Best Acts 29 Europe Podcasts (2024)

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Trailer (Preview) 17:41

7d ago17:41

17:41

Join our new hosts, Philip Moore, Acts 29 Europe Director and a planter in Paris, France and Jonny Pollock a rural planter in the West of Ireland as they preview season 4.By Philip Moore, Jonny Pollock

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32 – Season Finale – The State of Play, The Road Ahead & Where Lies Germany? 49:19

2d ago49:19

49:19

Wrapping up season 2 of BerlinsideOut, Ben and Aaron give listeners their take on what to watch out for in international security this summer – particularly at the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, November’s American election, and the incoming European Commission. The hosts talk about the significance of Kaja Kallas’ nomination as the new EU Hig…

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Ep. 10 (31) - The (second) Saxon War - The nobles rebel against "the imperial tyrant" 37:57

2d ago37:57

37:57

In 1065 king Henry IV begins his personal rule. After 9 years of regency., the last 3 of which under a government of barons headed by archbishop Anno of Cologne, imperial power is much diminished. Prelates and lords are raiding the imperial purse, when the barons force the young king to dismiss his main adviser, he realises that the previous model …

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Ep. 9 (30) - Three Roads to Canossa - Lay Piety, Reform Papacy and the Saxon Rebellion 43:20

9d ago43:20

43:20

Emperor Henry III is dead. The realm is now in the hands of his widow, Agnes of Poitou who rules on behalf of the six-year-old king Henry IV. Agnes is no Theophanu and no Adelheid. Not that she is incompetent, she just isn't absolutely brilliant, and absolutely brilliant is the baseline necessary to manage this fragile situation. The relationship b…

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31 – Turning Point – from Germany’s Reactive Zeitenwende to Proactive Strategic Change in Europe? 1:34:42

14d ago1:34:42

1:34:42

In this final regular episode of season 2 – partly recorded on the margins of the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn – Ben and Aaron first chat with a pan-European panel on how to implement the strategic change Europe needs – and back it up with appropriate mindsets, threat perceptions, resources and ‘Teampower’. Then, BerlinsideOut hears remarks f…

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Ep. 8 (29) - The Last Years of Henry III - Tyrant or consolidator of power? 29:27

16d ago29:27

29:27

In 1046 Henry III reached the zenith of his rule. He deposed three unworthy popes and replaced them with serious churchmen who will bring the necessary reforms about. Domestically he is in control of the three Eastern European states, Poland, Bohemia and Hungary and the restless Lotharingians seem settled. How did it come about that by 1056 the chr…

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Ep. 7 (28) - Three Popes with One Stone - The Council of Sutri in 1046 34:30

23d ago34:30

34:30

In 1046 Henry III finally has time to go to Rome and claim the imperial crown. All he wants is get in, get crowned and get out before the Malaria season. He encounters a problem when he finds out that the current pope Gregory VI has bought the papacy for cold hard cash, a sin that could invalidate his coronation. Henry III gets involved, deposes al…

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30 – #MakeRussiaPay – The Strategic Necessity of Seizing Russian Assets for Ukraine’s Victory 1:05:38

25d ago1:05:38

1:05:38

In part two of BerlinsideOut’s ‘Pillars of Victory’ special – Ben and Aaron go from the front lines to the back rooms – to discuss the necessity of confiscating $300 billion in frozen Russian state assets to help fund both Ukraine’s victory and to hold Russia accountable for Ukraine’s reconstruction. They hear from an international panel of guests …

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29 – "We haven’t even tried yet" – Military Victory in Ukraine 52:43

30d ago52:43

52:43

In the first of ‘Pillars of Victory’ a two-part special on what the West – including Germany - needs to do to achieve victory for Ukraine, Ben and Aaron talk with top military, diplomatic and NATO experts, who bring years of experience of top-level decision-making to BerlinsideOut. They discuss the level of Western commitment needed for Ukraine to …

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Ep. 6 (27) - Peace in Our Time - The Peace of God in the Middle Ages 26:13

1M ago26:13

26:13

The main role of a medieval monarch is to bring peace to his subjects. Peace is not so much absence of major international conflict, but protection from feuding lords. Whilst in France central power is far too weak to maintain any semblance of order giving rise to the Peace of God movement, the empire under Henry III can rely on its monarch to fulf…

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28 – Germany’s Nuclear Fear: Deterrence, Escalation, Nuclear and Other Threats 1:32:05

1M ago1:32:05

1:32:05

In this episode, Ben and Aaron talk to nuclear experts William Alberque and Fabian Hoffmann, as well as to Canada’s former Ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck, about how Russian nuclear sabre-rattling plays into German support for Ukraine, how western leadership on discussing nuclear issues with the public needs to improve, and how to deter Putin’s nucle…

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Ep. 5 (26) - Henry III Comin' in Smoothly - The first seamless transition of power from father to son in 70 years 28:46

1M ago28:46

28:46

For the first time in almost 70 years the transition from one king/emperor to the next is smooth. Konrad II was not only one of the most successful medieval rulers, he also managed to live long enough for his son Henry III to grow up to adulthood before taking over. Henry III is outwardly quite different from his father, well educated, deeply immer…

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27 – ‘Let Us Not Despair, But Act’: Sources of Strategic Hope – TallinnsideOut Live from the Lennart Meri Conference 1:27:08

1M ago1:27:08

1:27:08

BerlinsideOut, the podcast that takes an expert look at international politics from Berlin – goes to Tallinn! From the International ‘Lennart Meri Conference’ Dr. Benjamin Tallis, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Action Group Zeitenwende at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and Aaron Gasch Burnett, a security analyst and journal…

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26 – Stop Self-Deterring! – TallinnsideOut – Talk of the Town from the Lennart Meri Conference 36:04

1M ago36:04

36:04

BerlinsideOut, the podcast that takes an expert look at international politics from Berlin – goes to Tallinn! From the International ‘Lennart Meri Conference’ Dr. Benjamin Tallis, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Action Group Zeitenwende at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and Aaron Gasch Burnett, a security analyst and journal…

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25 – We Win, They Lose – TallinnsideOut – Talk of the Town from the Lennart Meri Conference 31:27

2M ago31:27

31:27

BerlinsideOut, the podcast that takes an expert look at international politics from Berlin – goes to Tallinn! From the International ‘Lennart Meri Conference’ Dr. Benjamin Tallis, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Action Group Zeitenwende at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and Aaron Gasch Burnett, a security analyst and journal…

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Ep. 4 (25) - Konrad II, the Construction of an Empire - Speyer Cathedral as a symbol of Salian power 26:51

2M ago26:51

26:51

In his last years Konrad tries to further strengthen his power, first by fighting the Hungarians, unseating the duke of Carinthia and a second Italian expedition. Al three of these endeavours backfire. The Hungarians win the war, the duke of Carinthia gets unexpected support from Konrad's son Henry III and the Italian campaign ends in a fiasco enti…

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Ep. 3 (24) - Konrad II's Acquisition of Burgundy - The last addition to the Empire 29:33

2M ago29:33

29:33

The event looming over Imperial politics since around 1000 is the Burgundian succession. King Rudolf III is childless leaving several contenders with varying degrees of blood relations. If Henry II who was a nephew of Rudolf III had outlived the king of Burgundy, thigs would have been easy. But the old codger outlived the sickly emperor. His succes…

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24 – Chip War: Mastering Tech, Geopolitics & the China Challenge 52:58

2M ago52:58

52:58

Chris Miller, author of the bestselling and highly-awarded “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology”, sits down with Ben and Aaron to chat about his book, and how the semiconductor industry is redrawing the current map of geopolitical risk – from the Taiwan Strait to Europe and the US. Miller also talks about how corresponding …

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Ep. 2 (23) - Duke Ernst, Rebel and Legend - A medieval story about loyalty and friendship 32:24

2M ago32:24

32:24

In this episode Emperor Konrad II (1024-1039) consolidates his reign adding a secular leg to his control of the imperial church by placing his son Henry on the ducal throne of Bavaria,. This is the first of many ducal and royal titles he will acquire. This push for centralised control leads to a rebellion, led by the emperor's 16-year old stepson, …

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Ep. 1 (22) - Konrad II, Who Would Have Thought - Electing a most unlikely successor to Henry II 36:45

2M ago36:45

36:45

On July 13th, 1024 Emperor Henry II died without an heir. not only that, but his family has so comprehensively died out, there is not a single descendant in the male line left. Fear of unrest and civil war grips the inhabitants of the empire. An election is called for early September, as quickly as such things could be organised in the 11th century…

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23 – Germany’s Wealth, Power – and Their Limits: Economic Miracles, Imperialist Hangovers, and the "End of History" 1:01:38

2M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

In the fourth episode of BerlinsideOut season two, Ben and Aaron sit down with Albrecht Ritschl, a renowned German economic historian, to trace the historical origins of Germany’s economic model – and how its current emphasis on geoeconomics and free riding on security has influenced German foreign policy towards Russia, Ukraine, and wider Europe. …

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22 – A Strategic Deficit with German Characteristics: Why Berlin Struggles to Move Beyond the Zeitenwende 1:13:39

3M ago1:13:39

1:13:39

In season two’s third episode, Ben and Aaron are joined by grand strategy expert Maximilian Terhalle, as well as the DGAP’s own Aylin Matlé and Jacob Ross, to discuss why Germany must move on from its reactive Zeitenwende to a more proactive grand strategy – which marshals all of its resources together for strategic goals. They tackle questions lik…

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21 – "Our Enemies Will Vanish" – Does the West Still Underestimate Ukraine and Overestimate Russia? 54:50

3M ago54:50

54:50

In the second episode of BerlinsideOut season two, Ben and Aaron sit down with Yaroslav Trofimov, the Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and author of “Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine’s War of Independence”. Guests: Yaroslav Trofimov, Chief Foreigns Affairs Correspondent, The Wall Street Journa…

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20 – Germany’s Failing Zeitenwende – And What to Do About It 1:22:14

4M ago1:22:14

1:22:14

In BerlinsideOut’s second season premiere, Ben and Aaron dive into Germany’s recent foreign policy problems – driven by a Chancellery whose threat assessment of Russia is increasingly jeopardising European security. Together with parliamentarians Anton Hofreiter and Thomas Erndl, as well as regular panellists Minna Ålander and Britta Jacob, Berlins…

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19 – MunichsideOut Live From the PSC: Neo-Idealism – Winning the Systemic Competition Starts in Ukraine 1:16:21

5M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

In this special episode of BerlinsideOut, Ben and Aaron take questions live at the 2024 Pirate Security Conference in Munich. They chat about how Germany needs to change its strategy to have a will to win in the systemic struggle between democracies and authoritarian regimes – and why that starts in Ukraine. They also chat about and take questions …

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19 – MunichsideOut: The Munich Security Conference and Germany’s Foreign Policy Agenda 37:38

5M ago37:38

37:38

BerlinsideOut, the podcast that takes an expert look at international politics from Berlin (and Munich!). Hosted by Dr. Benjamin Tallis, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Action Group Zeitenwende at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and Aaron Gasch Burnett, a journalist specialising in German politics, we look at how Germany sees…

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18 – Freedom is a Duty – Why Germany Needs to Go From Zeitenwende to Grand Strategy 1:05:26

5M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

In BerlinsideOut’s first season finale, Ben and Aaron identify key themes and talk through their highlights from the last few months focusing on how Germany’s Zeitenwende has progressed - or not - in that time, how allies see that, and why Germany needs a real grand strategy. We also have a look back at some of the most memorable lines and lessons …

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17 – Germany and the US: Here, Ukraine Matters – Discussion with Alexander Vindman [Part 2] 45:27

5M ago45:27

45:27

In this second of a two-part series, Ben and Aaron speak with Alexander Vindman – the man who literally wrote the book on Trump – Here, Right Matters – detailing his decision to report the phone call between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, resulting in Trump’s impeachment. Alexander speaks about the possibility of a second Trump presidency, b…

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17 – Germany and the US: Common Strategic Deficit & Mutually-Assured Dysfunction [Part 1] 1:18:18

5M ago1:18:18

1:18:18

In the penultimate week of BerlinsideOut’s first season, Ben and Aaron take a look at the transatlantic relationship’s current strategic deficit, what’s in store for the relationship during either a Trump or a Biden win in 2024, and the China challenge that will come increasingly into view over the next few years. With four expert guests they discu…

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16 – Canada and Germany: Finding Ways to Take Strategic Responsibility [Part 2] 1:02:26

5M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

In this two-part series, BerlinsideOut talks about Germany’s relationship with Aaron’s (other) home country of Canada, its potential role in helping to provide Germany and the rest of the democratic team with critical resources, whether both countries are underpricing Russian and Chinese threats, and how to leverage another transatlantic relationsh…

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16 – Canada and Germany: From Free-Riding Laggards to Re-engaged Teammates? [Part 1] 57:00

6M ago57:00

57:00

In this two-part series, BerlinsideOut talks about Germany’s relationship with Aaron’s (other) home country of Canada, its potential role in helping to provide Germany and the rest of the democratic team with critical resources, whether both countries are underpricing Russian and Chinese threats, and how to leverage another transatlantic relationsh…

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15 – Germany and UK: Military Cooperation – Different Roles, Common Needs. [Part 2] 1:02:30

6M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

In this second of a two-part series, Ben and Aaron look at Germany’s relationship with Ben’s native UK – and how Russia’s war against Ukraine has necessitated a move-on from the tension around Brexit to new ways of cooperating – particularly on security issues. Together with retired Air Marshal Edward Stringer Ben and Aaron look at the respective c…

1
15 – Germany and UK: Friends in Need Must Start Playing as Teammates [Part 1] 1:34:27

6M ago1:34:27

1:34:27

In this first of a two-part series, Ben and Aaron look at Germany’s relationship with Ben’s native UK – and how Russia’s war against Ukraine has necessitated a move-on from the tension around Brexit to new ways of cooperating – particularly on security issues. They look at how the two countries should prepare for a possible Trump presidency in the …

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12 – Why Ukraine Must Win – and Germany Must Finish Its Zeitenwende [Part 2] 1:15:35

7M ago1:15:35

1:15:35

In the second part of a special on Ukraine (and bumper Christmas episode) BerlinsideOut looks at current German strategy for European Security and why it needs to both finish its Zeitenwende and think bigger. Ben provides an update from Vilnius and, together with Aaron, they address the recent decision on Ukraine’s EU Accession talks and the keynot…

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14 – Leading from the Front: Germany and France Struggle to Rise to the Task [Part 2] 1:00:16

7M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In this second of a two-part series, Ben and Aaron take a look at how the French “Bratislava Agenda” of rapprochement with CEE and thus rebalancing European leadership complements – or clashes with – Germany's Zeitenwende, its supposed sea change in foreign and security policy. We talk support for Ukraine, how Germany and France should prepare for …

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14 – Germany and France: Fixing Europe’s Sputtering Engine [Part 1] 1:15:08

7M ago1:15:08

1:15:08

In this first of a two-part series, Ben and Aaron take a look at the current dysfunction in what German foreign policy elites often refer to as the country’s most important bilateral relationship – and the “motor” through which Europe either moves or stalls. Guests Jacob Ross and Sylvie Kauffmann talk about the history of the relationship – and how…

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13 – Germany and Poland: From Historical Foes to Uneasy Friends [Part 2] 51:32

7M ago51:32

51:32

In the second episode looking at Germany’s tough, but crucial relationship with Poland, Ben and Aaron are joined by former German Ambassador to Poland and author of Feinde, Fremde, Freunde (“Foes, Strangers, Friends”) – a book about Germany’s current relationship with Poland following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – to discuss the opportunities for …

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13 – Germany and Poland: New Opportunities, Old Challenges [Part 1] 59:02

7M ago59:02

59:02

For the first part of a two-part special, Ben and Aaron get into a particularly important, but historically difficult and tense relationship – the one that Germany has with its largest eastern neighbour in Poland. Recent elections have seen a new Polish coalition gain the numbers to oust the populist Law & Justice Party from power in Warsaw, leavin…

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12 – Why Ukraine Must Win – and What Germany Needs to Do [Part 1] 1:03:41

7M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

In a very special BerlinsideOut, Ben and Aaron are joined by HE Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration directly after her keynote speech at the DGAP on 24/11/2023 - in which she outlined not only why Ukraine must win, but also why EU and NATO accession would benefit all Europeans, including Ge…

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11 – Northern Outlooks: New Germany-scepticism in the Nordics? 1:10:31

7M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

Ben and Aaron are joined in introducing this episode by Minna Ålander, as well as panelists Anna Wieslander, Tuomas Iso-Markku, and Kim Olsen – to talk about Germany’s relationship with the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. From the EU’s northern enlargement to the euro crisis, Germany’s Nordic partners in the EU had often l…

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10 – Germany and the Baltic States: Imperial Histories, New Horizons [Part 2] 43:36

8M ago43:36

43:36

In the second part of this two-part special, Ben and Aaron are joined by Professor Ulrike von Hirschhausen for an extended discussion of the ties that bind the Baltic States and Germany and the opportunities that new ways of seeing each other offer for greater mutual understanding. Looking beyond the state to the movements of people, goods and idea…

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10 – Germany and the Baltic States: Being Ready to Die for Freedom [Part 1] 49:59

8M ago49:59

49:59

For the first part of a two-part special, Ben and Aaron are joined this week by an all-star panel of Baltic politicians, including Marko Mihkelson and Žygimantas Pavilionis – who chair the Foreign Affairs Committees in Estonian and Lithuanian Parliament, respectively – along with Artis Pabriks, a former Foreign, Defense, and Deputy Prime Minister o…

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6b Bonus – Germany’s China Risks: Geoeconomics vs Geopolitics? 43:00

8M ago43:00

43:00

In this bonus episode, we speak with DGAP CEO Dr. Guntram Wolff and Natixis Chief Economist Dr. Alicia Garcia-Herrero about the scale of Germany’s exposure to an increasingly aggressive China in particular, and the challenge of diversifying German supply chains to mitigate geopolitical risks, especially in critical sectors. We hear about competing …

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9 – Germany’s Baltic Future: Can Berlin Learn from its Partners on Lake NATO? 49:18

8M ago49:18

49:18

Ben and Aaron are joined on this episode by Oliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent for The Times and author of a forthcoming book entitled Baltic: The Future of Europe to be published by John Murray press. The book shows how the region is not only the frontier of our present security but of our better future. Described as the most economically, politic…

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8 – Germany’s Forgotten Friends: (Missed) Opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe 57:16

8M ago57:16

57:16

Pivoting from key themes in German foreign and security policy to the country’s key relationships, BerlinsideOut takes the road, sadly, less travelled. Rather than ‘go West’ and look first to Paris or Washington, BerlinsideOut first heads east, to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), scene of some of Germany’s most significant foreign policy failings …

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7 – Defending, Renewing & Spreading Liberal Democracy [Part 2] 48:34

8M ago48:34

48:34

In the second part of our special report back from our high-level workshops in Berlin and Prague on Neo-idealism and grand strategy for liberal democracies, we look at why the stakes for Ukrainian victory against Russian aggression are so high – and what the outsize implications of the outcome might be. We also discuss whether the liberal democrati…

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7 – Defending, Renewing & Spreading Liberal Democracy [Part 1] 59:02

8M ago59:02

59:02

This episode – the first in a two-part series – continues the discussion on Neo-idealism and grand strategy for liberal democracies started in Episode 4, by examining the dangers of taking liberal democracy for granted and putting it “on cruise control”. Gathering guests from across political traditions, this episode discusses the strategic choices…

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6b Bonus – Do Germans Care About Geopolitics and Geoeconomics? 30:17

8M ago30:17

30:17

Are everyday Germans willing to pay the “National Security Premium” to be less dependent on authoritarian countries like Russia and China? In this bonus episode, we speak with Jan Eichhorn about his recent research that suggests that the answer to that question is yes, they are. We also speak to him about what kind of messages the German public wan…

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6 – Germany’s National Security Premium: Escaping Dependency on Authoritarians 54:36

9M ago54:36

54:36

This episode looks at how Germany’s trade and economic model became so entangled with authoritarian countries that – at best, don’t share the country’s stated values, and, at worst – are active threats to German, European, and global security. Whether it’s how vulnerable Germany became due to its dependence on Russian gas or its current reliance on…

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5b Bonus – Germany’s Nuclear Taboo 37:15

9M ago37:15

37:15

In this bonus episode, we speak with Anna Vero Wendland, a historian specialising in both German technology and Eastern Europe, about a particular sacred cow in German politics – the role of nuclear energy. Wendland’s writing argues in favour of using nuclear energy in Germany as a way for the country to meet its climate goals, ensure its growth, a…

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