Worlds Apart

Multipolar pushback? MK Bhadrakumar, former Indian ambassador to Türkiye and Uzbekistan

Sovereignty has long been a cherished geopolitical concept, which, in a unipolar western-centric universe was more easily preached than practiced. But as the old and comfortable world order continues to crumble and more governments are called to make fast and hard decisions, what does it take to be a nation in your own right? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by MK Bhadrakumar, Former Indian ambassador to Türkiye and Uzbekistan.

Impeding by misleading? Adeyinka Makinde, Visiting Lecturer at Westminster Law School

A few days ago, the Merriam-Webster dictionary selected 'gaslighting' as its word of the year for 2022, defining it as "the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s own advantage" and noting that usage of the word increased by over 1,700% throughout this year. How does geopolitics play into this? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Adeyinka Makinde, Visiting Lecturer at Westminster Law School.

Hungry for change? Nourhan ElSheikh, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University

An old adage has it that a hungry belly has no ears but a full one apparently has little foresight. As rising food prices force more and more governments to make tough political choices, the most affluent nations continue restricting food exports in their effort to penalize Russia. Is hunger indeed the best sauce for geopolitics? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Nourhan ElSheikh, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University.

This interview was held at the meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Kazan.

Reversed fortunes? Gilbert Doctorow, international affairs analyst

The 1990s were a time of rapid change. For the US, the Cold War was over, the Soviet Union had been dissolved, and history had ended. But for Russia and its people, the 90s were a period of hardship and decline that took decades to reverse. Fast forward to 2022, and the roles seem to have been swapped; Russia is resurgent and the US is struggling. How did it happen? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Gilbert Doctorow, an international affairs analyst.

Socialism 2.0? Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, Professor at Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy & Management

On the first day of next year, Brazil is set to inaugurate its old new president, who’s been sworn into office twice before with promises of alleviating poverty and socializing governance. With Lula’s return, Latin America’s tilt to the left is more pronounced than ever but will it help in taking social justice from the realm of ideology into living reality? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, Professor of Public Policy, School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University.

Arrogance unmoored? Rob Urie, Author of 'Zen Economics'

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result was once described as the definition of insanity, but with the Democrats close to retaining the US Senate, it is now being positioned almost as a great new deal. Can America pull itself out of its current political and economic morass by repeating tired mantras and holding on to the same old elites that brought it there in the first place? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Rob Urie, author of 'Zen Economics'.