The Western Bubble

For the month of August, we decided to record four episodes that show signs of the Western Bubble bursting. And we are starting with the development surrounding the coup in Niger where it is becoming apparent how little influence the West still holds in this region. Here is the article we briefly discuss as an example of bubble thinking https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66364872 This podcast i...

It is inherently human to act and to try anything in our power to stop bad things from happening. But is that always the best option? In this episode, we analyse the Art of Doing Nothing and how the Western Bubble could really benefit from it in its foreign policy choices. The article by Susanne Klatt on American vs German firefighters: https://www.fireengineering.com/health-safety/an-internationa...

In this episode, we analyse the concept of peace, in particular how it influences Western Bubble mentality. Typically Europeans and North Americans think of their societies as peaceful. This perception is often backed up by misleading statistics. Today we analyse one of these, namely the Global Peace Index. You can find the report we talk about here: https://www.economicsandpeace.org/reports/ This...

Today we analyse a specific article from Guardian writer Simon Tisdall, whom we discussed in this week’s regular episode. The article in question is “ The world still needs a policeman. Let’s hope the US doesn’t quit the job ” and offers insights into Simon Tisdall’s fantasies about a Western global order. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but i...

In this episode we analyse the Western bubble mentality of Guardian writer Simon Tisdall. Tisdall has been writing about foreign policy for 40 years now. Much of his analysis serves as a good case study of the Western delusions we discuss in our episodes. Here are the articles we quote from: China, Myanmar and now Darfur ... the horror of genocide is here again (July 2nd 2023) Defeat for Ukraine w...

In this episode we analyse the impact of technology on political accountability and policy making. While preparing for the planned episode, we noticed a different perspective between us and so we decided to record the conversation we usually have preparing for the episodes instead. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project b...

Today we analyse the phenomenon of Jordan Peterson in the Western Bubble and why his prominence in the public discourse is a symptom of Western decay. In this episode we are commenting on three audio bites from Jordan Peterson. You can find the full videos here:Clip 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUiG5_GcMyY Clip 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZYQpge1W5s&t=1120s Clip 3: https://www.yo...

Today we analyse three developments in the West as a result of the Western Bubble. First, we look at Donald Trump on trial, second, we examine Boris Johnson stepping down as member of Parliament and, lastly, we are upset with the German police arresting a climate activist for wanting to protest. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an indivi...

In this extra episode we briefly analyse the Western reaction to last week's events surrounding the Wagner Group in Russia. The palpable excitement and absurd hyperbole (such as "civil war" and claims about the "end of the Putin regime") reveals a Western audience that is not in touch with reality.

Today we analyse the West’s obsession with free speech and the dangers of overestimating its importance as well as underestimating its importance. Should it be illegal to deny the holocaust but legal to deny the Armenian genocide? Difficult questions in grey areas that society must have conversations about. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but...

Today we analyse how to understand the influence of George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, on the Western Bubble. In our previous two episodes we talked about Huntington and Fukuyama whose ideas were turned into practice by the Bush administration. This led, for example, to the disastrous War on Terror. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usa...

Today we analyse how to understand the influence of Samuel Huntington on the Western Bubble. Huntington, a political scientist, had a significant impact on US intellectual thinking during the Cold War and its end. In the 21st century his most quoted work is “The Clash of Civilisations” which was hugely influential in shaping post-9/11 foreign policy. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA...

Today we analyse how to understand the influence of Francis Fukuyama on the Western Bubble. Fukuyama, a political scientist, rose to fame in the 1990s with his seminal work The End of History. This book encapsulated the inherent delusion of a post Cold War Western world. The results were often highly destructive. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghane...

Today we analyse the rise and fall of the Middle Class in the Western Bubble. It has been a fundamental pillar in Western success over the past 400 years and has been the driving force behind core Western values. In the 21st century however, the Middle Class is threatened by an increasingly corrupt system that it created itself. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA me...

Today we analyse how the West continuously turns a blind eye towards Saudi Arabia’s policies and how this plays into the Western Bubble. This episode is largely based on Dario’s Thesis on Saudi Arabia’s regional foreign policy. If you are interested in learning more about this topic we can recommend the book “Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman's Ruthless Quest for Global Power” by Justin Scheck an...

Today we analyse how this past week on one hand the continuation of the establishment through Joe Biden announcement to run again for President, while at the same time upheaval among populist media because of the sacking of Tucker Carlson from fox news. By many this was greeted as good news, however, it covers up dangerous dynamics below the surface. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA...

Another extra episode in which we analyse the Western Bubble's reaction to the Macron trip to China. Rather than perceiving it as the French President talking to the Chinese President this was one where Macron was accused of ceding to authoritarianism. Macron’s interview: https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-china-america-pressure-interview/ 2nd Politico Article: https://www.politico.eu...

Today we analyse how the recent security leaks affect the Western Bubble. These moments tend to lead to tensions and accusations between allies, yet help us shine some light on a reality in which much of the formal narrative is empty and even delusional. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA...

Today we analyse how a major aspect of the Western Bubble is externalisation of responsibility. People live their lives insufficiently acknowledging their part in destructive behaviour of their society, instead choosing to project such failure onto "others", often supposedly wicked individuals out to do harm. Extreme versions of such irrational interpretations of reality are conspiracy theories. T...

In almost every episode we are referencing the 2003 Iraq War as an example of the Western Bubble and we finally devoted an entire episode to it. The reasons for it go to the heart of the Western Bubble and the damages are beyond repair. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab an...

In this second of our two-part episode, we analyse the relationship between the Western Bubble and democracy. After last week's discussion on the facts and the bubble thinking. This week we analyse the serious problems democracy is facing in Western societies and whether it has a future? This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual pro...

The ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin: another case study in Western Bubble thinking where international law and the ICC are mistaken for objective mechanisms whereas in reality they are anything but. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would...

In the first of a two-part episode, we analyse the relationship between the Western Bubble and democracy. Democratic governance systems have many strengths and for many people are preferable to more authoritarian systems. However, Western societies have stopped critically assessing the reasons behind democracy, confusing the practical advantages of these systems with almost a sacred dogma about it...

This week Dario is sick so Balder is alone recording an EXTRA episode instead of a regular one. Here he analyses the Saudi-Iran agreement brokered by China from a Western Bubble perspective. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get i...

In this second out of two episodes on nuclear weapons (non-)proliferation, we analyse why Western countries push for non proliferation and how these efforts are undermined by foreign policy decisions from the past. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If...