In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Dr Samir Puri—former British diplomat, Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing—to explore the seismic global shift away from Western dominance.

We unpack the concept of “Westlessness”, which Dr Puri defines as the psychological and strategic unravelling of the West’s central role in global affairs. As traditional Western powers lose their edge—militarily, economically, and morally—new global actors like China, India, and coalitions like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are stepping in to reshape the international system.

But this isn’t a story of collapse. Instead, it’s about rebalancing—and the West’s growing crisis of identity, cohesion, and moral authority. We discuss the rise of soft power from non-Western states, the consequences of Western hypocrisy in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, and how hybrid identities, populism, and cultural fragmentation are transforming politics at home.

Dr Puri also reflects on whether a multipolar world could be fairer—and what risks it might bring.

Resources:

• Dr Puri’s website: https://twitter.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://instagram.com/thevoicesofwar LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left hospitals in ruins, humanitarian corridors blocked, and millions of civilians struggling to survive. In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Ashley Killeen, Director of Engagement at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia & New Zealand, about what it means to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza while upholding neutrality in the face of accusations of genocide and systematic violence.

With MSF doctors and nurses forced to work in decimated hospitals, perform amputations without anaesthetic, and place five babies in a single incubator, Gaza’s collapse is exposing the limits of neutrality in modern conflict. Ashley explains why MSF calls Gaza a “systematic genocide”, the ethical red lines Israel wants humanitarian organisations to cross, and why silence can make humanitarians complicit.

This episode dives deep into the medical ethics of war, the weaponisation of aid, and the toll on humanitarian staff who bear witness in one of the most politically charged conflicts of our time. It asks the hardest question: when does neutrality protect, and when does it kill?

• This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing. – Read the report: https://msf.org.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/msf_gazareport_thisisnotaid.pdf

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia – Support their work: https://msf.org.au/donate

• The Voices of War Podcast Website – Full episodes and extras: https://thevoicesofwar.com

• Newsletter – Join for deeper analysis and updates: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined once again by Carl Miller, investigative researcher and author of The Death of the Gods. This is Carl’s third time on the show, and arguably his most urgent.

We explore:

• Why AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a battlefield

• How governments and companies manipulate LLMs

• Emotional bonds with AI and their strategic risks

• Digital addiction, dopamine loops, and persuasive tech

• Russia’s asymmetric war on Western democratic trust

• Carl’s D-RAIL strategy to disrupt narrative warfare

• The WAVES model for digital democracy

• The chilling reality of murder-for-hire on the dark web

📍 Guest Bio: Carl Miller is the co-founder of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, host of The Kill List podcast, and a leading voice on information integrity and power in the digital age.

🔗 Connect with Carl: NEW REPORT: Russian propaganda may be flooding AI models

• Carl’s UnHerd article – Will Chatbots Become Cult Leaders?

• Study: AI reduces conspiracy thinking by 20%

• Apple in China by Patrick McGee

• D-RAIL report – Disinfo.eu

• WAVES project at Demos

• The Kill List podcast – Wondery