The Western Bubble

In this first out of two episodes on nuclear weapons (non-)proliferation, we cycle through those states that currently possess a nuclear arsenal and briefly discuss some of the main motivations behind these destructive capabilities. Next week we analyse this issue specifically from a Western Bubble perspective. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem...

In this second of our EXTRA episodes, we do not dive into a topic as usual but provide our commentary and analysis on current events from the Western Bubble perspective. Here we look at the Western reaction to Russian President Putin announcing Russia will suspend controls of Russia’s nuclear arsenal under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). This podcast is published with the help of RAIA...

Today we analyse how unrealistic perspectives on historical individuals contribute to bubble thinking. We as a society take characters such as Mother Teresa, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi and elevate them to levels of irrational purity. This leads to a type of hero worshipping that strengthens delusional narratives about ourselves and our environment. This podcast is published with the help...

In this first of our EXTRA episodes we do not dive into a topic as usual but provide our commentary and analysis on current events from the Western Bubble perspective. Here we look at the US overreaction to the Chinese Balloons and lay out different scenarios of what may have happened. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual proje...

Today we analyse the media and political reaction to the Seymour Hersh article alleging that the US was behind the Nordstream sabotage. In particular, we wonder what makes mainstream journalists so reluctant to delve into this important issue and so eager to cast doubt on Hersh's claims. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual pro...

Today we analyse historical negationism and victor’s justice within the Western Bubble. Our misinterpretation of our own pasts makes us worse at understanding our present and the future. We discuss items such as the Nuremberg Trials, the war in Iraq and scientific discoveries. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project betwee...

Today we look back at the year in international relations in the Western Bubble and hand out the Bubble awards for individuals, actors and states. We will be giving out awards in the categories “Almost Started World War III”, “Biggest Bubble Blooper”, “News Reporting”, “Label Terrorism” and “Bubble Burster”. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem...

Today we analyse the importance of knowledge and awareness of one’s own national history, in particular when it comes to darker aspects. We contrast the way that Germany has thoroughly examined itself with respect to the second world war with the voluntary and selective amnesia that is typical for European nations. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama...

Today we analyse the impact of social media on the Western Bubble with the specific focus on Twitter and Elon Musk as a case study. We answer how social media intensifies the Bubble and what problems this causes. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, w...

There is a certain fatigue towards the war in Ukraine but there are a few items that have not been sufficiently covered and deserve attention. Especially, because they concern the Western Bubble. Today we will analyse the assassination of Darya Dugina, the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline and the missiles fired from Ukrainian territory into Poland killing two civilians. This podcast is publish...

Balder is sick unfortunately, enjoy a quick outlook over the next few weeks of the Western Bubble and the introduction of Linda Steiner, our new research and analysis assistant. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, with the generous research and analy...

In every fifth episode of this podcast, we will go through the news of the past month and relate to our analysis of our past recordings. In this week’s episode we will specifically talk about: Covid-19 measures and their damages, income inequality and trust in institutions, the protests in Iran, Neocolonialism and the COP27, and, finally, Türkiye resisting Western determinism. Lancet Report on Cov...

Description: Today we analyse neo-colonial actions of Western countries. Specifically, we talk about the DRC, South Sudan and Libya as case studies of how the neo-colonial bubble negatively affects the West's own ambitions as well as how still- over sixty years after independence- it still causes havoc in its former colonies. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA assoc...

Today we analyse the Western reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically we talk about our personal experience and how the media, politicians and the middle class reacted to the pandemic. Overall, there has been an inadequate recognition of the costs attached to fighting Covid. These include the undermining of fundamental institutions as well as many direct- yet often unrecognised- victims of...

Today we analyse the United Kingdom for a second time within the last month. This comes after the past two weeks of political turmoil resulting in Prime Minister Lis Truss resigning. When listening to this episode please bear in mind that we recorded this on Sunday the 23rd of October, right before Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister. We specifically look at systemic failures within the UK. This pod...

#016 THE WESTERN BUBBLE: Economic Growth and Growing Inequality Today we analyse growing income and wealth inequality in the West. Exorbitant wealth accumulation by people is perceived as positive and capitalism is seen as an ideal rather than a tool by societies increasingly detached from the original Western ideals. Rather than a cause for celebration, however, having rich individuals in society...

In every fifth episode of this podcast, we will go through the news of the past month and relate to our analysis of our past recordings. In this week’s episode, we will specifically talk about: Liz Truss and the United Kingdom, attitudes towards immigration in the Netherlands, the protest in Iran and, finally, the newest developments in the Ukraine war. This podcast is published with the help of R...

Today we analyse the Western media more broadly after last week’s focus on Ukraine reporting. The Western Bubble is deeply ingrained in media behaviour: foreign policy reporting is skewed favourably towards pro-democratic and liberal movements while domestic reporting is insufficiently critical of flaws within democratic establishment. In this episode we are playing segments from the following thr...

Today we analyse how the Western Bubble is dangerous when it comes to reporting on the war in Ukraine. The narrative is too biased for what you would want from a free press; Western media pushes a specific narrative rather than reporting and analysing reality. In this episode we are playing segments from the following four videos: Video 1: 1:41-2:25; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT_8HXAHZXE Vid...

Today we analyse the United Kingdom. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the election of Liz Truss as new prime minister, Great Britain seems to have definitively entered a new era. In order to salvage the situation left by Brexit and other missteps, it will need to revise its relation with its own imperial past and formulate a new vision for the 21st century. This podcast is published with t...

Today we analyse Human Rights as Western device. Human Rights are typically considered a source of objective morality but in reality they can be a dangerous tool enabling geopolitical abuse. As always we do this through the lens of the Western Bubble in our continued endeavour to burst it. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individua...

Every fifth episode of this podcast we will go through the news of the past month and relate to our analysis of our past recordings. This week’s episode we will specifically talk about: how domestic issues in the US relate to larger Western problems, the continued problem the west has in properly analysing the Russia-Ukraine war and, finally, Chinese geopolitical plays. Here is the link to article...

Today we analyse how the development aid sector is an important characteristic of the Western bubble and how it contributes to perpetuating destructive foreign policy. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us...

Today we analyse the conflict between China and Taiwan. As always we do this through the lens of the Western Bubble in our continued endeavour to burst it. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at...

Today we analyse the fall of US foreign policy. This is the second half of the overall analysis on “The Rise and Fall of US Foreign Policy” through the lens of the Western Bubble. In this half we answer the questions: what is the personal bias, what is the damage and what is the future. We discuss individuals in US FP like Bush Senior, Bill Clinton, Bush Junior and Joe Bide. Furthermore we explain...