The Focus

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.

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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.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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?

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.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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?

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

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