main characters in what appears to be high-order political drama in Moscow since the events of 23rd June. This is one episode you don't want to miss!

Vlad's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@VladVexler

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After the terrible performance of Russian forces in their initial attempt to crush Ukrainian resistance and their complete failure at cowering Kyiv into submission, Russian forces have been reorganised to take advantage of their better showing in Ukraine’s east and south. But by ‘better showing’, we mean more territory captured not better Russian war fighting demonstrated. To look at how the new Russian offensive along the Donbas is being prepared and how effective it is likely to be, John speaks to Senior Lecturer in Military Strategy and Law, University of Portsmouth, Dr. Frank Ledwidge. Frank is a barrister, a former British military intelligence officer and author, his latest book: Aerial Warfare, a Very Short introduction was published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in 2020.

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In this our final episode of the year we are joined by returning guest, New York Times Best-Seller &  Harvard University Professor, Avi Loeb. Avi is not a conventional thinker. He believes that scientific discovery, including the search for extraterrestrial life, can be accelerated by maintaining an open mind and pursuing a child-like curiosity where nothing is taken off the table, until it is. Avi heads up Project Galileo a systematic, scientific search for extraterrestrial artefacts. Join John as he and Avi discuss what disclosure of extraterrestrial life would mean to life on Earth.

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In this episode, John is again joined by US Army LTG Ben Hodges (Ret.) where they discuss noted historian, author and commentator, Professor Niall Ferguson’s notion that we are currently in Cold War 2.0.

Show Notes - 

For those of you who’d like to know more about the work of The Alphen Group (TAG), please access via the following Link: https://thealphengroup.com/

Our interview on the darker aspects of AI with Steven Feldstein can be seen here – video: https://youtu.be/MpyBcwVmExI?si=Wg9gEJpfAgPvAl5h audio: https://omny.fm/shows/the-focus-1/repressive-ai

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In this episode of The Focus we look at whether it is possible to conceive of Sino-American cooperation in space. During the high point of the Cold War, American and Soviet space programs did find a point at which they could cooperate. The iconic imagery of the Soyuz-Apollo mission was symbolic of the period known as Detente where both the US and USSR sought to deescalate international tensions. Could a similar style of program work to deescalate current tensions between the People’s Republic of China and the United States? In this episode of The Focus, John speaks with long-time space journalist and author Leonard David to find out.

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In this episode, John is joined by Toby Walsh. Toby is a leading researcher in Artificial Intelligence. He is a Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW Sydney. Here, we talk about how AI is being used today and where AI is going. Also, is much of the reporting on AI developments a gross overestimation or misrepresentation of the facts?

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In this episode, John is joined by The University of Chicago’s Prof. Chris Blattman in discussing his new book entitled ‘Why We Fight’. We journey deep within what motivates individuals, groups, and states to take up arms against each other. But as you’ll hear, Chris does come up with a somewhat different thesis that’s a little more optimistic about human nature and political institutions.

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