Episode Summary:

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the historical processes of anti-colonial struggle in the 20th century and how they illuminate the geopolitical crises of 2026.

We examine the "imperial boomerang"—how the techniques of colonial violence return to the metropole—and the shift from the age of imperial civil war (1914-1945) to the age of imperial decline. Nick discusses the recent, shocking speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference, where he urged European leaders to reclaim their "civilizational confidence" and reject the "global welfare state."

From the Indian National Army to the Viet Minh, we look at how national liberation movements shattered the old empires. Nick argues that the current attempts by the US to reassert hegemony through force—in Venezuela and Nigeria—are doomed to fail against a Global South that has fundamentally changed. Is the West trying to fight 19th-century colonial wars in a 21st-century world?

Key Topics:

• The Munich Speech: Marco Rubio’s call for a return to "civilizational" power.
• National Liberation: How India and Vietnam broke the British and French empires.
• The American Empire: From the "Pax Americana" to the transactional gangster state.
• The Global South: Why the new non-aligned world will not submit to neocolonialism.

Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.

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