Neutrality Studies

Note to enraged viewers: It is impossible to cover Serbia, the Balkans, or Yugoslavia without making people mad. I will ask more colleagues to come online over the next weeks to explain the situation from their vantage points. Please understand this as one of the perspectives on what is going on.Višeslav Simić joins Pascal to discuss Serbia’s political upheaval and the student movement challenging its established parties. Simić argues that anger over corruption united voters while leaving major disagreements over sovereignty and foreign policy unresolved. They examine grassroots organizing, allegations of outside influence, Kosovo, relations with Russia, and competing attitudes toward NATO and the European Union. Lottaz questions Simić’s interpretation of the movement’s leadership, while their exchange explores political representation, military neutrality and the uncertain prospects for lasting change.Višeslav's Links:Biographical interview with RTS (Serbian): https://www.rts.rs/lat/radio/radio-be...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Serbia’s political upheaval05:46 Rejecting the established parties13:24 Grassroots protest and outside influence17:47 Student leadership and sovereignty28:27 The Hague and competing political interpretations36:04 Beyond left and right43:06 The movement’s mandate and internal tensions50:09 Kosovo, neutrality and Serbia’s future

The collapse of the West is first and foremost due to the failure of its economic system. Unfeathered capitalism is leading to liberalism's predictable self-canibalization.Graziano Ceddia and Jacopo Bergamo join Pascal to explore the connections between capitalism, ecological destruction and Europe’s growing social unrest. Drawing on Marxian analysis, they discuss protests, inequality, imperialism and the limits of green investment. The conversation considers China’s development, competing forms of ownership and the resilience of capitalism. Ceddia and Bergamo argue for economic democracy and public provision of essential services, while Lottaz presses them on practical alternatives, monetary reform and the possibilities for social and ecological change.Graziano and Jacopo's Links:Homepage: www.iscrises.orgTheir work in Monthly Review: https://monthlyreview.org/article-aut...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Europe’s protests and social unrest07:56 Graziano on the roots of discontent12:29 CRISES: connecting society and ecology16:09 Capitalism, imperialism and the climate27:05 China and competing economic models31:23 Can green investment fix capitalism?41:35 Economic democracy and essential services52:17 Money, debt and changing social relations

In contrast to the EU, Australia does maintain some degrees of freedom and pragmatism when it comes to Foreign Relations.Professor Alexis Esposto joins Pascal to discuss Australia’s choices in an emerging multipolar world. They examine the country’s reliance on the United States, its economic relationship with China and the opportunities offered by Asia’s growing markets. Esposto questions whether American protection can provide lasting security, while discussing AUKUS, maritime vulnerabilities and financial dependence. The conversation explores pragmatic diplomacy, neutrality, migration, alternative payment systems and the challenge of protecting Australian prosperity without becoming trapped in a conflict between major powers.Alexis's Links:LinkedIn:   / alexis-esposto-4442141a  From a Unipolar to a Multipolar World: What’s in it for Australia? https://doi.org/10.1142/S263053132450...Multipolarity and Australia — article: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2025/...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Australia in an emerging multipolar world04:51 America as Australia’s insurance policy09:57 Neutrality, alliances and elite anxieties13:09 The economic centre of gravity shifts to Asia20:15 Elite networks and Australia’s national interest25:04 AUKUS, submarines and strategic dependence29:43 Maritime vulnerability, diplomacy and migration36:17 A US–China clash, BRICS and a financial Plan B

Here is the latest trick of the US Empire of war: Sell a hyper expensive submarine to a willing victim, cash-in immediately, hold off on delivery indefinitely, but get port access rights away. Sweet, sweet deals... for the empire of lies, paid for by Australian tax dollars, and maybe soon Australian blood if the weaponization of the continent for the geopolitical games of Washington continues.Former Australian Army major, Cameron Leckie, joins Pascal to discuss his disillusionment with Western foreign policy and Australia’s dependence on the United States. They examine media narratives, military ethics, war powers and the gap between proclaimed values and government actions. Leckie argues that American imperial commitments increasingly exceed available resources, raising questions about AUKUS and regional security. The conversation explores Australia’s relationship with China and its Asian neighbours, and the prospects for a more independent, peaceful foreign policy ahead.Cameron's Links:X: https://x.com/leckie_cameronSubstack: https://substack.com/@cameronleckieNeutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Cameron Leckie: from army officer to critic06:29 Media narratives and declining public trust15:53 Australia’s identity and the rise of Asia23:49 Think tanks and the China threat narrative26:42 Military ethics, illegal orders and war powers38:15 Gaza and Australia’s foreign policy contradictions42:34 Imperial decline, US bases and AUKUS51:09 A different security future for the Pacific

Update from West Asia: Laith Marouf joins Pascal to discuss the very important changes in the western debates over Israel and Palestine and the risk of wider war in West Asia. Marouf offers his interpretation of Israeli elections, pressure on Iran and the roles of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. They examine Yemen’s shifting frontlines, regional alliances and the limits of American power. Lottaz questions the strategic logic behind escalation, while Marouf argues that existing power structures face mounting instability. Their discussion closes with Free Palestine TV’s reporting work.Laith's Links:Free Palestine TV: https://freepalestine.video/Free Palestine TV — all social platforms: https://linktr.ee/freepalestinetvNeutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Changing debates over Israel and Palestine10:42 Christian Zionism and political identity16:05 Israeli elections and coalition politics20:48 The West Bank and the risk of war with Iran30:16 Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and regional alliances42:56 Yemen: Taiz, Aden and shifting frontlines48:01 Yemen’s borders and wider regional consequences52:25 Marouf’s argument about imperial decline

The European Union has become a complete bureaucratic and authoritarian monster, and it is impossible to fix. It must and will die. But what comes next? The continent will still be there.Professor Ulrike Guérot joins Pascal to discuss her new (German) book "Endlich Europa!" and a possible Europe beyond the European Union. She proposes a European republic combining equal citizenship, autonomous regions and limited shared institutions. Their conversation explores republicanism, democracy, infrastructure, sovereignty and the tensions within the single market and euro. Lottaz challenges her proposal with an ASEAN-style alternative, while Guérot argues that existing economic integration demands a different political framework. Together they consider Europe’s place in an emerging multipolar world.Ulrike's Links:Endlich Europa! — book and multilingual resources: https://endlich-europa.euNeutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Ulrike Guérot: imagining Europe after the EU04:12 What a republic means12:47 The single market and Europe’s political deficit17:51 Regions, identities and equal citizenship24:30 Who makes the rules in a European republic33:30 Subsidiarity, infrastructure and the rural divide39:43 An ASEAN-style alternative for Europe48:37 The euro, sovereignty and Europe’s future

They are lying to you about the Russia's supposed "Hybrid War". The question is why are they lying? To transform the entire EU into the next mega Ukraine? To back save their own power? To create mass-hysteria? Or all of the above?Thomas Fazi joins Pascal to debunk claims of Russian hybrid warfare in Europe. Drawing on his recent investigation, Fazi questions the evidence behind prominent sabotage allegations, drone scares and media coverage. They discuss the Leipzig airport case, political incentives, defence industry interests and the distinction between propaganda and collective fear. The conversation also explores censorship, civil liberties and historical parallels, while warning that escalating threat narratives could contribute to a real confrontation between NATO and Russia, with dangerous consequences.Thomas's Links:Substack: https://www.thomasfazi.com/The Russian hybrid war narrative — full article: https://www.thomasfazi.com/p/the-russ...Responsible Statecraft — shorter article: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/hyb...X:   / battleforeurope  Die Brüsseler Tyrannei — German book: https://westendverlag.de/Die-Bruessel...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Examining the Russian hybrid war narrative06:18 From allegations to specific incidents11:18 Drone scares and the evidence20:51 Leipzig airport and demands for proof31:28 Media incentives and threat inflation37:26 Cognitive warfare and collective fear45:07 Rearmament and defence industry interests50:21 Civil liberties and the risk of escalation

Russia as an "enemy of civilization" is one of Europe's oldest and most successful fabricated war-narratives ever. From the aristocracy of old to the modern Epstein class, the big bad enemy in the east has been essential to some quarters of the Atlantic elites.Dr. Manuel Ramos joins Pascal to trace the historical construction of Russophobia, focusing on the forged Testament of Peter the Great. Ramos argues that its image of permanent Russian expansion survived exposure and shaped European political language, imperial rivalry and contemporary threat perceptions. They discuss Napoleon, Britain’s Great Game, racial stereotypes, Russian responses, cultural admiration and Europe’s economic troubles. The conversation asks how inherited enemy images obstruct diplomacy and whether Europe can rebuild a more balanced relationship with Russia.Manuel's Links:Substack: https://manueljoaoramos.substack.comRussophobia Forged — Part 1: https://manueljoaoramos.substack.com/...Russophobia Forged — Part 2: https://manueljoaoramos.substack.com/...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 The historical construction of Russophobia03:09 The forged Testament of Peter the Great09:51 The myth of permanent Russian expansion17:56 Imperial rivalry and Britain’s Great Game27:02 Russia’s European identity and the common European home33:24 Enemy stereotypes and Russian responses45:10 Russophobia, social crisis and Europe’s economy52:31 Can Europe rebuild its relationship with Russia?

Not only marxists complain about the state of the US Empire, the libertarians, too, are shocked with the direction the West is taking. Here is one of their analyses:Jeffrey Tucker joins Pascal to examine declining trust in Western institutions. Tucker links central banking, financialization and inflation to inequality, war and household insecurity. They debate China’s economic success, the limits of ideology, and whether democracy has failed or been captured by oligarchic interests. The discussion considers Trump’s promises, political retaliation, constitutional change and public disillusionment before turning to healthcare incentives, living standards and the difficult question of how a more humane society could emerge from today’s institutional crisis.Jeffrey's Links:Brownstone Institute: https://brownstone.org/Jeffrey Tucker’s articles: https://brownstone.org/author/jeffrey...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Jeffrey Tucker: facts, ideology and liberty04:04 Fiat money, central banks and the warfare state09:56 China’s growth and the debate over economic freedom16:32 What happens when society loses trust?20:06 Trump’s promises, power and disillusionment25:07 Lawfare, democracy and the American founding36:51 Trump, Obama and containing popular anger46:10 Living standards, healthcare and a squandered future

The neocons can't bomb this one away: the strategic partnership between Russia and China deepened to a degree that it can now reshape the face of the non-western world. This is everything that previous generations of US strategists have warned against. Dr. Daniele Ganser joins Pascal to discuss his new (German language) Book "Kampf der Giganten" and the changing relationship between China, Russia and the United States. Ganser argues that Western policy has drawn Beijing and Moscow closer, while both speakers examine NATO expansion, the Ukraine war and missed diplomatic opportunities. They discuss Iran, Swiss neutrality, sanctions and Europe’s colonial legacy before considering a more cooperative multipolar order. The conversation closes with their hopes for independent media, public dialogue and a stronger international peace movement.Daniele's Links:Website: https://www.danieleganser.ch/Kampf der Giganten: https://www.danieleganser.ch/buecher/...YouTube:    / @danieleganseroffiziell  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Kampf der Giganten: China, Russia and the United States03:29 NATO expansion and missed diplomacy over Ukraine13:21 The Cuban Missile Crisis and great-power security27:49 China, Russia, Iran and opposition to US power44:14 Swiss neutrality, sanctions and direct democracy49:54 Europe’s colonial legacy and changing global role57:14 A peaceful multipolar century?1:07:42 Independent media and building a peace movement

The liberal capitalist class is in panic — and for a good reason. Their reign of terror is finally coming to a close. Not only because of the emergence of the formerly colonized Global South but also because the capitalists have so thoroughly hollowed out their own nation states that collapse is all but inevitable. Professor Radhika Desai joins Pascal to examine elections, imperial power and the deepening crisis of neoliberal capitalism. They discuss Brazil, Israeli politics, the Israel lobby debate and the relationship between class interests and national strategy. Desai argues that financialization, inequality, repression and speculative AI investment reveal systemic decay. The conversation also considers youth protests, European rearmament, the postwar social compromise and China’s contrasting development model, asking how economies could prioritize ordinary people’s welfare and sustainable prosperity over private profit.Radhika's Links:YouTube — Radhika Desai, Geopolitical Economist:    / @raddesai  Substack: https://radicaldesai.substack.comPatreon:   / radhikadesai  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Brazil’s election and the Latin American left07:47 Israeli elections and Netanyahu’s wars11:48 The Israel lobby and US imperial interests17:18 Class, nation and geopolitical economy25:22 How neoliberalism dismantled the postwar compromise31:29 Financialization and the AI bubble37:05 Youth protests, repression and European rearmament45:23 Capitalism’s crisis and China’s alternative

They are lying to you: Zionism has NOTHING to do with Judaism. It's a protestant British idea and used as much against the jews as it is used against Palestinians. Benjamin Moser joins Pascal Lottaz to discuss Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History and the diverse Jewish thinkers who opposed Zionism. Moving from rabbis and British politicians to Arab Jewish scholars and contemporary artists, Moser explores religious objections, nationalism, antisemitism, and the promise of safety. They examine settler colonialism, minority rights, Western support for Israel, and changing public opinion. Moser argues that understanding today’s violence requires looking beyond individual leaders to the ideology and historical structures that shaped the Israeli state itself.Benjamin’s Links:Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History: https://www.benmoser.com/anti-zionismEnglish edition: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...German edition: Anti-Zionismus: https://www.ullstein.de/werke/anti-zi...International editions: https://www.benmoser.com/internationa...Benjamin’s Substack: https://benjaminmoser.substack.comNeutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Benjamin Moser and Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History03:42 The Jewish dissenters in the book08:00 Judaism, Zionism, and a shared sensibility12:44 Antisemitism, Herzl, and the “new Jew”18:53 The rabbis’ objections to violence22:46 Safety, statehood, and minority rights26:23 Settler colonialism and historical comparisons39:45 Public opinion and the limits of changing leaders

James Carden discusses The Great Betrayal and his account of how interventionists displaced the Democratic Party’s tradition of restraint. He traces competing foreign policy schools from Roosevelt and Truman through Kennedy, Carter and Clinton, emphasizing personnel, donors, think tanks and media. The conversation examines Russiagate, progressive attitudes toward Russia, American exceptionalism and Carden’s concept of a pluralism gap. Carden also questions whether either major party can accommodate a multipolar world, arguing that advocates of restraint remain politically outnumbered in Washington.James's Links:The Realist Review: https://therealistreview.substack.com/The Great Betrayal: https://orbooks.com/catalog/the-great...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 The Great Betrayal: two Democratic traditions04:04 The neoconservative connection06:13 Carter and the triumph of the hawks12:20 Who controls foreign policy19:03 Culture wars and American exceptionalism27:21 Russia, Russiagate and the limits of dissent42:25 The pluralism gap and a multipolar world48:08 Why Republican restrainers remain outnumbered

All is not well in the world of AI. While China has done a remarkable job at keeping up with AI in general, there is a gap at the very frontier of AI models, especially in mathematics. And the US is exploiting this with great skill. Tsinghua mathematician Babak Haghighat joins Pascal to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing mathematical research and the global balance of scientific power. He warns that private control of advanced models could restrict researchers, deepen international inequalities, and accelerate an AI arms race. Their conversation examines China’s research ecosystem, American chip restrictions, energy demands, and the promise of open collaboration. Haghighat argues for public access, stronger university partnerships, and keeping AI a tool for humanity rather than its scientific master.Babak's Links:Tsinghua University faculty profile: https://ymsc.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/info/...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 AI transforms mathematical research05:06 The frontier gap and control of science10:48 Researchers face an access dilemma16:36 An accelerating race and security risks23:11 Chips, sanctions and open collaboration35:42 Energy and the cost of intelligence40:31 Human creativity and AI as a tool45:40 Avoiding an arms race; science as a public good

The USA sold Australia a Submarine that will never be delivered. In return, they got a Deep See submarine port that they can use in perpetuity. Well played, Washington! Or was it maybe not?Jeff Rich joins Pascal to examine Australia’s political upheaval and its place within American power. They discuss One Nation’s rise, migration, neoliberal reforms, and growing doubts about national autonomy. Rich argues that AUKUS strengthens foreign military access while constraining Australia’s choices, and proposes understanding US allies as privileged dominions within an imperial hierarchy. The conversation also explores media influence, elite networks, relations with Asia, hostility toward Russia, and the changing meaning of national identity in an increasingly interconnected world.Jeff's Links:The Burning Archive on Substack: https://jeffrich.substack.comThe Burning Archive on YouTube:    / @theburningarchive  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Australia’s political crisis05:20 Migration and settler colonialism10:11 Voting systems and One Nation’s rise20:28 Neoliberalism and the limits of market reform26:27 AUKUS and Australia’s autonomy37:41 US dominions, elites and media power47:26 Australia’s relationships with Asia and Russia52:47 National identity and the Burning Archive

Dr. Leila Hudson assesses the very real risk of more escalation in West Asia as Israeli elections and American midterms approach. She discusses Iranian strategic discipline, decentralized military organization, Yemen’s asymmetric warfare and the changing security calculations of Gulf states. Hudson explores funeral diplomacy, Syria’s cautious regional positioning and the danger of sectarian polarization. The conversation also considers Israeli and Emirati influence across East Africa, contested regional alliances and the prospects for diplomacy as American power and security guarantees face growing pressure.Leila's Links:University of Arizona profile: https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/l...Lines of Flight, Assemblages of Home: Syrian Women Displaced: https://press.syr.edu/supressbooks/86...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 West Asia and the risk of renewed escalation05:02 Elections and an October surprise16:16 Iran’s decentralized military resilience22:59 Yemen and the limits of expensive warfare27:58 Iran, the Gulf and changing alliances31:31 Funeral diplomacy and regional relationships36:06 Syria’s restraint and Iraq’s uncertainty42:39 East Africa, alliance maps and divide-and-rule

Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes examines what nuclear weapons mean for human survival, drawing on research into radioactive contamination in the Marshall Islands. She explains explosive yields, persistent fallout, unequal radiation risks, and the potential for nuclear winter to devastate food production worldwide. In discussion, she addresses nuclear energy, North Korea, deterrence, disarmament, Western double standards, and artificial intelligence in nuclear command systems. Her central argument is that understanding the physical consequences must precede meaningful debate about security and political choices.Ivana's Links:Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: https://www.wagingpeace.org/Columbia University profile: https://www.chem.columbia.edu/content...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 What is at stake03:41 The destructive scale of nuclear weapons10:33 Nuclear testing and the Marshall Islands16:56 Radiation, contaminated food and unequal risks30:36 Nuclear winter and global starvation36:37 Q&A: nuclear energy and deterrence44:22 Disarmament and double standards59:18 Public opinion, AI and nuclear escalation

The capitalist class will never give up if we don't force them into peace and an equitable future. And this is not a antiquated social paradigm but the only framework that can help you understand the insane levels of political violence around us.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Keynote 3 (Presentation 11): Prof. Radhika DesaiProfessor Radhika Desai examines the crisis of world capitalism through her geopolitical economy approach. She argues that Western decline and China’s rise reflect a deeper struggle over production, imperialism and socialism. Drawing on Marx, Smith, Keynes and Gramsci, she challenges prevailing accounts of world war, fascism and neo-feudalism. The discussion explores artificial intelligence, Russia’s economic system, Trump’s tariffs and neoclassical economics, concluding with an exchange with Bill Mitchell on the left’s retreat from macroeconomic policy and the role of planning.Radhika's Links:Website: https://radhikadesai.com/Books: https://radhikadesai.com/books/Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Geopolitical economy and capitalism’s crisis06:06 The changing world order17:26 Imperialism, nations and development27:45 Marx, monopoly and planned production39:00 Neoliberalism and capitalism’s decline50:37 Q&A: Keynes, AI and multipolarity59:33 Russia, China and imperialism1:19:17 Bill Mitchell: where the left lost its way

How can scholars, journalists and citizens help prevent another world war? Well, just work on it.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Roundtable (Session 15): Plenary DiscussionIn the closing Kyoto Symposium, we bring together seventeen participants to discuss practical paths toward peace. They explore public education, nuclear disarmament, economic inequality, political organization and dialogue across ideological divides. The discussion moves from individual proposals to candid disagreements about democracy, capitalism, nationalism and the psychology of conflict. Despite differing perspectives, participants consider how cooperation, honest debate and stronger networks can turn anxiety into collective action.Participants:Pascal Lottaz (moderator), Sheng Zhang, Dennis Riches, Warwick Powell, Alexander Mercouris, Nel Bonilla, Radhika Desai, Ulrike Guérot, Evarist Bartolo, Arta Moeini, David Gibbs, Mattias Desmet, Christopher Mott, Ivana N. Hughes, Hillary Briffa, Eric Golson and Aghogho Akpome.Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 From analysis to action: Pascal’s opening02:17 The panel’s proposals for peace17:05 Sincere dialogue and ethical principles19:04 Disarmament, public engagement and cooperation26:36 Open discussion: fear, power and dialogue33:39 Domestic inequality and the roots of conflict44:02 Nuclear risks, identity and political narratives56:11 Building coalitions across ideological divides

If there is one region where Western imperialism has thoroughly come to a dead end, it's East and Southeast Asia. The name of the game is diversification of partnerships.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 14: Warwick PowellWarwick Powell explores how energy, production and financial infrastructure shape a changing world order. Drawing lessons from conflict in West Asia, he argues that vulnerable American bases undermine established security arrangements across Asia. He proposes an ASEAN-centered regional order grounded in neutrality, economic integration and locally driven cooperation. The discussion examines China’s industrial rise, alternative payment systems, green energy, Australia’s strategic choices and the dangers of destabilization, asking how regional societies might navigate declining hegemony while avoiding another devastating war.Warwick's Links:Substack: https://warwickpowell.substack.com/Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Warwick Powell: violence and systemic change06:05 Energy, production and China’s rise11:49 West Asia and vulnerable US bases20:31 Financial infrastructure and alternative payments23:18 Asia, Australia and the limits of US power27:38 An ASEAN-centered neutral security order31:05 Discussion: regional cooperation, energy and payments48:10 US retrenchment, destabilization and regional choices

The world is not going through a "new crisis" just because the West is in trouble. Most parts of the world have been in crisis for hundreds of years due to the West doing fine. That's what's coming to an end and it seems it is this prospect of the end of exploitation that is scaring the elites into a frenzy against their own populations.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 12: Aghogho AkpomeAghogho Akpome challenges the idea that today’s crises mark a new age of monsters, tracing their roots through colonialism, capitalism and Western knowledge systems. Drawing on literature and African histories, he argues that prosperity for a minority has depended on exploitation elsewhere. The discussion explores modernity, socialism, cultural difference and the meaning of the West, with participants challenging and refining his claims. Akpome concludes by advocating decolonial thinking, shared interests and solidarity across societies rather than new hierarchies of supremacy.Aghogho's Links:University profile: https://www.arts.unizulu.ac.za/dr-a-a...Research publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4538-360XNeutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Literature and a decolonial perspective02:36 The long age of monsters05:45 Colonial wealth and the global majority13:55 African histories and colonial violence26:55 Historical amnesia and a system turning inward32:16 Western knowledge and decolonial alternatives39:29 Discussion: modernity, capitalism and socialism48:36 Solidarity, cultural difference and the meaning of the West

Neutrality is back! Not just on this channel but in the international debate. And we are happy to announce the first-ever (academic) book series on the topic. Listen to Eric and Hillary introducing the two volumes that will come out shortly and why they show that neutrality is the better foreign policy strategy.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 10: Eirc Golson & Hillary BriffaEric Golson and Hillary Briffa explore how neutrality helps states preserve autonomy in an increasingly contested international order. Drawing on historical cases, they examine the legal foundations, practical demands and political limits of staying outside wars and military alliances. Their discussion considers recognition, defence capacity, diplomatic usefulness, domestic legitimacy and adaptation, alongside examples from Switzerland, Malta, Hawaii and the Gulf. The audience debate addresses nonalignment, mediation, Taiwan, security guarantees and the pressures that powerful states place on neutral actors today.The (BRAND NEW) Neutrality Studies Books and Book Series:Reframing Neutrality: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/reframi...Neutral Actors in History: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/neutral...Open Access: Both books will be made available Open Access. You don't need to purchase them. PDFs will be available in due course.Eric and Hillary's Links:Eric Golson — University of Surrey: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/eric-...Hillary Briffa — King's College London: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/hillary-...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Neutrality in a changing international order03:39 Law, diplomacy and the flexibility of neutrality10:48 Small states and the limits of alliances16:52 Hillary Briffa: the craft of staying out of wars22:22 Five conditions for lasting neutrality31:55 Failure, hierarchy and empire40:31 Q&A: nonalignment, guarantees and mediation53:22 Gulf security and opposition to neutrality

China has avoided alliances, but what the United States is doing to Iran and Palestine leaves Beijing little choice. The Dengists are losing internally and this is giving way to a whole new wave of Maoists inside the Chinese political system. They are young, (fashionable,) and they are done with trying to appease US imperialism.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 8: Sheng ZhangSheng Zhang examines the competing traditions shaping China’s Middle East policy, contrasting Maoist solidarity with Dengist economic priorities. Using Palestine and Iran, he explores Beijing’s political commitments, trade relationships, public opinion and diplomatic constraints. He argues that regional conflict is challenging China’s balancing strategy and strengthening Iran’s strategic importance. The discussion considers boycotts, Gulf investment, energy security, generational differences and strategic patience, asking what might push Beijing toward a clearer position as regional power shifts and tensions with Washington deepen.Sheng's Links:Sheng's Article on China-Iran Relations: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/991335Association for Global Political Thought profile: https://globalpoliticalthought.hsites...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 China’s competing foreign-policy traditions04:43 Xi Jinping and the Middle East06:37 Gaza and Chinese public opinion13:43 Trade with Israel and the Haifa dilemma15:48 Iran, Gulf trade and diplomatic tensions18:54 War and China’s reassessment of Iran28:57 Discussion: boycotts, Gaza and Gulf investment44:11 Energy, younger generations and strategic patience

Europe has lost all and any sympathies of Russians for generations and this will alter the course of European history even more than the war in Ukraine. The way in which the EU elites have managed to shock the Russian population is poorly understood in the West but of monumental importance.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 8: Alexander MercourisAlexander Mercouris examines the decline of Europe’s central role in world politics and the dangers of competition among great powers. He argues that China’s rise, Western economic insecurity and Russia’s changing identity are transforming the international system. Drawing on history and visits to Russia, he discusses neutrality, diplomacy and the responsibility to preserve peace. Audience questions challenge his interpretation of European identity, explore American strategy towards Russia and China, and assess sanctions, military doctrine and the idea of civilizational states.Alexander's Links:Alexander Mercouris on YouTube:    / @alexmercouris  The Duran on YouTube:    / @theduran  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 War, peace and the role of neutral states04:39 Europe and the great-power system11:27 Russia’s European identity16:54 China’s rise and Western decline21:01 The 2008 crisis and pressure on Russia26:50 Russia’s turn away from Europe35:21 Discussion: military doctrine and great-power politics56:46 Sanctions and the civilizational state

Enjoy the Empire while it lasts, for the outlook does not look good. Join two US analysts in their quest for understanding the trajectory of decline.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 7: Dr. Arta Moeini & Dr. Christopher MottArta Moeini and Chris Mott examine the language of civilization in American foreign policy and the possibilities of a changing international order. Moeini argues that Marco Rubio’s rhetoric repackages global primacy, while Mott explores historically rooted political communities through China, India, Iran and other examples. Their discussion considers geography, cultural difference, empire, ideology and coexistence. Audience questions challenge their definitions, examine American history and European militarization, and ask whether civilizational thinking can support peace without reproducing familiar forms of domination.Recorded at the Kyoto Symposium, 15 October 2026.CHAPTERS00:00 Arta Moeini: civilization and American power04:28 Limits of the liberal order08:19 Support Neutrality Studies12:50 Chris Mott: civilizational states20:18 India, history and political identity27:40 Power, geography and coexistence34:19 Audience questions and discussion51:00 Civilization, colonialism and the American republicGUESTSArta Moeini and Christopher Mott — Institute for Peace & Diplomacyhttps://peacediplomacy.org/experts/CONFERENCEhttps://neutralitystudies.com/events/...NEUTRALITY STUDIESNewsletter: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateShop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shop

The Europeans are committing a form of collective self-destruction. And there is a very bad reason for that. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Keynote 2 (Presentation 6): Dr. Ulrike GuérotUlrike Guérot examines Europe’s political crisis, arguing that economic integration advanced without the democratic institutions needed to sustain it. She traces tensions between European independence, American influence, national governments and the euro, then questions the power of corporations, censorship and cultural decline. The discussion turns to colonialism, capitalism and the limits of liberalism. In conversation with the Kyoto audience, Guérot outlines her alternative: a European republic built around equal citizenship, democratic representation and a renewed commitment to the common good.Ulrike's Links:Official website: https://www.ulrike-guerot.de/Endlich Europa! (book discussed): https://westendverlag.de/Endlich-Euro...Kyoto Symposium programme: https://neutralitystudies.com/events/...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Europe in a time of monsters06:12 Economic integration without political union07:44 Support Neutrality Studies10:02 European independence and American influence20:30 The EU’s institutional and democratic crisis35:24 Corporate power, censorship and culture50:46 Q&A: pragmatism, Americanization and austerity1:08:28 Q&A: colonialism, liberalism and a European republic

Stas Krapivnik discusses drone strikes, Russia’s response, and the risk of a wider European war. Krapivnik argues that Western involvement and pressure around Kaliningrad could trigger dangerous escalation. They examine his assessment of Russian missile capabilities, European unrest, Ukrainian supply routes, and developments along the front. The conversation also considers Ukraine’s strategic depth, potential settlement terms, and how autumn mud, fog, and winter weather could affect drones, logistics, and the pace of military operations in Ukraine.Stas's Links:YouTube:    / @mrslavikman  X: https://x.com/STANISKR...Substack: https://zmeigarinich.s...Telegram (English): https://t.me/staswasth...Telegram (Russian): https://t.me/stastydai...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction and drone strikes05:03 Drone routes and Western involvement13:30 Oreshnik and the danger of escalation17:34 Escalation scenarios and Kaliningrad26:09 European unrest and Russia’s dilemma36:01 Front lines, encirclement and logistics46:23 The Dnieper and possible Russian objectives49:34 Settlement terms and the winter battlefield

Dennis Riches and Johan Eddebo examine how dominant narratives are produced, defended and transformed by technology. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 5: Professor Dennis Riches (Literature) & Professor Johan Eddebo (Philosophy)Riches presents a contested interpretation of Rwanda and the Great Lakes conflicts, using it to question institutional authority and historical representation. Eddebo explores artificial intelligence, simulated reasoning and the erosion of meaningful dissent. Their Kyoto Symposium discussion considers internet countercultures, propaganda, media influence and human rationality, asking whether new forms of community and engagement with reality can resist the pressures of an emerging monoculture.Dennis and Johan's Links:Dennis Riches Substack: https://dennisriches.s...Lit by Imagination: https://dennisriches.w...Johan Eddebo university profile: https://www.uu.se/kont...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction: narrative control before and after AI03:46 Riches on Rwanda and the Great Lakes conflicts12:11 How dominant historical narratives are established19:00 Eddebo: the post-digital condition31:03 AI and the simulation of independent reasoning39:47 Q&A: where can dissent survive?47:18 Human rationality, technology and pessimism58:38 Reality, worldviews and alternatives to monoculture

Europe and North America are clearly on a declining trajectory, but that does not mean that have given up on their designs for World Domination. Something far more dangerous is going on.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 4: Nel BonillaNel Bonilla challenges the assumption that Western decline necessarily leads to collapse or a peaceful multipolar order. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci, she examines how weakened legitimacy can coexist with coercion, institutional survival and the obstruction of alternatives. Her account of the bunker state connects austerity, militarization and elite power. The Kyoto Symposium discussion considers European dependence, competing interests and the fragmented forces opposing the existing order, asking what shared political language, organization and institutions might make meaningful systemic change possible.Nel's Links:Worldlines: https://worldlineslett...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction and Gramsci’s time of monsters03:20 Authority, consent and coercion08:42 Why the Cold War was an exception15:09 Different crises and the assumption of collapse22:40 Why a new order cannot be born27:50 The bunker state33:08 Q&A: state power and European dependence50:30 Democracy, capital and political organization

The most fragile moment in 500 years of Western imperial dominance is also its most dangerous. As power slips away, the masses are forming into a new and frightening way. And it all has to do with psychology. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 3: Prof. Mattias DesmetWhy do even intelligent people fall for the most ridiculous narratives? At the Kyoto Symposium, Mattias Desmet presents his theory of mass formation, linking loneliness, anxiety and collective identification to propaganda and intolerance. He argues that sincere speech can rebuild human connections and resist destructive conformity. The discussion tests his account against history, modernity, class, racism and contemporary geopolitical conflict. Audience members challenge his assumptions and explore whether psychological explanations can complement structural analysis when diagnosing the dangers facing societies today.Mattias's Links:Official website: https://mattiasdesmet....Substack: https://words.mattiasd...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction: diagnosing the patient04:56 Intelligence, conformity and mass formation08:31 Loneliness and the appeal of collective narratives15:56 Intolerance, propaganda and conflict19:39 Sincere speech and rebuilding human connections24:10 Q&A: anxiety and propaganda38:17 History, class and the limits of mass psychology56:40 Belief, experience and the final audience questions

Former Maltese foreign minister Evarist Bartolo explains from experience how the US manages its extended empire and how even fellow EU members work as enforcers of the transatlantic (dis)order.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Keynote 1: Evarist BartoloEvarist examines how small states can defend their sovereignty in an increasingly militarized world. Drawing on Malta’s experience of independence, neutrality and the removal of foreign bases, he argues that diplomacy offers alternatives to dependence on powerful allies. He also critiques Europe’s leadership and foreign policy. The audience discussion explores NATO, nuclear risks, relations with Africa, economic power, corruption and the practical limits of independence. Recorded at the Kyoto Symposium 2026, with questions and answers.Evarist’s Links:Official website: https://evaristbartolo...Kyoto Symposium programme: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction: power and the “time of monsters”02:13 Malta’s road to sovereignty08:20 Support Neutrality Studies10:22 NATO bases and nuclear risk18:04 Europe’s leadership and lost alternatives29:49 Q&A: Europe, NATO and diplomacy40:05 Europe, media and political influence56:46 Capital, sovereignty and small states

Historian David Gibbs argues that today’s international disorder grew from decisions made after the Cold War, when Western policymakers sought to preserve military dominance despite the disappearance of the Soviet threat. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 2: Prof. David GibbsDrawing on declassified documents and Gibbs' research, he examines military spending, NATO, Yugoslavia and the politics of intervention. The audience discussion considers oil, capitalism, humanitarian arguments, China and public opposition to war. Recorded at the Kyoto Symposium 2026, this session includes the presentation and the full questions and answers.David’s Links:University profile: https://history.arizon...Research and publications: https://dgibbs.arizona...Kyoto Symposium programme: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction: the search for new enemies03:02 Military spending and the lost peace dividend07:43 Support Neutrality Studies08:39 The strategy of permanent dominance14:44 Yugoslavia, NATO and European independence24:46 Arms manufacturers, PNAC and NATO expansion31:36 Q&A: oil, capitalism and intervention46:17 Ideology, humanitarian claims and public resistance

Commodore Steve Jermy joins Pascal to warn that Europe is courting a war it cannot sustain. They examine Kaliningrad escalation scenarios, Russian military capabilities, Western political groupthink, and the gulf between public narratives and battlefield realities. Jermy explains his support for a petition to pause British military assistance to Ukraine and demand public debate. The conversation also explores failed diplomacy, NATO’s readiness, American commitments, and why ordinary Europeans must have a say before their leaders risk a wider conflict.Steve's Links:Substack article: https://stevejermy.sub...UK Parliament petition: https://petition.parli...Steve Jermy's Substack: https://stevejermy.sub...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Steve Jermy and the petition to pause military support05:09 Escalation risks and Europe’s military vulnerability08:38 Political narratives and “cult thinking”14:26 Kaliningrad and the danger of miscalculation20:38 Ignored warnings and failed diplomacy27:24 America, Ukraine and the battlefield32:17 The human cost of a NATO–Russia war43:47 Defensive security and how to support the petition

Alex Krainer returns to discuss his argument that British imperial power survives through international banking networks. With Pascal Lottaz, he examines Yugoslavia’s breakup, Bosnia’s political tensions, and competing British and American interests. Their conversation traces debt, oil concessions, and corporate finance as mechanisms of wealth extraction, including the case of Enrico Mattei. They also debate technological control, artificial intelligence, and public attitudes toward Russia, before considering whether independent media and growing public awareness offer grounds for optimism and renewed sovereignty.Alex's Links:Alex Krainer’s Substack: https://alexkrainer.su...I-System TrendCompass: https://trendcompass.s...X: https://x.com/NakedHedgieYouTube:    / @kraineralex  The Naked Hedgie: https://thenakedhedgie...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Alex Krainer and the “undead empire”05:07 Yugoslavia and British influence15:31 Bosnia and competing Western interests30:33 Banking networks and the American divide38:44 Debt, oil and wealth extraction50:51 Corporate power and Enrico Mattei58:02 Technological control, AI and the future01:02:42 Public awareness and the case for optimism

At the East-West Forum in Istanbul, Professor Zhang Weiwei presents China's vision of a multipolar world. He explains the civilizational state, contrasts Chinese and Western approaches to governance, and argues for peace, development and regional cooperation. Addressing fellow panellists, Zhang discusses the United Nations, ASEAN, the Belt and Road Initiative, relations with India, and Donald Trump's diplomacy. He challenges Western definitions of democracy and concludes that Asia's future depends on integration, strategic patience and shared prosperity rather than military confrontation.Zhang Weiwei's Links:Fudan University profile: https://cifu.fudan.edu...China Institute, Fudan University: https://www.fudan.edu....East-West Forum: https://east-west-foru...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Pascal's introduction00:20 China as a civilizational state04:45 Unite and prosper: China's strategic philosophy06:51 Shared development, the SCO and ASEAN10:27 Public order, regional security and India12:34 Peace, common values and the UN Charter15:06 UN reform, development and Trump's diplomacy20:26 Democracy, border disputes and Asia's future

Mattias Forsgren joins Pascal to examine Sweden’s shift from neutrality to NATO and the risks of nuclear escalation in Europe. Drawing on his essay “Hegemonic Logic,” Forsgren argues that American power combines military pressure, financial influence and energy dependence. They discuss Nordic defence agreements, public debate, Cold War history and the limits of dissent. The conversation also explores Europe’s economic vulnerabilities, relations with Russia and China, and whether diplomacy can offer an alternative to confrontation and growing strategic dependence.Mattias's Links:Mattias Forsgren’s Substack: https://mattiasforsgre...Hegemonic Logic: https://mattiasforsgre...Dissidentpodden / Dissident Club: https://dissidentpodde...Michael Hudson conversation shared by Mattias: https://www.youtube.co...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Mattias Forsgren and the Dissident Club02:25 Hegemonic logic and nuclear coercion09:19 Sweden, NATO and the nuclear umbrella14:03 How Sweden’s security debate changed19:52 Neutrality, US bases and European autonomy32:42 Energy dependence and American leverage40:34 Dissent and Europe’s “Stockholm syndrome”43:42 China, diplomacy and possible alternatives

The US Regime-Change Industrial Complex is currently working in over-drive when it comes to consolidating Washington's power over the Western Hemisphere: The next country on the chopping block is Brazil and its only the latest in many regime change operations the USA has been conducting over the past 70 years in Latin America.Economist Mark Weisbrot joins me to discuss Brazil’s election and Washington’s influence across Latin America. He examines household debt, central bank policy, Argentina’s dependence on international lending, and the political power of dollar sanctions. Their conversation explores Venezuela, Bolivia, Haiti and Ecuador, contrasting economic sovereignty with external intervention. Weisbrot also distinguishes humanitarian aid from political interference, challenges prevailing accounts of Bolivia’s election crisis, and considers whether the region’s current rightward shift can deliver lasting improvements in ordinary people’s lives.Mark's Links:Center for Economic and Policy Research: https://cepr.netMark Weisbrot’s research and articles: https://cepr.net/peopl...Article on Brazil’s election: https://cepr.net/publi...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introducing Dr. Mark Weisbrot03:11 Brazil: Lula, Bolsonaro and household debt07:58 Trump’s pressure on Brazil and the courts14:41 Argentina, dollar debt and sanctions27:38 NGOs, USAID and humanitarian aid33:44 IMF policies and Bolivia’s election crisis47:00 Haiti, Ecuador and economic sovereignty57:52 Brazil’s prospects and Latin America’s future

The Proxy War in Ukraine and the War of Aggression against Iran are not shaping up the way they are supposed to, and the Washington establishment is in panic mode. Ambassador Chas Freeman—a former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Undersecretary of Defence—does not think that these errors are part of a deeper strategy to weaken China, but the outcome of many individual failures.American power is, in fact, retreating as wars, sanctions and depleted arsenals expose the limits of dominance. He examines Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s growing autonomy and China’s gains from the energy crisis. With Pascal Lottaz, he discusses Israel’s eroding support, Switzerland’s neutrality debate and NATO’s failures. Their conversation explores whether cooperative security, regional partnerships and greater freedom for middle powers can replace confrontation, drawing lessons from ASEAN and considering the prospects for diplomacy in a changing world.Chas's Links:Chas Freeman's Substack: https://chasfreeman.su...Books and Publications: https://chasfreeman.ne...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Iran, Yemen and the widening regional crisis09:21 America in retreat: military and economic costs16:48 China’s gains and Saudi Arabia’s autonomy24:07 Israel’s eroding support30:31 Switzerland’s neutrality debate35:12 Can neutrality replace confrontation?39:09 NATO’s failure and Ukraine’s future44:14 A changing world: ASEAN and regional cooperation

There is a psychological explanation for why Europe and North America is governed by kakistocratic elites. Psychiatrist Niall McLaren joins Pascal to explore how the urge to dominate shapes politics and international conflict. Drawing on his book Narcisso-Fascism, McLaren argues that hierarchy and entitlement help explain elite behavior, imperial expansion, and resistance to oppression. They debate individual psychology versus structural explanations, challenge assumptions about human nature, and examine propaganda, group loyalty, and Western decline. The conversation also considers democratic reform, intellectual conformity, and McLaren’s distinction between socially reinforced beliefs and delusions in the clinical sense.Niall's Links:Critical Psychiatry and Narcisso-Fascism Substack: https://www.niallmclar...Narcisso-Fascism (book): https://www.lhpress.co...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Niall McLaren and Narcisso-Fascism03:16 Dominance and the paradox of hierarchy11:51 Entitlement, wealth, and imperial expansion15:46 Human nature versus offensive realism25:17 Can democratic reform restrain power?31:53 Western decline and enemies within44:28 Elite rivalry, group loyalty, and social delusions53:26 Questioning orthodoxy and explaining human nature

Modern zionism—a mostly christian and exclusively western political ideology—is nothing but the third installment of the transnational capitalist ruling class reinventing itself to continue to dominate the world capitalist system. This is the main thesis of Professor Kees van der Pijl's new book "Zionism and 9/11" which we discuss in this interview.DISCLAIMER: I (Pascal) am skeptical of the view that 9/11 was an inside job. To me, the level of planning and secrecy just seems too huge a hurdle. Applying Occam's Razor (when presented with competing explanations for a phenomenon, you should prefer the simpler one that makes the fewest assumptions) I am still tending to view 9/11 as an externally induced act—albeit one that laid bare the level of incompetence of US homeland defense.However, the argument of Prof. van der Pijl still holds that the transnational ruling class and Zionism are the greatest benefactors of the US violent reaction to 9/11. One can just as well assume that the attacks took place "organically" and still view the outcome as a catalyst to the transnational zionist ruling class, under the motto "never let a good crisis go to waste." In the same vein, one does not need to assume that Israel carried out the October 7th attacks itself, but that it barely took advantage of the Hammas attack once it had happened for the advancement of the Zionist project.Please also note that this video explicitly assumes that Zionism is not a jewish phenomenon but a mostly christian, western-European political ideology used by the transnational elites to kling on to their colonial grip over the global capitalist system. We must not make the mistake of blaming the jews for Zionism. Judaism is a peace-loving and pacifist religion and is together with indigenous muslims and christians among the victims of the onslaught of radical zionism.Kees's Links:Israel and 9/11: The Rise of Atlantic Zionism (English): https://deblauwetijger...Israël en 9/11 (Dutch): https://deblauwetijger...The Making of an Atlantic Ruling Class: https://www.versobooks...Papers and book announcements: https://independent.ac...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 The book and the academic freedom dispute07:27 How an Atlantic ruling class emerged17:55 Christian Zionism and colonialism25:19 Zionism, Judaism, and transnational power38:55 Van der Pijl’s 9/11 thesis and sources47:48 The origins of the “war on terror”56:40 Systemic decline and the danger of war01:05:36 BRICS, national sovereignty, and social change

Former British diplomat to Moscow, Ian Proud, was detained at Heathrow Airport for the apparent offense of traveling to the Valdai Discussion Club to talk to Russia's intelligentsia. Ian and Pascal discuss civil liberties, sanctions, foreign influence rules and what they see as Europe’s narrowing space for dissent. Proud shares impressions from Moscow, warns about nuclear escalation and argues that abandoning diplomacy endangers European security. Their conversation closes with an appeal for dialogue, public engagement and a negotiated end to the war.Ian's Links:The Peacemonger on YouTube:    / @ianproud  The Peacemonger on Substack: https://thepeacemonger...Ian Proud’s website: https://www.prouddiplo...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Ian Proud returns from Russia00:52 Detained at Heathrow: Ian’s account02:51 Questioning, seized devices and family impact13:58 Challenging detention and foreign influence rules20:09 Sanctions, dissent and civil liberties28:22 What Ian learned at Valdai34:17 Nuclear escalation and the need for diplomacy42:48 The human cost of war and a call for peace

This man has seen almost every country on earth. And during his travels he witnessed one recurring pattern: The violence and wars in this world followed a simple pattern—induced and guided from Europe and America. In this talk he reveals his observations.Drawing on encounters in the Philippines, Somalia, Colombia, Syria and Donbas, Kolja Spöri presents his interpretation of covert influence, strategic waterways and prolonged warfare. Pascal questions the evidence behind these claims and explores the relationship between local conflicts and outside powers. Their conversation concludes with European security, political incentives and fears of a wider war between European countries.Kolja's Links:Picture of the Book cover featured in Kolja's travelblog: https://luxuryrogue.wo...Book: Dr. Dangerzone (book): https://www.amazon.com...Website: http://www.spori.netX: https://x.com/SporiSportLinkedIn:   / koljaspori  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introducing Kolja Spöri and Dr. Dangerzone02:09 The Philippines and Spöri’s claims about covert warfare08:33 Somalia, piracy and strategic shipping routes17:29 Colombia, the FARC and the Panama Canal26:48 Questioning the evidence and discussing Syria33:43 Donbas, Ukraine and the Minsk agreements47:16 European escalation and the incentives for war01:01:18 Dr. Dangerzone and where to follow Kolja

Why lose in one war if you can simultaneously lose two? That seems to be new strategy of the US empire as it is headed toward escalation but ultimately regional defeat in Ukraine and the Gulf. But is it real or just an elaborate scheme to lull us all into believing that the Empire is crumbling?Larry Johnson argues that Iran has exposed deep weaknesses in American military power, from vulnerable Gulf bases to overstretched aircraft carriers. Drawing on his recent Russia visit, he discusses Moscow’s outlook, Ukraine’s battlefield prospects, and the danger of direct conflict with Europe. He also warns that damaged energy infrastructure could prolong shortages and inflation worldwide. The conversation examines China’s resilience, satellite navigation, Pakistan’s balancing act, and the potential consequences of renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement.Larry's Links:Sonar21: https://sonar21.comLarry Johnson Substack: https://larrycjohnson....Counter Currents YouTube:    / @counter_currents_channel  Larry Johnson Patreon: https://www.patreon.co...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Larry’s Russia visit and Western narratives05:00 Russia, Europe and the risk of wider war15:12 Larry’s prediction for Kyiv and Ukraine19:05 Hormuz, diesel and a prolonged energy crisis23:39 Will economic warfare against China backfire?28:54 Iran and the vulnerability of U.S. military power40:46 China, Iran and the changing strategic balance44:12 Pakistan, Yemen and the Saudi stakes

NATO has found a new way to test Russia and introduce their escalation strategy: publicly threaten Kaliningrad with perfect deniability. But this won't fly.Stanislav Krapivnik joins Pascal Lottaz to discuss Kaliningrad, NATO planning, and the danger of a wider European war. Krapivnik assesses Russian warnings following Valdai and argues that escalation could extend far beyond Ukraine. They examine American interests, European threat narratives, strikes on Ukrainian bridges, and possible military pressure on Kyiv and southern Ukraine. Their conversation also considers forced mobilization, political instability, historical comparisons, and the human costs of continuing the conflict rather than finding a path toward a negotiated settlement.Stas's Links:YouTube:    / @mrslavikman  X: https://x.com/STANISKR...Substack: https://zmeigarinich.s...Telegram (English): https://t.me/staswasth...Telegram (Russian): https://t.me/stastydai...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction and Valdai02:15 Kaliningrad and the Baltic flashpoint11:41 The danger of a wider European war16:50 NATO troops and Russia’s red lines21:34 American interests and European threat narratives26:13 Bridge strikes and pressure on Kyiv37:01 Southern Ukraine and competing military fronts42:28 Mobilization, endurance and the human cost

Europe is falling deeper and deeper into a Russophobic war mentality. Switzerland (of all places) just delivered the latest proof for that, rejecting strict neutrality in a public referendum. And this is about more than just the Swiss. The outcome is a function of the current propaganda environment all over europe and and the general anxiety about Russia.In this analysis Pascal examines Switzerland’s rejection of the neutrality initiative and what it may reveal about Europe’s political mood. Drawing on his experience campaigning for the proposal, he discusses sanctions, media framing, direct democracy and the limits of electoral change. He argues that opposition to current Russia policies remains weaker than many observers assume, while acknowledging uncertainty about extrapolating Swiss results. The commentary also considers voter turnout, political polarization, the United Nations and the dangers of escalating confrontation across the continent.Pascal's Links:Swiss referendum results (BFS): https://votations.admi...Neutrality initiative (Federal Council): https://www.admin.ch/e...SRF report discussed: https://www.srf.ch/new...SP statement on the initiative: https://www.sp-ps.ch/a...UN day against unilateral coercive measures: https://www.un.org/en/...UN Security Council voting system: https://main.un.org/se...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Switzerland rejects the neutrality initiative05:12 Sanctions and the framing of the campaign12:18 How the initiative reached the ballot18:18 Direct democracy and the limits of elections24:36 Sanctions, the United Nations and veto power29:59 Blocher, Putin and political polarization38:06 What election victories do—and do not—tell us44:59 Turnout, non-voters and the European outlook

The USA is preparing the next phase of the Irna War. But it won't help. The defense of the country has only increased over the past 8 months and now the USA is running out of time and options in a disaster of their own making.Professor Mohammad Marandi warns that renewed war against Iran is highly likely, though not inevitable. Speaking with Pascal after visiting Russia, he discusses sanctions, medical supplies, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s preparations for escalation. Marandi argues that attacks on Iranian infrastructure could trigger devastating retaliation across the Gulf and a global economic crisis. They also examine American military limitations, Yemen and Iraq, China’s exposure to an energy shock, Israeli politics, and the importance of understanding Iran.Mohammad's Links:X: https://x.com/s_m_marandiGoing to Tehran, by Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett: https://us.macmillan.c...Resistance, by Alastair Crooke: https://www.plutobooks...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Marandi’s warning and impressions from Russia05:57 Sanctions, civilian suffering and Europe’s role12:45 Hormuz, oil flows and the risk of economic catastrophe19:14 The blockade and Iran’s response to a new assault23:04 US military limits and the China argument30:07 Yemen, Saudi Arabia and US withdrawal from Iraq37:07 Israeli elections and Iran’s strategy42:22 The next round of war: timing, risks and retaliation

The economic downturn of the EU heart-land (Germany, France, Italy) is progressing with an incredible speed. SME's are dying or are being sold off to US and Chinese investors who are after the intellectual property of formerly competitive enterprises. Dr. Stephan Ebner and Rolf Landgraf, two German lawyers working directly with companies that are going through this period join Pascal to discuss this spiral of doom. Drawing on their work advising corporate transactions, they examine bureaucracy, energy costs, succession problems, foreign acquisitions, and the loss of industrial expertise. They debate whether defence production can offset automotive decline, assess Europe’s dependence on the United States, and discuss political paralysis. Despite their concerns, the conversation closes with opportunities in international expansion, vertical farming, and artificial intelligence.Stephan and Rolf's Links:Maclaw: https://maclaw.legalMaclaw team: https://maclaw.legal/t...Rolf Landgraf’s profile: https://www.landgraf-s...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Stephan Ebner and Rolf Landgraf: Europe’s business exodus05:54 Energy costs and the pressure to sell11:37 Financialization and the loss of industrial knowledge15:50 From automotive suppliers to defence production22:55 Economic decline and political deadlock across Europe28:38 Brussels, regulation and the limits of reform36:23 Which industries are leaving—and can America help?41:53 International expansion and reasons for optimism

The great powers are leaving Europe behind. The USA, China and Russia are all focusing on the new heartland of the 21st century: Central Asia.Ryan Perkins joins Pascal to examine competing transport corridors across Eurasia, from the US-backed TRIPP route to Russia’s proposed Eurasia Canal. They discuss Chinese infrastructure financing, the evolution of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing. The conversation explores financialization, industrial capacity, digital sovereignty, and China’s approach to international relations. Perkins also presents his interpretation of the Iran conflict and argues that disruption around Hormuz can serve as economic pressure on China’s development.Ryan Perkins GeopoliticsSubstack: Ryan Perkins GeopoliticsX: @ChinaIndicator Telegram: https://t.me/chinaecon...Anti-Imperialist History Economics and Geopolitics (historical analysis)X: @prisonerroom101Telegram: https://t.me/ryanperkinsAnti-Imperialist: https://ryanperkins.su...Industrial Value-Added Report: https://globaleconomic...Visualizing China’s Economic Data: www.globaleconomicindicator.comNeutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Ryan Perkins and the contest for the Caucasus07:06 Building the Eurasia Canal: engineering and trade17:04 China’s Belt and Road and reserve strategy24:35 China and Russia: partnership without alliance33:05 Financialization and the loss of industrial capacity40:46 Digital sovereignty and China’s global approach46:46 China, the Philippines and regional tensions50:13 Iran, Hormuz and economic pressure on China

Alex Krainer joins Pascal to discuss the financial interests behind geopolitical conflict. Drawing on his hedge fund background and research for Grand Deception, Krainer challenges Bill Browder’s account of Russia and examines post-Soviet privatization, debt and oligarchic power. They explore Russia’s relations with the West, diplomacy and historical ties between Russia and nineteenth-century America. Krainer argues that British imperial influence persists through financial networks, connecting his “undead empire” thesis to sovereignty, contemporary wars and the mechanics of wealth extraction.Alex's Links:Alex Krainer’s Substack: https://alexkrainer.su...I-System TrendCompass: https://trendcompass.s...X: https://x.com/NakedHedgieYouTube:    / @kraineralex  The Naked Hedgie: https://thenakedhedgie...Policy Exchange report discussed — The Iran Question and British Strategy: https://policyexchange...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Alex Krainer, Bill Browder and Grand Deception12:04 Russia’s privatization and the oligarchs19:33 Resources, debt and financial power27:30 Jeffrey Sachs and Russia’s economic transition33:16 Russian diplomacy: naivety or strategy?41:15 Russia, America and the Civil War46:15 The “undead empire” and British influence01:00:04 Empire as a system and the struggle for sovereignty

There are many layers to the West’s brutality in its 21st century colonial quest for total dominance. One of them is the eradication of an academic future for the populations it targets for destruction. Support Abdullah here:Abdullah’s Fundraising: https://chuffed.org/pr...Instagram:   / abdullhabuwarda  Abdullah, a 21-year-old English literature student from Jabalia, describes continuing his education amid displacement, destruction, loss, hunger, and unstable infrastructure in Gaza. He discusses his unsuccessful attempt to reach a journalism program in London, the financial and visa barriers facing Palestinian students, why journalism matters to him, and the need for meaningful educational opportunities at a scale matching the crisis.Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Merch: https://neutralitystud...Donation: https://neutralitystud...Timestamps:00:00:00 Introducing Abdullah from Gaza00:01:40 Abdullah’s life and education before the war00:07:22 Continuing education amid destruction00:11:42 Displacement, loss, and daily survival00:18:05 The barriers to studying in London00:28:27 Education as hope amid systemic obstacles00:35:05 Exchange programs and evacuation pathways00:37:08 Why London and the fundraising struggle00:46:10 Why journalism matters to Abdullah00:50:54 Daily life, Gaza’s institutions, and final message

The Ukraine Proxy-War is going from bad to worse for the NATO war coalition and the leadership knows it. Panik is setting but at the same time there is no strategy on how to confront the failing project, just Donald Trump's erratic way of saying one thing today, another tomorrow and a third one in the time between. How will Russia and China deal with this situation?In Istanbul, Daniel Davis joins Pascal Lottaz to examine what they describe as the contradictions driving American foreign policy. They discuss Trump’s diplomacy with Iran, Russia and China, loyalty inside his administration, and competing influences on White House decisions. Davis challenges the idea that intelligence agencies independently control policy, while warning that NATO lacks the air defenses and industrial capacity for war with Russia. The conversation explores European escalation, diplomatic credibility, and the danger of a conventional conflict turning nuclear.Daniel’s Links:YouTube:    / @danieldavisdeepdive  X: https://x.com/DanielLD...German:    / @danieldavisdeepdivege...  French:    / @danieldavisdeepdivefr...  Italian:    / @danieldavisdeepdiveit...  Spanish:    / @danieldavisdeepdivesp...  Russian:    / @danieldavisdeepdiveru...  Portuguese:    / @danieldavisdeepdivepo...  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 An Istanbul conversation with Daniel Davis00:40 Trump’s contradictory Iran policy02:20 Diplomacy, trust and broken agreements06:38 Loyalty and the people around Trump11:53 Who shapes American foreign policy?15:58 Russia, the CIA and diplomatic channels19:34 Europe and the risk of escalation22:45 Why Davis says NATO cannot win

In Istanbul, historian Jeff Rich joins Pascal to discuss what a peaceful multipolar world could look like. They debate civilisation states, China–India relations, and the tension between sovereignty and global interdependence. Rich argues that states must challenge US unilateralism while strengthening practical cooperation under the UN Charter. The conversation explores BRICS, regional diplomacy around the Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine’s reconstruction, and the limits of military power, ending with reflections on Václav Havel and ordinary people’s capacity to create change.Jeff's Links:The Burning Archive Substack: https://jeffrich.subst...The Burning Archive YouTube:    / @theburningarchive  Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Istanbul: Imagining a multipolar future04:10 China, India and civilisation states13:01 Interdependence, sovereignty and globalism20:07 A new order rooted in the UN Charter29:21 BRICS and regional alternatives34:53 Ukraine: Reconstruction and reconciliation42:26 Empire and the limits of US power48:53 Building peace and the power of the powerless

The warmongering is not a bug. It's a feature of the system the Political West has build to dominate the world. How can we change that?At the East-West Forum in Istanbul, Professor Richard Sakwa joins Pascal to examine the political West, European sovereignty, and the persistence of Cold War thinking. Sakwa argues that Western triumphalism has weakened diplomacy and narrowed political imagination. They discuss competing visions of modernity, the risks of confrontation, and whether China offers an alternative to bloc politics. The conversation concludes with Sakwa’s proposal for a Charter Order grounded in international law, pluralism, and the unfulfilled promise of the United Nations.Richard's Links:University of Kent profile: https://www.kent.ac.uk...East-West Forum: https://east-west-foru...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 At the East-West Forum in Istanbul00:39 The political, imperial, and philosophical West03:22 One West and Europe’s lost sovereignty07:10 Cold War victory and the lost peace08:46 From the postwar era to a prewar world12:28 Fukuyama and the ideological trap15:38 China and an alternative to bloc politics18:57 A Charter Order: the promise of 1945Chapters

The war-mania in Europe is heating up. People are starting to see drones everywhere, and all of them must be the product of Russian "hybrid warfare". What does this irrational psychosis mean for the future of the continent?Today I'm talking (in person) to my friend and colleague, Glenn Diesen. We examine Europe’s confrontation with Russia and the dangers of uncontrolled escalation. Diesen argues that European leaders are struggling to accept a changing balance of power, while questioning Washington’s willingness to end the Ukraine war. They discuss nuclear deterrence, NATO, Iran, economic dependence and America’s emerging spheres of influence. The conversation also explores whether transatlantic elites serve national interests, and how liberalism, democracy and multipolarity are reshaping the international order today.Glenn's Links:Glenn Diesen on YouTube:    / @gdiesen1  Glenn Diesen on Substack: https://glenndiesen.su...East-West Forum: https://east-west-foru...Harici: https://harici.com.tr/en/Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 An in-person conversation in Istanbul02:53 Europe’s leaders and American influence07:59 Drone incidents and the rhetoric of war12:52 Russia, nuclear risks and uncontrolled escalation26:10 Trump, Anchorage and outsourcing the war31:48 Why the unipolar order resists change36:59 Spheres of influence and Europe’s dependence39:58 Transatlantic elites, liberalism and democracy

Ambassador Jack Matlock reflects on the diplomacy that ended the Cold War and argues that Western leaders misunderstood its outcome. He discusses NATO expansion, Ukraine’s neutrality, sanctions, and the dangers of treating international relations as a contest for dominance. Drawing on his work with Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, Matlock contrasts negotiated security with attempts to impose political systems abroad. He also warns about nuclear weapons and emerging technologies, and explains why cooperation remains essential to preventing further global conflict.Jack's Links:Jack Matlock’s website: https://jackmatlock.comLooking Back to Look Ahead (free book): https://jackmatlock.co...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Welcome and Matlock’s diplomatic service01:33 The lost peace after the Cold War05:20 Nuclear weapons and new technological risks10:22 How the Cold War actually ended19:17 Reagan’s approach to diplomacy24:33 NATO expansion and Ukraine’s neutrality35:54 Rebuilding mutual security44:15 Matlock’s books and lessons for today

With every passing week, the Europeans are talking themselves deeper and deeper into a war-psychosis. And now, the Russians are starting to believe them. Stanislav Krapivnik joins Pascal to discuss drone strikes, Russian public opinion, and the danger of a wider European war. He assesses attacks on refineries, warehouses, ports, and transport networks, arguing that economic escalation carries consequences beyond Ukraine. Their conversation also examines military readiness, demographic pressures, sanctions, diesel supplies, and food distribution. Krapivnik offers a bleak outlook for the coming winter, while Lottaz questions how economic hardship and political decisions could affect the prospects for peace across Europe and beyond.Stas's Links:YouTube:    / @mrslavikman  X: https://x.com/STANISKR...Substack: https://zmeigarinich.s...Telegram (English): https://t.me/staswasth...Telegram (Russian): https://t.me/stastydai...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Introduction and Russia’s elections03:06 Drone strikes, refineries and air defenses08:20 Warehouses, ports and economic escalation16:20 Europe, Russia and the risk of wider war22:20 Military readiness and a possible NATO conflict29:49 Europe’s winter: diesel, energy and food34:38 Sanctions and the global oil market37:42 Shipping bottlenecks and political consequences

We want peace and multipolarity! And we want it now! That's what every sensible politician SHOULD be striving for. But well, as usually, the West does not follow what makes good sense.Profs. Daniel Klein and Christopher Coyne join Pascal to discuss their statement for peace and multipolarity. They challenge American primacy, examine the incentives behind militarism and regime change, and explore how trade, diplomacy, and everyday cooperation can sustain peace. The conversation considers corporate interests, government power, Adam Smith, and Western and non-Western intellectual traditions. Rather than demanding ideological agreement, the guests call for a broad coalition committed to sovereignty, restraint, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among different societies and political orders.Daniel and Chris's Links:Daniel Klein's website: https://cjdjej.org/Christopher Coyne's website: https://www.ccoyne.com/For the Peace and Multipolarity statement: https://neutralitystud...Signatures so far: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 A statement for peace and multipolarity04:33 US primacy and the multipolar world11:04 The incentives behind the war machine15:31 The regime-change playbook18:37 Building peace through everyday cooperation24:13 Capitalism, corporate interests, and state power36:58 Grotius, Adam Smith, and traditions of peace48:00 Tolerance, coexistence, and a broad peace coalition

The Ukraine Proxy-War is turning now so decisively against Ukraine that the Europeans have no more other option than to escalate the war into their own territories—and they are preparing just that after also the last "Wunderwaffe" is failing.Rainer Rupp, former high-level NATO officer and East German spy, discusses the limits of AI and Palantir-style systems in Ukraine, the importance of intelligence gathering and industrial capacity, Iran’s independent military capabilities, the vulnerability of US bases, shrinking Western weapons stocks, and the political crises unfolding in Europe and Ukraine.Links:Rainer Rupp Substack: https://rainerrupp.sub...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Merch: https://neutralitystud...Donation: https://neutralitystud...Timestamps:00:00:00 AI Hype and Ukraine’s Data Systems00:08:40 Data Gathering and AI Force Multipliers00:16:47 Why Drones Cannot Decide Wars00:18:49 Iran Versus Ukraine’s Capabilities00:26:08 Intelligence, Human Networks, and Targeting00:32:53 Why US Bases Become Liabilities00:45:11 Air Defense Costs and Western Capacity00:52:35 The Future of Warfare and Iran01:00:04 Political Breakdown in Europe and Ukraine01:06:33 Closing and Rainer Rupp’s Work

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson joins Prof. David Gibbs and Pascal Lottaz to examine major American decisions after the Cold War. Drawing on his work with Colin Powell, Wilkerson recalls the Gulf War, George H. W. Bush’s diplomacy, and proposals to integrate Russia into European security. Gibbs questions the motives behind NATO expansion and intervention in Yugoslavia. Their discussion explores competing interpretations, the rise of neoconservative strategy, institutional rivalries, and the military industry’s influence over the direction of United States foreign policy.David and Lawrence's Links: David Gibbs — University of Arizona: https://dgibbs.arizona...Lawrence Wilkerson — Quincy Institute: https://quincyinst.org...Neutrality Studies Links: Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps 00:00 An oral history of American power 01:51 The Gulf War and April Glaspie’s meeting 05:02 Powell, sanctions, and the decision for war 11:36 Bush’s motives and the United Nations 16:36 Russia, NATO, and a lost security partnership 32:10 Wolfowitz and the strategy of global dominance 43:56 Yugoslavia and European peace efforts 56:02 NATO expansion and the arms industry

Reporting from Moscow, Larry Johnson describes his dinner with Sergei Lavrov and explains why he believes Russia has lost faith in negotiations with Washington. He and Pascal discuss Ukraine, Europe’s confrontation with Russia, and the danger of wider war. Johnson assesses American weapons production, missile shortages, Iran and Yemen, and the economic consequences of energy disruption. They debate whether Western strategy reflects deliberate attrition or an overestimation of American power, and consider the prospects for prolonged conflict and diplomatic stalemate.Larry's Links:Sonar21: https://sonar21.comLarry C. Johnson’s Substack: https://larrycjohnson....Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud...Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud...Time Stamps00:00 Larry Johnson reports from Moscow02:48 Dinner with Lavrov and the Ukraine negotiations08:38 Why Johnson distrusts Washington’s diplomacy18:16 Russia, Europe and the danger of wider war23:40 Weapons production and military preparedness30:40 Iran, Yemen and the limits of American air power38:40 Debt, fuel shortages and economic pressure45:52 Attrition strategy and the limits of US powerChapters

And suddenly, the underdog flips the table: Yemen is destroying US Middle-East Strategy and there is nothing the US can do about it.Laith Marouf, a Canadian-Syrian journalist based in Lebanon, discusses Yemen’s advancing front lines, Saudi Arabia’s strategy, Ansar Allah’s goals, Oman’s mediating role, US involvement, Saudi internal pressures, the wider regional war, nuclear risks, and Egypt’s decision to remain outside the conflict.Links:https://freepalestine....Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Merch: https://neutralitystud...Donation: https://neutralitystud...Timestamps:00:00:00 Yemen’s Front Lines Are Moving00:02:57 The Trigger Behind the New Offensive00:06:11 Saudi Strategy and Yemen’s History00:09:03 Territory, Population and Ansar Allah00:12:08 The Strategy Around Ma’rib and Aden00:15:20 Aden’s Geostrategic Importance00:21:20 Oman’s Role in Yemen00:26:53 US Support for Saudi Arabia00:30:17 Saudi Arabia’s Internal Crisis00:38:42 Regional War and Nuclear Risks00:47:30 Egypt’s Position and the Regional Shif

Neocons never give up. As project Ukraine is faltering, the forces of war are working on the next battlefield with Finland in their cross-hairs. Sakari Linden, a board member of Finland’s Freedom Alliance Party and its foreign policy board, discusses Finland’s abandonment of neutrality, NATO membership, growing military tensions, economic consequences, media pressure, and the prospects for an independent and neutral Finnish foreign policy.Links:https://vapaudenliitto.fihttps://x.com/Vapauden...  / vapaudenliitto  Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.s...Merch: https://neutralitystud...Donation: https://neutralitystud...Timestamps:00:00:00 Finland’s NATO path and security risks00:02:35 Freedom Alliance and Finnish neutrality00:05:25 Finland’s postwar neutrality success00:08:55 The Western pivot and media influence00:14:45 NATO accession and great-power politics00:18:45 Finland as a potential frontline state00:23:44 Russia hysteria and shifting public opinion00:30:39 Sanctions, welfare, and economic decline00:36:28 Party backlash and the new political divide00:42:04 Stubb, peace diplomacy, and Russia’s defeat00:48:24 The future of Finland’s neutralist movement

If you kill someone, they call you a murderer. If you kill a few people, they call you a mass-murderer. If you kill millions, they call you a great statesman. But how are we constantly tricked into supporting mass-murder AND applaud the sick monsters that lead us to do it? Well, turns out, there are some tricks.Jay Shapiro, filmmaker, writer, and host of The Dilemma Podcast, discusses his book Insufficient Rewards and its critique of consequentialist morality. The conversation explores cognitive dissonance, moral integrity, political systems, propaganda, objective reality, justice, peace, and how people rationalize participation in violence and injustice.Links:What Jay Thinks: https://whatjaythinks.comInsufficient Rewards: https://www.simonandschuster.net/book...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introducing Jay Shapiro and the book00:01:02 Why Jay wrote Insufficient Rewards00:04:32 History, morality, and consequentialism00:08:06 The flexibility of consequentialist thinking00:09:15 The actor’s moral dilemma00:12:06 Moral integrity and unjust systems00:16:30 Ukraine, sanctions, and moral certainty00:18:12 Cognitive dissonance and insufficient rewards00:27:07 Moral integrity, self-deception, and complicity00:32:11 First-order and second-order desires00:43:06 Objective reality and moral truth00:49:09 Justice, peace, and international violence00:57:34 Where to find Jay’s work

Professor Anuradha Chenoy joins Pascal Lottaz to examine BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and their evolving role in a multipolar world. They discuss India’s relations with Russia, diplomatic engagement between rivals, and the legacy of Bandung and nonalignment. Chenoy explains proposals for national currency trade, alternative payment systems, and financial reform. The conversation explores sanctions, strategic autonomy, and the differences between military alliances and cooperative forums, asking how diverse countries can pursue competitive coexistence while maintaining engagement with the West.Anuradha's Links:Articles at Scroll: https://scroll.in/author/27251India’s Foreign Policy and the Luxury of Strategic Autonomy: https://www.epw.in/journal/strategic-...The BRICS Plan for a New Financial Architecture (article record): https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/8836/Transnational Institute profile: https://www.tni.org/en/profile/anurad...Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 BRICS and the SCO in a changing world06:52 India, Russia and Western pressure10:13 The BRICS declaration and diplomacy17:00 Bandung and the legacy of nonalignment23:25 Sanctions, tariffs and financial reform25:27 National currencies and alternative payments28:40 Coexistence beyond military alliances40:29 Iran, sanctions and international law

Yakov Rabkin discusses Artyom Kirpichenok’s reported detention in Israel, stressing the scarcity of confirmed information. He examines unequal legal protections, Western support for Israel, and the relationship between Zionism, colonialism, and Christian Zionism. Rabkin challenges claims of inevitable Western decline, arguing that regional fragmentation may serve strategic objectives. The conversation also explores Israeli education, surveillance exports, restrictions on dissent, and the limits of electoral change, before considering public pressure, diplomatic assistance, and Jewish opposition to Zionism through his published books.Yakov's Links:Yakov Rabkin’s website: https://yakovrabkin.ca/Yakov Rabkin’s Substack: https://yakovrabkin.substack.com/Zionism Decoded in 101 Quotes: https://www.ipgbook.com/zionism-decod...Israel in Palestine: Jewish Rejection of Zionism: https://israelpalestinebook.com/Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTime Stamps00:00 Artyom Kirpichenok’s detention05:29 Security courts and unequal justice17:06 Western support and double standards28:30 Colonial pride and the “new Hebrew”35:44 Britain and Christian Zionism39:42 Israel’s hidden victory and Western decline46:56 Security laws and shrinking civil liberties53:36 Helping Kirpichenok and finding Rabkin’s work

25 years after the 9/11 incident in the USA, many are beginning to catch up with what those events really kicked off: The global war on the non-West and the multipolar world. Watch professor Irfan Ahmad in this talk deconstruct the narrative the transatlantic club has built to justify a quarter of a century of violence against the Global South.Professor Irfan Ahmad, Professor of Anthropology-Sociology at Ibn Haldun University, discusses his book Terrorism in Question: Decolonizing Anthropology and the Study of Islam. The conversation examines the neocolonial construction of terrorism, Islamophobia, enemy-making, the Global War on Terror, epistemic whitewashing, and the need to understand political violence through a more humane and decolonized anthropology.Links:Irfan Ahmad: https://fs.ihu.edu.tr/cv/academicians...Terrorism in Question: https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/A...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Terrorism in Question00:03:07 Decolonizing the terrorism question00:06:40 Securitization and the enemy00:08:25 From communism to Islamic terrorism00:15:27 Good Muslims, bad Muslims00:21:17 Manichaean thinking and Islamophobia00:27:38 The Global War on Terror00:31:28 Epistemic whitewashing00:40:55 Terrorism as ideology and theology00:49:59 War, neoliberalism and academia00:51:35 The anti-conclusion and rehumanizing terrorism00:57:04 Final thoughts and book recommendation

The AfD just won local elections in Germany. Why? Well, not only Ukraine is currently going under, Germany is following, with its economy and social structure in deep dive. This is what explains the rise of the AfD—something the Pro-War Parties in the German establishment try to deny so hard, they rather tarnish AfD voters as "racists" rather than looking into their actual grievances.Dr. Stefan Ebner, an international lawyer working across the US, Germany, and Taiwan, discusses the AfD’s rise in Saxony, Germany’s political and economic decline, immigration, war with Russia, the EU, energy policy, the judiciary, and why professionals and businesses are leaving Germany.The law office of Dr. Stephan Ebner: https://lanaapma.ch/unser-team/Our Links:Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 AfD victory and Germany’s decline00:08:43 AfD as opposition to the political class00:10:33 Verfassungsschutz and German democracy00:12:07 Election outlook and direct democracy00:18:05 Nazi comparisons, war and Ukraine00:23:03 Leaving Germany and brain drain00:27:13 The EU, Brexit and sovereignty00:36:20 War anxiety, arms exports and the SPD00:41:09 Energy policy and Germany’s economic future00:45:32 Immigration, Iran and Israel00:50:14 Rule of law and Germany’s future

Stanislav Krapivnik discusses Europe’s food and energy pressures, arguing that fertilizer costs, drought and disrupted Ukrainian exports could deepen hardship. He and Pascal Lottaz examine Germany’s AfD, divisions within European opposition parties, and the limits of renewed diplomacy with Moscow. Turning to Ukraine, Krapivnik assesses manpower shortages, Russian advances, seasonal fog and the changing role of drones. He argues that new defensive technologies may restore battlefield mobility, while Pascal questions whether local breakthroughs could develop into a broader military collapse.Stas’s YouTube:    / @mrslavikman  Stas’s Substack: https://zmeigarinich.substack.comNeutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shop00:00 Introduction00:52 Europe’s food and fertilizer pressures06:35 Strikes on Ukraine’s ports and railways12:20 Germany’s AfD and Russia relations18:24 Energy policy and its trade-offs22:48 Diplomacy and Moscow’s ceasefire stance29:54 Weather, manpower and Russia’s next advance35:39 Tanks, drones and battlefield mobility

Dr. Ladislav Zemánek examines Russia’s relations with Japan, Europe’s sanctions policies, and the changing balance of global power. They discuss Europe’s limited strategic autonomy, the economic costs of confrontation, and Russia’s growing cooperation across Eurasia. Zemánek describes BRICS and other partnerships as expanding countries’ options rather than forming a unified bloc against the West. The conversation explores emerging alternative payment systems, the rising confidence of middle powers, and prospects for a more pragmatic and inclusive international order.Ladislav's Links:RT articles: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/authors/ladi...Parlamentní listy: https://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/redak...Valdai Discussion Club: https://valdaiclub.com/about/experts/...Our Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comSupport the channel: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateNeutrality Studies merch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shop00:00 Russia, Japan and the legacy of 194505:17 Energy ties and the limits of sanctions10:18 Pragmatism versus confrontation16:18 Russia’s Eurasian pivot and a divided Europe24:23 European security and Eurasian integration30:03 Europe’s strategic autonomy dilemma40:41 BRICS and the rising global majority47:38 Sanctions blowback and Europe’s future

China and Russia describe their partnership as “better than an alliance”—but what does that mean in practice? Russian journalist Yevgeny Pavlov joins Pascal Lottaz from Beijing to examine the interests driving their cooperation, China’s cautious diplomacy, and the limits of support for partners such as Iran. They also discuss Russia–Japan tensions, Ukraine peace talks, Nord Stream, and Europe’s deepening strategic crisis. As Washington shifts its priorities, the conversation explores how Moscow and Beijing navigate an increasingly unstable international order.Links:Yevgeny Pavlov's English-language Substack:https://substack.com/@beetureen?r=6mz...Opinion Mate on Telegram:https://t.me/opinionmateThe Guardian report on the Nord Stream suspect and film consultant:https://www.theguardian.com/business/...Neutrality Studies Substack:https://pascallottaz.substack.comDonation:https://neutralitystudies.com/donateMerch:https://neutralitystudies.com/shopTimestamps:00:00 Meet Yevgeny Pavlov: A Russian journalist in Beijing04:28 China and Russia: Better than an alliance13:54 Russia–Japan tensions and the WWII monument21:40 Ukraine peace talks and Europe's war rhetoric32:41 Iran and the limits of Chinese and Russian support42:17 Trump, Ukraine and Europe's strategic crisis48:00 Nord Stream and Europe's energy dilemma51:08 US overstretch, China's concerns and the road ahead

As the Ukraine front lines collapse, so does the fabric of the Collective West. The Epstein Class is losing its ability to hold the power structure together and it freaks them out—especially the European satellite states.Alex Christoforou of The Duran joins me today to discuss Europe’s Ukraine-focused escalation, EU centralization and opposition, transatlantic elite networks, US power and multipolarity, Russia’s future orientation toward BRICS and China, and the risks to free speech and independent media.Links:The Duran Locals: https://theduran.locals.comThe Duran Substack: https://theduran.substack.comNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Alex Christoforou and The Duran00:03:10 Leipzig drone and Europe’s war narrative00:09:06 Skepticism, Iraq, Syria and Maidan00:10:26 Greece, EU centralization and opposition00:19:01 Iran war and Project Ukraine00:22:23 Elite networks, Trump and European vassals00:31:41 How the system brings leaders in line00:34:26 US power, empire and multipolarity00:42:13 Russia’s future, Europe and free speech

Original Video in French Here:    • Notre Plus Grand Dilemme: La Neutralité | ...  Micheline Calmy-Rey, former Federal Councillor and two-time President of the Swiss Confederation, analyzes the foundations of Swiss neutrality and the challenges it currently faces. Ahead of the vote on the Neutrality Initiative, she reflects on her experience during the Iraq War, explains the difference between the law of neutrality and neutrality policy, and examines the controversial issue of international sanctions.The interview also addresses the war in Ukraine, the role of the United Nations, military cooperation with neighboring countries, arms exports, and perceived inconsistencies in Switzerland’s application of neutrality. Micheline Calmy-Rey explains why she opposes the initiative while warning of the political and diplomatic consequences that an overwhelming rejection could have.To discover the project by Micheline Calmy-Rey and her students on Swiss foreign policy: [https://zone-neutre.org](https://zone-neutre.org)Subscribe to Neutrality Studies for our upcoming interviews and analyses on neutrality, diplomacy, and international relations.Substack: [https://pascallottaz.substack.com](https://pascallottaz.substack.com) Merch: [https://neutralitystudies.com/shop](https://neutralitystudies.com/shop) Donate: [https://neutralitystudies.com/donate](https://neutralitystudies.com/donate)Chapters:00:00 Introduction and presentation of Micheline Calmy-Rey 00:53 The experience of neutrality during the Iraq War 05:22 Ukraine, sanctions, and the role of the United Nations 09:29 The inconsistencies of Swiss neutrality policy 12:15 What the Neutrality Initiative would change 20:49 The political and diplomatic risks of a “No” vote 24:00 Rethinking neutrality and the issue of arms exports 29:09 Should neutrality be defined in the Constitution?

Europe is in a collective War Psychosis where every single problem looks like part of a Putin-induced "hybrid war". Even Switzerland is not save of these processes. Alberto Togni, a member of the Council of the Swiss Communist Party, discusses why he supports Switzerland’s neutrality initiative. He argues for non-alignment, mediation, opposition to NATO membership and unilateral sanctions, and links neutrality to sovereignty, workers’ rights, economic diversification, and Switzerland’s potential role in a multipolar world.Alberto's Page:Alberto Togni: https://noue-nonato.chOur Links:Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introducing the neutrality initiative00:01:25 Why a communist supports neutrality00:05:45 The “pro-Putin” campaign framing00:10:40 Switzerland and Europe’s war mentality00:14:35 Does NATO cooperation bring security?00:19:14 Media propaganda and public opinion00:23:10 A Marxist case for neutrality00:30:30 Sanctions, solidarity, and neutrality00:34:12 Referendum prospects and campaign efforts00:39:22 A neutral Switzerland in a multipolar world00:42:01 How to follow Alberto Togni

As operation "Economic Furry" or "Economic D-Day" is still born, the USA once again resorts to strikes on civilians to terrorize the nation of Iran. But Tehran already gave its answers by striking at US bases in Jordan, in "hot pursuit" of the fleeing US troop deployments.Dr. Arta Moeini, managing director of U.S. operations at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, assesses the Iran-US war, competing Iranian approaches to deterrence and escalation, the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s strategic resilience. He also introduces Reclaiming America First, an initiative examining a realist US foreign policy and a post-American regional order in the Middle East.Links:Arta Moeini: https://peacediplomacy.orgArta Moeini on X: https://x.com/ArtaMoeiniWelcome to Fortress Iran: https://unherd.com/2026/08/welcome-to...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and Iran war update00:01:04 Fortress Iran and US strategy00:05:58 MOU violations and Hormuz blockade00:14:04 Iran’s leverage and escalation options00:22:08 Competing Iranian strategic approaches00:28:48 Proportionality, deterrence and initiative00:37:21 Can Iran sustain a long war?00:44:48 Strategic loneliness and external partners00:56:48 Reclaiming America First

The West is losing the Ukraine War big time. But that does not mean the NATO lunatics are willing to give up their plans for total global domination. On the contrary, some of them are only getting started.Professor Jeffrey Sachs joins Pascal Lottaz to argue that the Ukraine war is a long-running US proxy conflict with Russia. He discusses NATO expansion, post-Cold War policy, US power and elite interests, Europe’s economic costs, and the risks of escalation. Sachs also outlines what he sees as a path to peace: Ukrainian neutrality, no further NATO expansion, and ending US wars.Links:Jeffrey D. Sachs: https://www.jeffsachs.orgCommon Dreams: https://www.commondreams.org/author/j...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Jeffrey Sachs on the Ukraine proxy war00:00:42 NATO expansion and US primacy00:12:57 From Cold War peace to confrontation00:20:43 The US strategy of global dominance00:23:34 Can the US choose coexistence?00:29:56 Can the wars be stopped?00:35:35 Where to follow Jeffrey Sachs

What if the craziness in NATO's proxy wars has a hidden strategy? What if they just fool us to believe they are headless chicken but in fact things are based on hard calculated realities? Stas Krapivnik, a former US Army officer joins me to discuss the new US pressure on Iran, why sanctions fail, and China’s economic leverage. We also examine US political messaging, leadership and long-term planning, the Ukraine war, and fears of a wider conflict involving Iran.Links:Stanislav Krapivnik on YouTube:    / @mrslavikman  Stanislav Krapivnik on X: https://x.com/STANISKRAPIVNIKStas Was There...In English on Telegram: https://t.me/staswasthereenglish2Стас Туда и Обратно on Telegram: https://t.me/stastydaiobratnoRise of the Imperial Eagle on Substack: https://zmeigarinich.substack.comNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and US sanctions on Iran00:02:52 Can sanctions against Iran still work?00:08:47 Russia, China, and support for Iran00:18:52 US rhetoric and political messaging00:27:03 Master plan or institutional failure?00:33:19 Leadership, insecurity, and power00:41:04 Ukraine, Iran, and nuclear risks00:48:02 Closing remarks

The Yugoslavia Wars were not about humanitarian intervention. Here is the testimony of a man who was closely involved in the NATO operations and a historian who studied that era closely. Professor David Gibbs and Colonel Douglas Macgregor compare their views on the Yugoslav wars, NATO’s role in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the thinking behind the 1999 bombing campaign. Macgregor recalls his work in NATO command, while Gibbs connects the Balkan interventions to NATO expansion, Europe’s military dependence, Russia, and later conflicts.Links: Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction and Balkan war context00:02:53 Russia’s role in Bosnia and Kosovo00:08:02 Early warnings about Kosovo00:15:09 Intervention goals and the KLA00:22:28 Russia, NATO, and the air war00:33:00 Rambouillet and the Kosovo settlement00:42:53 Europe’s NATO dependence and war narrative00:55:24 The Balkans as a Russia rehearsal01:05:39 Intervention, neutrality, and closing thoughts

NATO is being demilitarized by its own Proxy-War. Historian and American University of Armenia lecturer Pietro Shakarian joins Pascal to discuss America’s “third Red Scare,” the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz, the proposed Mecca Pact, Ukraine’s future, Caucasus transit plans, and why he sees Europe’s elites as tied to US power during a shift toward multipolarity.Links:Pietro Shakarian at The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/authors/pie...Anastas Mikoyan: An Armenian Reformer in Khrushchev’s Kremlin: https://iupress.org/9780253073556/ana...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and America’s Third Red Scare04:06 Trump, empire decline, and the Iran war07:36 War of aggression and US public opinion15:39 Reform, neoliberalism, and AI data centers20:31 Iran’s strategy and the Mecca Pact31:15 US overstretch and Caucasus corridors39:03 Ukraine, Russia, and Europe’s war strategy49:15 Why European elites follow US power57:15 US limits and the shift to multipolarity

Tord Björk, co-founder of People and Peace, International Peace Bureau council member, and Helsinki Plus 50 coordinator, discusses the Helsinki Final Act, Finland’s move from neutrality to NATO, and the decline of peace movements. He argues that peace, climate, labor, rural, and human rights groups should work together through practical local action, shared research, and building friendships across borders.Read the Nordic Peace Alliance Manifesto here: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/p/a...Links:People and Peace YouTube:    / @folkochfred  Helsinki Plus 50: https://helsinkiplus.orgInternational Peace Bureau: https://ipb.orgNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:00:42 The Helsinki Final Act’s legacy00:07:47 Finland, NATO, and erased peace history00:16:31 Why peace movements declined00:24:39 NATO, technology, and economic control00:32:21 Rebuilding popular movements00:38:34 Cooperation without more bureaucracy00:45:03 Decentralized movements and local action00:54:05 Where to follow Tord Björk

Steven Starr, former director of the University of Missouri’s Clinical Laboratory Science Program and senior scientist at Physicians for Social Responsibility, examines rising nuclear risks. He discusses tactical weapons, missile stockpiles, Israel and Iran, Europe’s confrontation with Russia, launch-on-warning dangers, and the human cost of a full nuclear war, including EMP effects, firestorms, nuclear winter, and famine.Links:Steven Starr — Nuclear Famine: https://nuclearfamine.orgSteven Starr — An EMP Attack on the U.S. Power Grids and Critical National Infrastructure: https://www.unz.com/article/an-emp-at...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: Rising Nuclear Risks01:59 Missile Shortages and Tactical Nukes08:48 Tactical Weapons, Fallout and History11:01 Israel, Iran and Europe’s Escalation18:45 What Full-Scale Nuclear War Would Do23:16 No-First-Use and Accidental Nuclear War32:50 Cold War Lessons and the Nuclear Umbrella38:33 Public Opinion, Propaganda and NATO41:07 Escalation, Military Decline and Diplomacy

The people who lead Ukraine straight into the bayonets of Russia are working over-time to do the same to the rest of the European continent. Retired Royal Navy Commodore Steve Jermy joins me today to discuss what we need to work toward stopping this: A new “Spirit of Westphalia” for ending the NATO-Russia war. We examine the loss of cooperative security in Europe, weak air defenses, the energy costs of escalation, the human cost of a wider war, and possible paths toward diplomacy, neutrality, OSCE-led confidence-building measures, and Track II talks.Links:Steve Jermy’s Substack: https://stevejermy.substack.comSteve’s Article: https://stevejermy.substack.com/p/the...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and the Spirit of Westphalia00:09:03 Support Neutrality Studies00:09:20 Why Europe abandoned cooperative security00:14:41 Air defense, drones, and missile warfare00:18:14 Energy security and the need for diplomacy00:22:37 How peace talks could begin00:29:25 Neutrality, the OSCE, and ending sanctions00:35:19 Who could launch a new peace process?00:45:25 Where to follow Steve Jermy

It's the "last hurray of colonialism", as my guest today, Dr. Ooi Kee Beng, puts it. The wars inUkraine and Iran are left-overs of a time that has already passed and is currently being supplanted by the realities of the Multipolar Order.Dr. Ooi, executive director of Penang Institute, discusses why Southeast Asia feels more hopeful than Europe, how China’s rise shapes decolonization and multipolarity, and why Western thinking still treats the world as a contest. He examines colonial history, the Middle East, ASEAN neutrality, and keeping the Strait of Malacca open.The Penang Peace Dialogue SIGN UP: https://commonwealthofworldchinatowns...Links:Wikibeng: https://wikibeng.comPenang Institute: https://penanginstitute.orgISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute: https://www.iseas.edu.sgNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:01:09 Europe and Southeast Asia’s outlook00:06:13 China’s rise and regional history00:11:44 Decolonization and a multipolar world00:23:21 Bandung, Africa, and sovereignty00:26:39 Orientalism and the colonial world order00:39:28 Iran, the Middle East, and oil00:42:56 ASEAN and the Strait of Malacca00:49:03 Maritime Southeast Asia and globalization

Is the Collective West in disarray because of its absence of long term thinking? Or is it all a charade and the master minds are just really good at hiding what's actually going on? Well, we might be in for an even bumpier ride than we thought, not because the Western leadership is brilliant (they are mostly imbeciles), but the underlying sociological structure is not as short-sighted as one might assume.Nel Bonilla, author of Worldlines, explains her “bunker state” framework and why she sees NATO 3.0 as a shift toward deeper military integration. She and Pascal Lottaz discuss NATO’s evolution, Europe’s defense industry, proxy warfare, conscription, public spending, the “global West,” and ways peace, labor, and neutrality movements could resist this change.Nel's Article: https://worldlinesletter.substack.com...More Links:Worldlines – The threads connecting geopolitics: https://worldlinesletter.substack.comNel Bonilla at NachDenkSeiten: https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?gastau...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and the bunker state04:47 NATO 1.0, 2.0, and 3.016:16 Is NATO a node or a driver?18:28 Silent social transformation in Europe32:28 The Ankara summit and arms production44:10 War readiness and proxy warfare50:34 The end goal: a “global West”54:08 The bunker state and social contract57:00 Peace movements and alternatives

Radhika Desai, University of Manitoba professor and host of Radhika Desai Geopolitical Economist, joins Pascal to examine Korean peace efforts, fading trust in US military protection, the dollar system’s debt trap, and China’s industrial rise. They also discuss neoliberal demand problems, Western double standards on overcapacity, and the growing split inside MAGA as Trump fails to deliver for US workers.Links:Radhika Desai: https://radhikadesai.com/Radhika Desai Geopolitical Economist:    / @raddesai  Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:00:28 Korea peace and Trump’s troop policy00:09:53 South Korea and the US military umbrella00:20:24 Economic models and neoliberal demand crisis00:28:19 Sri Lanka and the dollar debt trap00:39:24 China’s rise and the overcapacity debate00:52:08 MAGA’s split and Trump’s broken promises01:00:04 Where to follow Radhika Desai

Stanislav Krapivnik returns to assess the reported Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi alliance, its ties to Iran, Yemen, Israel and the Black Sea. He and Pascal Lottaz discuss attacks on shipping and ports, Russia’s war strategy in Ukraine, Western political thinking, and how weather could affect the fighting in the months ahead.Links:Stanislav Krapivnik YouTube:    / @mrslavikman  Rise of the Imperial Eagle Substack: https://zmeigarinich.substack.comNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:00:20 Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia00:11:47 Turkey, Russia and the Black Sea00:17:48 Maritime escalation and Ukraine’s ports00:29:14 Russia’s military options in Ukraine00:35:14 Consumer systems and Western projection00:43:01 Russia’s summer offensive outlook

While the US lives in fantasy world about the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran has been busy preparing for the next phase of the war, which doubtlessly the US will restart once more. Since there is no diplomatic solution, Tehran is coming around to the conclusion that with the next battle, a decisive military change in the region must occur—in the US satellites.Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi joins me to discuss daily life in Tehran, Iran’s trade routes under blockade, the risk of renewed US attacks, Saudi Arabia’s position, missile strategy, and relations with Gulf states. He argues that Iran seeks to remove regional threats rather than spread instability, and recommends books for understanding Iran.Links:Seyed Mohammad Marandi on X: https://x.com/s_m_marandiNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Tehran after the bombing00:04:18 Iran’s trade routes and the blockade00:11:39 Risk of a renewed US war00:20:28 Saudi-Pakistan-Türkiye agreement00:24:03 Could Saudi Arabia become unstable?00:28:18 Iran’s missile strategy and US bases00:38:07 Iran’s security approach and Gulf states00:47:20 Where to follow Marandi and read more

NATO's European Forever War is now turning decisively against the EU. The elites that have been cheering the carnage on for the longest time are starting to catch up with the actual battle field reality.Anatol Lieven, director of the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute, discusses why Ukraine’s NATO question and territorial deadlock make a lasting settlement hard. He examines US weapons limits, the Iran war, changes in US and Israeli politics, Morocco’s role in the Ceuta migration crisis, and why China is avoiding a move on Taiwan. He also argues that Western foreign-policy institutions repeatedly fail to learn from past wars.Links:Anatol Lieven at Responsible Statecraft: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/aut...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Ukraine, NATO, and peace talks07:46 Can a Ukraine deal hold?16:51 US weapons limits and Iran21:15 Trump’s Iran strategy25:13 Israel and US political shifts28:31 Ceuta migration crisis33:40 China, Taiwan, and Western failures

While the US is in high panic about "the rise of China" and its failing warmongering in the word, Beijing is at its most relaxed yet. Turns out, China is confident that it won the race roughly 10 years ago and is now only working on expanding its lead. Professor Wang Wen, Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, discusses how Chinese scholars view Trump’s second administration, trade pressure, China’s domestic development, and US-China competition. He shares his views on Iran, Taiwan risks, BRICS, the Belt and Road Initiative, global governance, green energy, AI, and why he believes cooperation can replace conflict.Links:Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China: https://rdcy.ruc.edu.cnNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Trump and China’s Response00:12:14 China’s Long-Term Development Model00:18:39 US-China Conflict Risks00:23:17 China’s Future Advantages00:30:32 Iran War and US Power00:36:39 BRICS and Chinese Foreign Policy00:44:57 China, Realism and Peaceful Coexistence

The war in Ukraine is not about Ukraine. It's about meaning. Yes, it's a proxy war, and yes, power is at the core of the military confrontation. Even thinking of it as a war of civilizations is not wrong, but it misses what the civilizations actually disagree on. Only the symbolic foundations of the war reveal what Moscow on the one hand and the Globalists on the other are actually fighting about.Russian political philosopher and Orthodox thinker Pavel Shchelin joins Pascal to discuss how worldviews, symbols, and desires shape political decisions. They examine sanctions, competing ideas of peace and security, Russia-West relations, NATO, and why shared political language can hide deep disagreement over Ukraine.Links:Pavel Shchelin YouTube:English Channel:    / @namingtheselfevident  Personal Channel:    / @pavelshchelin  Interview Channel:    / @schelin_official  Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Pavel Shchelin on political theology00:04:26 Worldviews, rationality, and reality00:12:00 Sanctions and symbolic politics00:23:00 Russia-West stories and political language00:34:28 Peace proposals and ending wars00:52:39 Enlightenment, globalism, and empire00:57:36 Russia's security goals and Ukraine

Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a new alliance which will treat an attack against one as an attack against all. Well, that's lovely, but can we please see the actual treaty? No. We can't? Oh, that's funny, why would you keep that secret? Well.... my friends, what we are seeing here is a prime example of "Alliance Theater", where three actors — on behalf of the US overlord — are trying to posture in front of cameras while neither the military backbone nor the political resolve is ready for action. And that's not even a new thing. Let me walk you through the recent history of alliance theater and how this reveals more about the Multipolar World than about the military strength of any of the actors involved.

After 4.5 years of Proxy-War something is breaking: When the cracks in the pro-war narrative get so large that even Neocons have to admit the empire is running out of munition, an inflection point has been reached. And we have seen this before. What David Gibbs calls the "Vietnam Moment" is not far away anymore.In this talk, professor David Gibbs of the University of Arizona discusses his trip to the Baltics, arguing that anti-Russian feeling is widespread and that Russian-speaking minorities face exclusion. He and Pascal Lottaz compare Western messaging on Ukraine with Vietnam, debate the political costs of a setback, and discuss how culture-war language can be used to support military intervention.Links:David N. Gibbs: https://dgibbs.arizona.edu/Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Baltic Russophobia and Russian minorities00:08:45 Russophobia, stereotypes and racism00:14:15 Ukraine and a second Vietnam moment00:26:28 EU elites, war narratives and crisis00:32:03 Can a new anti-war coalition emerge?00:42:51 What if Russia does not break?00:49:00 Accountability, defeat and escalation00:59:41 Where to find David Gibbs

The elites that brought to you a war Russia and a Genozide in West Asia are working on their next project: the break up of Europe. And they are beginning with an indirect attack on another maritime live-line, the Straight of Gibraltar.Fethi of Jazair Hope joins me to examine the Ceuta migrant crisis, arguing that Morocco’s role should be seen through Spain’s tensions with Israel, the US, Algeria, and Western Sahara. He discusses migration, control of the Strait of Gibraltar, energy routes, Morocco’s ties with Israel, public pressure at home, and a possible power struggle before Moroccan elections.Links:Jazair Hope Website: https://jazairhope.orgJazair Hope YouTube:    / @jazairhope  Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and the Ceuta crossing00:04:46 Ceuta, Melilla, and migration rumors00:09:20 Was the border move organized?00:11:38 Israel, the US, and pressure on Spain00:21:57 Gibraltar and the risk of a divided Europe00:28:14 Spain, Algeria, and gas routes00:36:43 Why Morocco is close to Israel00:47:35 Morocco’s risky regime gamble00:53:27 Follow Fethi and Jazair Hope

Trump is losing the last chance there was for a face-saving exit from Iran. And he doesn't even know why. U.S. journalist Patrick Henningsen returns to Neutrality Studies after reporting from Iran. He and Pascal Lottaz discuss the funeral processions he saw, public unity under pressure, Iran’s political culture, Shia Islam and Palestine, media narratives, military deterrence, sanctions, and the wider fight between the United States, Israel, Iran, Russia, and China. They also look at how the conflict may develop.Links:21st Century Wire: https://21stcenturywire.com21st Century Wire YouTube:    / @21stcenturywiretv  Patrick Henningsen Substack: https://patrickhenningsen.substack.comNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Iran reporting05:02 Western media narratives on Iran08:32 Iran after attacks: unity and anger14:10 Iran, Shia Islam, and the Muslim world24:40 A new revolutionary moment35:20 Iran’s deterrence and global role48:53 What comes next in the conflict01:01:01 Where to follow Patrick Henningsen

The cracks in Japan's "everything is fine" pretense policies are starting to show. The country can't import some very essential goods anymore and the trend is not looking good. On top of that, the Takaichi's LDP government chose some political fights at home that are alienating her voter base.Professor Aya Ikegame of Kyoto University discusses Japan’s oil shortages, the government’s response, and the political strength of Sanae Takaichi. They examine the debate over Japan’s imperial succession, the role of party power brokers, relations with China, military policy, and the weak state of the opposition. They also discuss social media campaigning, local elections, and the future of the LDP.Links:Aya Ikegame – Personal Websitehttps://ayaikegame.comAya Ikegame – University Profilehttps://www.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/facu...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:01:31 Japan’s oil shortage and daily impact00:04:55 Oil supplies from Iran and Russia00:07:53 Support Neutrality Studies00:08:16 Takaichi’s landslide and weak opposition00:10:52 Three controversial new laws00:16:41 Imperial succession and female emperors00:25:02 The emperor, peace, and political power00:37:04 Takaichi’s leadership and public image00:38:35 Taiwan, China, and Japan’s foreign policy00:47:39 Japan’s military and North Korea fears00:50:02 Nuclear policy and the LDP’s future00:54:10 The opposition and social media campaigning

Trump called off the largest strick on Iran since the beginning of the war that he had been hyping up himself. In a Truth Social tweet, he said that a deal was near. Well, let's review what this actually means and why he was forced to TACO once again.Support us:https://pascallottaz.substack.com https://neutralitystudies-shop.fourth... Important Sources:Aljazeera Desalination Article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3...Trump Tweet: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTr...Time Stamps00:00 TACO Sunday: The Iran Strike That Didn’t Happen05:52 Trump’s Post: Threats, Reversal, and a Claimed Deal10:37 Iran’s Leverage over Gulf Infrastructure17:50 Iran’s Conventional Second-Strike Strategy34:50 Is the Danger Over? Strategic Outlook

The wars in West Asia and Eastern Europe are merging. And if you think this is coincidence, then I have a bridge to sell to you. As vertical escalation in both theaters is proving to fail big time, Washington neocons seem to have switched tactics: Horizontal escalation to draw in more parties into a multi-theater war.Pascal and Stas discuss the newest strikes from and into Iran, the risk of the Ukraine and Middle East wars becoming linked, U.S. military and energy limits, drone attacks and Russian restraint, the fighting around Ukraine’s defensive lines, and possible post-war security arrangements. They also debate whether Ukraine’s battlefield position could weaken sharply later this year.Follow Stas here: YouTube: ‪@MrSlavikman‬ X / Twitter: https://x.com/STANISKRAPIVNIKTelegram English: https://t.me/staswasthereenglish2Telegram Russian: https://t.me/stastydaiobratnoSupport us:Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:00:24 Iran strike claims and wider escalation00:10:02 The U.S. two-front dilemma00:18:39 Russian restraint and Black Sea escalation00:28:10 Ukraine’s defenses and front line pressure00:39:23 Russia’s post-war security strategy

It is sinking in that despite the Ukraine's much touted "successes" with drone warfare, the battle field is about to change dramatically, as Russia consolidates the last Ukrainian strongholds. Time is running out on the war narrative and the European Elites know it.Ian Proud, former British diplomat and writer behind The Peacemonger, joins Pascal Lottaz to discuss the Ukraine war, Iran, Western media coverage, and Europe’s political and economic problems. They examine Russia’s restraint, Europe’s support for Ukraine, rising energy costs, the EU’s future, public discontent, and the need to rebuild relations between Europe and Russia.Links:Ian Proud on YouTube:    / @ianproud  The Peacemonger on Substack: https://thepeacemonger.substack.com/Ian Proud on X: https://x.com/proud_diplomatNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Ukraine, Iran, and US support05:39 Western media and the war narrative08:55 UK policy and public discontent17:01 Russia’s restraint and Europe’s limits26:49 Energy costs and Europe’s future34:50 Hungary and double standards in Europe40:14 Russia’s ties with Europe46:24 What to watch in the months ahead

While the Titanic is sinking, its captain is rearranging the chairs on the deck. No number of burning warehouses in Russia can hide anymore that something very crucial broke in Kiev. Nicolai Petro, Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island and author of The Tragedy of Ukraine, joins Pascal to discuss Russia’s war strategy, strikes on Odesa, drones, and the search for game-changing weapons. They examine Europe’s role, Ukraine’s political future, postwar radicalization, outside influence, possible insurgency, and Zelensky’s leadership changes.Links:Nicolai Petro’s Website: https://npetro.netNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:00:16 The war situation and Odesa strikes00:08:06 Wonder weapons and drone warfare00:16:22 Russia’s war aims and strategy00:28:22 Ukraine’s political radicalization00:36:36 Western influence after the war00:41:38 Could violence continue after a settlement?00:49:14 Zelensky’s leadership changes00:59:17 Putin, military planning, and political control

Former OSCE observer Benoît Paré returns to discuss his second book, Ukraine: The Great Manipulation. He explains why western mainstream media reporting on Mariupol, Bucha, Kramatorsk, Nord Stream, and the 2022 Istanbul talks left out key facts. Benoit and Pascal discuss war propaganda, calls for independent investigations, and the risks of media narratives driving further escalation.Links:[Book] What I Saw in Ukraine: 2015–2022 – Diary of an International Observerhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/295986011X[Book] Ukraine: The Great Manipulationhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/2959860144Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Benoît Paré’s new book00:00:51 Why Paré wrote a second book00:07:34 US strategy and Ukraine’s role00:15:05 The Mariupol maternity hospital00:19:32 Questions around the Mariupol theater00:32:04 The Bucha timeline and competing claims00:58:36 Kramatorsk and the Istanbul talks01:03:41 Independent investigations and war narratives01:06:17 How propaganda shapes the conflict01:12:16 Where to find Benoît Paré