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  • 💥 Can high-tech warfare be ethical — or does it just make war endless?
    2025/08/14

    Yale professor Samuel Moyn joins us to explore how drones, AI, and precision strikes have transformed modern conflict. Based on his book Humane, this conversation asks whether efforts to make war more “humane” have sidelined the goal of peace itself.

    Show Notes:
    Connect with Sam
    Yale: https://law.yale.edu/samuel-moyn Website: https://campuspress.yale.edu/samuelmoyn/
    Books by Sam:🆕 Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times (2023)

    A critique of Cold War-era liberal thinkers who, in Moyn’s view, stripped liberalism of its utopian and transformative aspirations — leading to the more constrained version we see today.

    🧠 Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War (2021)

    Explores how efforts to humanize war — through legal and technological means — have helped make war more acceptable and therefore unending.

    📉 Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World (2018)

    Argues that modern human rights discourse has focused on minimum protections rather than addressing global inequality and distributive justice.

    Articles by Sam:
    Casus Belli, Harper’s Magazine, August 2025.
    America is over Neo-Liberalism & Neo-Conservatism - Trump is not, The Guardian, July 2025.
    The United States and the Human Rights Presidency, June 2025.

    Previous Episode with Sam:
    https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/humane-war-making-a-better-world/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 時間 5 分
  • Stoicism and Resilience in a Broken World
    2025/08/08

    Can ancient Stoicism help us face today’s crazy world? In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with philosopher Prof. Massimo Pigliucci on how Stoic principles offer clarity, resilience, and meaning in an age of rage, war, and misinformation.

    We also explore real Stoicism vs. “Broicism,” and how to apply timeless wisdom to modern crises.

    🎧 Watch now on The Focus with John Bruni.

    SHOW NOTES

    🔗Connect with Massimo

    Substack: https://substack.com/@figsinwintertime?utm_source=top-search

    City College, New York: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/massimo-pigliucci?srsltid=AfmBOorpDgfdOTs_fokK4iIJL2Zbnen_-EoVL-yFbnzvsgs8G9pi2WKU

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo_Pigliucci

    Top Books on Stoicism:

    The Stoic Guide to a Happy Life (2020)

    A Handbook for New Stoics (2019)

    How to Be a Stoic (2017)

    Top five articles on Stoicism:

    • “Did the Stoics Get Their Theory of Beauty Wrong?”
    • Published: November 11, 2023
    • Overview: Pigliucci explores whether ancient Stoic theories on beauty hold up today, drawing from his Stoicon 2023 presentation. Modern Stoicism+15Modern Stoicism+15Modern Stoicism+15
    • “Updating Epictetus and Stoicism for the 21st century”
    • Published: December 19, 2020
    • Overview: A reflection—and partial update—on Epictetus’ Enchiridion, arguing for modern adaptation in his later book A Field Guide to a Happy Life. goodlisten+5Modern Stoicism+5colabstaging.co.uk+5
    • “Minimalism Is Not Enough”
    • Published: February 2, 2019
    • Overview: Pigliucci pushes back against oversimplified Stoicism, emphasizing that logic and physics must remain part of the practice—not only ethics. Modern Stoicism+14Modern Stoicism+14Wikipedia+14
    • “Do People Commit Evil Out of Ignorance?”
    • Published: November 25, 2017
    • Overview: Based on his Stoicon 2017 talk, Pigliucci examines Epictetus’ view that wrongdoing often stems from deluded thinking rather than true malevolence. Modern Stoicism+4Modern Stoicism+4Modern Stoicism+4
    • “Why not Stoicism?”
    • Published: 2013
    • Overview: A foundational piece outlining the enduring relevance of Stoicism’s three pillars—ethics, logic, physics—for modern life.

    #stoicism #geopolitics #massimopigliucci #philosophy #thefocuspodcast #geopolitics #resilience #broicism #marcusaurelius #modernstoicism

    Previous Episodes with Massimo:

    https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/a-stoics-take-on-modern-celebrity-the-rise-of-rogan-peterson-the-role-of-social-media/

    https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/on-stoicism/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 時間 21 分
  • 🎙️ India: Not America’s Sidekick | Salvatore Babones on The Focus
    2025/07/31

    Dr. John Bruni speaks with Prof. Salvatore Babones about U.S.–India relations, Modi’s strategic balancing act, the Quad, and how Russian oil, and a possible F-35 purchase, affects Trump’s thinking on India and how this could reshape stability on the Subcontinent & Indo-Pacific security more broadly.

    #IndiaUS #SalvatoreBabones #Geopolitics #Modi #TheFocusPodcast #IndoPacific #Trump2024 #Quad

    Show Notes:

    Contact Salvatore:

    https://www.salvatorebabones.com/

    X: @ProfBabones

    https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/3231.html

    Salvatore’s YouTube:

    https://www.youtube.com/@SalvatoreBabones

    Top 5 Books by Salvatore:

    Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy (2025) – His most recent work, an empirical assessment of India’s democratic evolution

    The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2018) – Named among the Best on Politics 2018 by The Wall Street Journal

    BRICS or Bust? Escaping the Middle‑Income Trap (co‑authored with Hartmut Elsenhans) (2017) – A comparative study of BRICS economic trajectories

    American Tianxia: Chinese Money, American Power and the End of History (2017) – Challenges the narrative of a looming Chinese century

    Sixteen for ’16: A Progressive Agenda for a Better America (2015) – A policy manifesto outlining a forward‑looking progressive platform

    Top 5 Articles by Salvatore:

    “Global Kondratiev Waves and Political Transformations in Russia since 1800: A Relative Deprivation Approach” (with Philipp Babcicky & Oleg Gubin) – International Politics (2023)

    “Mobile Netware, Social Graphs, and the Reconfiguration of Space” (with Colin Agur) – New Media & Society(2023)

    “International Student Revenue and International Rankings Success: A Case Study of Australian University Research Strategies”Youth and Globalization (2022)

    “China’s Development Model: Can it Be Replicated in Sub‑Saharan Africa?”Politics & Policy (2020)

    “From Tianxia to Tianxia: The Generalization of a Concept”Chinese Political Science Review (2020)

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 時間 6 分
  • Europe’s Defence Dilemma
    2025/07/25

    In this episode of The Focus, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins us to unpack Europe’s growing defence dilemma. As U.S. support for NATO faces political headwinds and war rages in Ukraine, can Europe stand on its own? Or is it still relying too heavily on the American security umbrella?

    We explore NATO’s credibility, European rearmament, and what’s needed to keep the continent safe in an age of rising threats.

    Show Notes:

    Contact Ben:

    LinkedIn:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hodges-1674b1172?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BsE89zn7ZQEaGKjLMT3r2PQ%3D%3D

    The Alphen Group (TAG):

    https://thealphengroup.com/ben-hodges/

    Top 5 Articles by Ben:

    📰 1. Business Insider – “A key NATO ally said it would be 'really big mistake' for Europe to break away from the US weapons industry”

    Date: June 25, 2025
    A detailed interview where Hodges cautions Europe against moving away from U.S. defence suppliers.

    📰 2. Business Insider – “Most NATO armies likely 'could not meet Ukrainian standards' in combat effectiveness, retired US Army general says”

    Date: June 18, 2025
    Hodges argues NATO should learn from Ukrainian battlefield experience rather than the other way around

    📰 3. Cipher Brief – “Getting NATO to Be Able to 'Fight Tonight'” (Expert Q&A)

    Date: July 1, 2025
    Hodges examines NATO’s readiness following the Hague summit, focusing on rapid mobilisation and military preparedness.

    📰 4. Cipher Brief – “Expert Q&A: Can Europe Defend Itself?”

    Date: March 27, 2025
    A deep dive into Europe’s defence capacity, allied cohesion, and whether the continent can maintain security without U.S. support.

    📰 5. Swissinfo – “Former US general advises Switzerland to prepare for war”

    Date: March 16, 2025
    In this interview, Hodges urges Switzerland to ramp up defence — particularly drone defences and large-scale manoeuvres — as a precautionary measure.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    53 分
  • Trump World II: Power, Peace, Politics
    2025/07/18

    Dr. Roy Casagranda returns to The Focus to explore the global and domestic impact of a second Trump term—covering democracy, immigration, alliances, Ukraine, Iran, and more.

    🎧 Watch now & subscribe for more insight on geopolitics and global affairs.

    #geopolitics #trump47 #roycasagranda #uspolitics #thefocuspodcast #globalsecurity #foreignpolicy

    Show Notes:

    🔗 *Connect with Roy Casagranda*

    X: @RoyCasagranda

    Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

    Books by Roy:

    The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

    Articles by Roy:

    Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 時間 27 分
  • Trade Under Siege
    2025/07/04

    In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with economist Nicolas Michelon on how protectionism and power politics are reshaping global trade.

    🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

    Show Notes:

    Connect with Nicolas

    X: @MichelonNicolas

    Asia Power Watch: https://asiapowerwatch.com/

    Alagan Partners: https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-michelon/

    Nicolas’ Recent Publications:

    "Navigating Corporate Geopolitics in a World Between Orders” Asia Power Watch, April 14, 2025.

    "The Renault-Nissan War and the Future of the Automobile Industry: An Interview with Carlos Ghosn” Asia Power Watch, October 9, 2024.

    "The Price of East-West Economic Warfare: Carlos Ghosn and the Fate of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance” Asia Power Watch, July 8, 2023.

    "The Death of Multilateralism: Disruptions of the Trump Era” Asia Power Watch, May 21, 2021.

    "The Carlos Ghosn Case: Business Warfare, Economic Patriotism and the Fate of Foreign CEOs in Japan” Asia Power Watch, March 8, 2020.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 時間 5 分
  • Lebanon at a Crossroad
    2025/06/26

    Is General Joseph Aoun the man to rescue Lebanon’s institutions? Can the Lebanese Armed Forces disarm Hezbollah? Can the Lebanese state recover from years of corruption and poor governance? And what role do external powers—Iran, Israel, Syria, and the Gulf states—play in Lebanon’s fate? Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Imad Harb to unpack the country’s fate under new leadership.

    Show Notes:

    Connect with Imad:

    Arab Center Washington D.C. https://arabcenterdc.org/team/imad-k-harb/

    X: @harb3imad

    Imad’s Top Publications:

    Articles:

    The Prickly Issue of Disarming Palestinian Factions in Lebanon

    President Trump’s Gulf Trip: Post-Visit Observations

    Books:

    • The Arab World Beyond Conflict
      Co-editor: Imad Harb and Zeina Azzam
      Published by the Arab Center Washington DC, 2019 newarab.com+11arabcenterdc.org+11chs-doha.org+11
    • Trump and the Arab World: A First Year Assessment
      Editor: Imad Harb
      Published by the Arab Center Washington DC, 2017 arabcenterdc.org+5me-policy.org+5arabcenterdc.org+5
    • Domestic and Regional Challenges to US–Iran Relations
      Co-authors: Imad Harb and John Bruni
      Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, April 2015 books.google.com+11arabcenterdc.org+11chs-doha.org+11
    • Higher Education and the Future of Iraq
      Author: Imad K. Harb
      United States Institute of Peace Special Report No. 195, 2008 globalresilienceconsortium.org+10

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    55 分
  • Israel’s ’Total War’
    2025/06/20

    Israel vs. Iran: What Drives Tehran’s Strategy? Dr. Ori Goldberg joins The Focus to decode ideology, deterrence, and the risks of a wider Middle East war.

    Show Notes:

    X: @ori_goldberg

    Bluesky: @origoldberg.bsky.social

    Ori’s Top Publications:

    Selected Articles (2024)

    • “Why Israelis Do and Don’t Want War with Hezbollah” – New Lines Magazine, September 2024
    • “Israel’s Attack on Hezbollah’s Communications Network Is Not the Victory It Claims” – New Lines Magazine, September 2024

    Faith and Politics in Iran, Israel, and the Islamic State: Theologies of the Real (2017)

    Published by Cambridge University Press, this book examines how religious worldviews shape political action across diverse ideological contexts.

    Understanding Shiite Leadership: The Art of the Middle Ground in Iran and Lebanon (2014, co-authored with Shaul Mishal)

    This work explores how Shi‘ite leaders balance ideological commitments with pragmatic governance in both Iran and Lebanon.

    Shi‘i Theology in Iran: The Challenge of Religious Experience (2011)

    Published by Routledge, this book investigates the role of religious experience in shaping revolutionary Shi‘i political theology.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    55 分