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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and historian, Professor Richard Overy for an insightful conversation on one of humanity’s most unsettling questions: Why do we wage war? In his book, Why War? Overy takes us on a journey across time, from the ancient battlefields of the Roman Empire to the devastation of the World Wars and the conflicts shaping our present.

Together, they examine what drives organized violence? Is it hardwired into human nature, or does it stem from competition for resources, power, and security? Drawing on psychology, history, and political strategy, Overy dissects the deep-rooted forces behind war— confronting the stark realities of conflict and examining whether war is an inescapable part of our past—or an unavoidable part of our future. This episode doesn’t shy away from the hard truths—there are no easy answers, and Overy delivers no false hope.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

Footnotes:

• Why Do Humans Make War?
• Statecraft
• Yugoslav Wars
• Aristotelianism
• Barbarian 
• Proxy War
• Peloponnesian Wars
• Thucydides
• Jihad 
• Israeli - Palestinian Conflict
• Nuremberg Trials
• Hermann Goering
• Demagogue of Athens
• Britain Mercantile State
• New Imperialism
• Hobbes Social Contract
• Munich Agreement
• Operation Paperclip
• Stalin’s Rise to Power

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and global security expert Jon Wolfsthal to unravel the stark reality behind the Doomsday Clock - now set at a perilous 89 seconds to midnight. What does this ominous timepiece truly measure, and why has humanity never been closer to catastrophe? Wolfsthal offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process that determines the clock’s position and insights into how and if we can move the clock further away from midnight. 

Together, they dive deep into the rising threats of nuclear war, climate change, AI-driven warfare, and biological risks, exposing the fragile state of global security. The conversation traces the history of the clock—from moments of de-escalation, like the Cold War’s end, to the unraveling of arms control agreements and the resurgence of dangerous geopolitical tensions. But it’s not all doom and gloom—this episode also lays out real, actionable solutions to push back from the brink and build a safer future. Can world leaders act in time, or are we sleepwalking into disaster? Tune in for a crucial discussion on humanity’s future—before it’s too late.

Footnotes:

• Doomsday Clock
• Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 
• Einstein and the Nuclear Arms Race
• Treaty on the Prohibition Nuclear Weapons
• Ivana Nikolić Hughes
• Nuclear Weapon
• Oppenheimer 
• Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 
• JFK Peace Speech
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Biowarfare
• Alpha Fold Nobel Prize 
• Dual-use Technology
• Biosafety Level 
• Genetic Engineering
• Disruptive Technologies
• Truman and Oppenheimer
• Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and historian Eugene Rogan, professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at Oxford, as they delve into the complex history of the Arab world, from the Ottoman conquest in 1516 to today’s geopolitical crises of the modern Middle East. Through the lens of his acclaimed book The Arabs: A History, Rogan brilliantly examines the long history of foreign domination, the rise of Arab nationalism, the roles of Europe and the US as outside powers, and the unresolved conflicts shaping the Middle East until today.  

Together, they offer us a masterclass in history that sheds light on the urgent questions of war, power, and the possibility of peace in the region. From Ottoman rule to European colonialism, the impact of the Balfour Declaration, and the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict, the conversation provides crucial historical context for today’s challenges.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

Footnotes:

• Zionist
• Palestine and Israel Conflict
• British Mandate for Palestine
• Balfour Declaration
• Capture of Cairo (1517)
• Potentates
• Fly Whisk
• Panic of 1819
• Creditor Nation
• Sovereignty
• World War I
• Constantinople Agreement
• The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East
• Balkan Wars
• King Krane Commission
• White Paper of 1939
• Ethnic Cleansing

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and award-winning journalist Annie Jacobsen as they discuss Jacobsen’s chilling and rigorous depiction of nuclear war in her groundbreaking book, Nuclear War: A Scenario. With meticulous research and interviews with military and political insiders, Jacobsen takes us through a riveting, heart-pounding, second-by-second scenario of a world-ending nuclear war.  From the technological aspects of nuclear weapons and missile defense systems to the horrifying and total incapacity of modern society to survive a nuclear onslaught, Jacobsen depicts the razor-thin margin separating us from catastrophe.

Together, they delve into the sobering realities behind nuclear war games, miscalculated missile strikes, and the relentless risks of omnicidal escalation that history and simulations reveal. They reflect on the lessons of Cold War diplomacy, near-miss incidents, and past disarmament efforts. This conversation isn’t just a wake-up call—it’s a rallying cry to face and address the ultimate existential threat of our age: nuclear war. Tune in for a discussion that is as riveting as it is vital.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

Footnotes:

• Nuclear War
• American Security State
• US Weapons Systems
• The Pentagon's Brain
• Operation Paperclip 
• Doomsday Clock
• STRATCOM
• Interceptor Missile
• The Effects of Nuclear Weapons
• Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse
• Thermonuclear Weapon
• Ivy Mike Bomb
• Richard Garwin
• Theodore Postol
• Bolt Out of the Blue Attack
• Americas Satellite System 
• Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and political scientist Glenn Diesen as they discuss Professor Diesen’s new book, The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order. Professor Diesen explains Europe’s fractured security framework which he believes has steered the continent toward conflict with no clear way to reverse course. The conversation focuses on Ukraine - a nation itself divided within a divided Europe, and a pivotal piece in the deadly geopolitical chess game between NATO and Russia.

Together, they dissect the high-stakes battle between NATO and Russia, where compromise has so far been impossible, and yet where the potential consequences of escalation are catastrophic, up to nuclear war. Join in as they unpack the dynamics of a rapidly changing world order and what these changes portend for the future of war and peace, geopolitics, and global governance.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and retired Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant Dennis Fritz, a former Pentagon insider, as they explore the extremely important insights in Fritz’s new book, Deadly Betrayal, which uncovers the ugly truths behind the Iraq War in 2003. Drawing from dramatic evidence, Fritz explains how a group of high-level Pentagon officials (a “cabal” in Fritz’s description) in the Bush Jr. Administration manipulated intelligence, pressured other nations, and swayed Congress and public to support a disastrous war. 

Together, they delve into the astounding evidence that Fritz uncovered during his work at the Pentagon while examining the documentary record of the war.  Fritz discovered three reasons for the utterly misguided Iraq War: to restore American “credibility” in the Middle East, to go to war on Israel’s behalf, and to deliver “democracy” at gunpoint. The results were a massive failure on all counts. 

The lessons of the Iraq War remain crucial for our own time, as various lobbies continue to try to manipulate the US into still more unnecessary and reckless wars.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and political scientist Aaron Good as they discuss Good’s book, American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Good delves into the breakdown of U.S. democracy, focusing on the continuity of American foreign policy, the erosion of the rule of law, and the concentration of wealth and power among the corporate elite

Together, they uncover the hidden forces shaping American governance, including the creation of a national security state after World War II and the rise of a covert empire. The podcast explores how the U.S. deep state, driven by corporate and security interests, has influenced major events like foreign interventions and political assassinations, and examines the future prospects for restoring democracy in America.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

Footnotes:

• American Exceptionalism
• New World Order
• Liberal Democracy
• John Locke
• Neoconservatism
• NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
• Putin Interview with French newspaper Le Figaro
• Peace of Westphalia
• Thirty Years’ War
• Hegemony
• Cold War
• Sovereignty
• Napoleonic Wars
• The Economic Consequences of the Peace
• Treaty of Versailles
• Carl Schmitt
• UN Charter
• Deep State
• Council on Foreign Relations
• Covert Operation

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Join Professors Jeffrey Sachs, Christina Gerhardt and UN Senior Advisor on Small Island Developing States, Simona Marinescu as they discuss human induced global warming, the implications of rising sea levels, and Gerhardt’s book, Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean. This discussion shifts our focus to the frontlines of climate change—low-lying islands and despite contributing the least to global warming, these islands bear the brunt of its impacts. 

Together, they explore the local stories of various islands and coastlines through immersive storytelling, scientific insight, and research from each of their own personal experiences. Join us to learn about the impacts of climate change, tourism, military bases and more on these island economies and their indigenous inhabitants. While the implications for these communities are dire, leave hopeful that there are solutions and approaches being used to protect the cultural heritage and identity of these islands.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

Footnotes:

• SIDS
• US and China Climate Standoff
• US Climate Negotiations
• Sea Levels Rising 
• Colonialism in SIDS 
• Climatologists 
• Nature based Solutions
• Low Lying Islands 
• Migration with Dignity Policy 
• IPPC
• James Hansen 
• Ice sheets melting 
• Manhattan Fate to Sea Level Rising 
• Internal Displacement on SIDS
• Pact for the Future
• Marshall Plan for SIDS

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Dr. Alfred de Zayas as they discuss de Zayas’s book, Building a Just World Order which delves into the possibility of a democratic and equitable international order, essential for sustainable development and the welfare of future generations

Together, they explore the work of Dr. Alfred de Zayas, the first Independent Expert on a Democratic and Equitable International Order appointed by the UN. They discuss his 14 reports outlining 25 principles for a just global system, including reforms to the UN, human rights protections, and economic justice. Dr. Zayas addresses issues like UN Security Council reforms, the impact of World Bank and IMF policies, and critiques unilateral sanctions. He also advocates for the right to reliable information and accountability on indigenous rights, ecocide, and torture. Tune in for insights on these vital recommendations and the call for ethical politics and human rights

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

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Please join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and China expert, Jean Dong as they discuss Dong’s fascinating book, Chinese Statecraft in a Changing World: Demystifying Enduring Traditions and Dynamic Constraints. Ms. Dong offers a rich and subtle historical perspective on China’s statecraft, diplomacy, and national objectives.  Her historically based analysis offers us great insights into the new geopolitics of our age. 

 Together, Prof. Sachs and Ms. Dong explore the history and practice of Chinese statecraft, revealing its continuities and changes over long periods of history.  They explore how geographical factors have shaped China's world outlook and approaches to international relations. Join this exciting conversation to gain a deeper understanding of the international politics of our world today. 

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

Footnotes:

• Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies
• Song Dynasty 
• Chinese Geography 
• Chinese Statecraft
• Joseph Needham
• China’s Security and Border
• Mao Zedong 
• Ming Dynasty 
• Oil Industry in China 
• Zhou Dynasty 
• Chinese Communist Party
• Communism
• China’s Black Cat, White Cat Diplomacy
• China and US relations 
• Opium Wars 

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