Worlds Apart

Striking to deflect? Ofer Cassif, Member of the Israeli Knesset

As Friedrich Nietzsche remarked more than a century ago, everything is learned in comparison. With the prospect of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran, the humanitarian disaster in Gaza suddenly seems like a crisis of a second or even a third order. Is the possibility of an international war in the Middle East likely to deflect from the mass suffering in Gaza, and could that be a deliberate strategy to redirect the global spotlight? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Ofer Cassif, Member of the Knesset for Hadash-Ta’al.

Outrage & Paralysis? Saul Takahashi, Professor of Human Rights & Peace Studies, Osaka Jogakuin University

Six months since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the world is still stuck between outrage and paralysis, sickened by the unapologetic mass killing and being unable to put an end to it. What could it possibly take to pull Gaza out of this decades-long, dead-end geopolitical procrastination? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Saul Takahashi, Professor of Human Rights & Peace Studies at Osaka Jogakuin University.

Stuck in supremacy? Lubos Blaha, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak parliament

Mark Twain famously remarked that “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” And it’s not the circumstances or the actors in any particular conflict that get re-constellated but rather — the spirit of the problem itself, the unresolved parts of it. As the European continent is once again stricken with bitter divisions and kinetic warfare, does history offer any ideas for moving forward? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Lubos Blaha, a left-wing Slovak politician and Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament.

Fear vs terror? Dmitry Trenin, member of Russia’s Foreign and Defence Policy Council

From a special military operation to a state of war – the Kremlin’s definition of hostilities on the Russian-Ukrainian border shifted starkly this past week, following a terrorist attack on concert-goers outside Moscow. Is the switch in rhetoric likely to be followed by a change in military tactics? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Dmitry Trenin, a research professor at the Higher School of Economics and a member of Russia’s Foreign and Defense Policy Council.

Uncultured politics? Yury Bashmet, conductor and violist

From cancel culture to the cancelling of culture, the Western boycott on all things Russian has led to a paralysis of artistic exchange, further amplifying the schism created by diplomatic animosity and economic sanctions. But given that music or dance have always been able to permeate language and ideological barriers, aren’t they indeed a powerful weapon to be controlled and, if need be, neutralized? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Yury Bashmet, a Russian conductor and world-renowned violist.

Seeing no evil? Emir Kusturica, Serbian director

Not so long ago, mixing culture or sports with politics was considered bad taste, but nowadays one may get into trouble for failing to do that. As cancel culture draws ever-wider gaps between people and entire nations, is there any medium left to pay homage to and experience our shared humanity? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Emir Kusturica, world-renowned Serbian film director and screenwriter.

This interview was recorded at Mantera Resort & Congress in Sochi.