Explaining History (explaininghistory) (explaininghistory)

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the social and historical roots of the fascist foot soldier. Who are the young men who join paramilitary organizations, and what drives them?Following the shocking execution of Renée Good by ICE agents in Minnesota, we draw parallels between the modern American far-right and the Nazi Brownshirts (SA) of the 1920s and 30s. We examine how resentment, loss of status, and the "psychological wage" of whiteness fuel the recruitment of disaffected men into forces of state repression.From the "stab in the back" myth in Weimar Germany to the "Great Replacement" theory in Trump's America, Nick argues that fascism thrives on a sense of grievance and the promise of restored dominance. Is ICE becoming the shock troops of a new authoritarianism, designed not just to enforce borders but to provoke civil conflict?Plus: A recap of our successful Russian Revolution Masterclass and details on the upcoming session on Post-War America!Key Topics:The Brownshirt Demographic: Why bored, angry young men flocked to the SA.Fascism as Struggle: The ideology of constant battle and radicalization.The Psychological Wage: W.E.B. Du Bois on why poor whites defend racial hierarchy.ICE as Agent Provocateur: How paramilitary violence is being used to justify martial law.Announcements:Patreon: Listen ad-free for £5/month.Masterclass: Tickets for the Post-War America (1945-74) session are coming soon!Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of the twilight of the Ottoman Empire. We shift our focus to North Africa, where a newly unified Italy sought to satisfy its imperial ambitions by seizing Libya—the Ottomans' last foothold on the continent.Drawing on Eugene Rogan's The Fall of the Ottomans, we examine the invasion of 1911 and the fierce guerrilla resistance led by the Young Turk officer Enver Pasha. From his alliance with the mystical Senussi Brotherhood to his use of Islam as a mobilizing force against European colonialism, Enver's campaign in the desert foreshadowed the tactics of the First World War.Nick also discusses the broader geopolitical fallout: how Italy's aggression exposed Ottoman weakness, triggering the Balkan Wars and setting the stage for the catastrophic collapse of 1914. Was the seizure of Libya the first domino in the chain reaction that led to the Great War?Plus: A final call for history students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is this Sunday, January 25th. Don't miss out on this deep dive into exam technique and historical argument.Key Topics:The Italian Invasion: Why a "liberal" Italy launched a brutal colonial war.Enver Pasha: The secular Young Turk who became a desert warrior.The Senussi Brotherhood: The Islamic order that fought alongside the Ottomans.The Balkan Card: How the war in Libya triggered the collapse of Ottoman power in Europe.Books Mentioned:The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene RoganExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick turns to the global dimensions of the Russian Revolution. Drawing on Robert Service's Spies and Commissars: Bolshevik Russia and the West, we explore how the events of 1917 reverberated far beyond Petrograd.We delve into the chaotic collapse of the Romanov dynasty and the fragile "dual power" that followed. Why did the liberal Provisional Government fail to consolidate power? And how did the Bolsheviks—a small group of exiles caught completely by surprise—navigate their way back to Russia?From the euphoric reaction of emigre circles in London (where Maxim Litvinov tried to shave with toothpaste in his excitement) to the geopolitical chess game played by Britain, France, and the US, we examine the revolution not just as a Russian event, but as a pivotal moment in the First World War. Nick also discusses the historiographical battles over the period—was it a coup, a popular uprising, or a tragedy?—and why historians like Service and Orlando Figes have faced the ire of the modern left.Plus: A final reminder for students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is this Sunday, January 25th. Book your spot now to master exam technique and essay structure.Key Topics:The February Revolution: How strikes in Petrograd toppled the Tsar while Lenin was stuck in Switzerland.Dual Power: The uneasy alliance between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.The Exile's Return: How revolutionaries navigated a war-torn Europe to get home.Global Reactions: Why Western powers initially welcomed the fall of the Tsar, and how 1917 reshaped the war.Books Mentioned:Spies and Commissars by Robert ServiceA People's Tragedy by Orlando FigesStalin's Nemesis by Bertrand PatenaudeExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick turns his attention to the escalating diplomatic crisis over Greenland and what it reveals about the frailty of the post-Brexit United Kingdom.As Donald Trump eyes the annexation of Danish sovereign territory, Europe is drawing a line in the sand. But where is Britain? Nick argues that the UK's muted response exposes the utter failure of its "Global Britain" strategy. Having severed ties with the EU, London finds itself trapped in a subservient relationship with an American president who views allies not as partners, but as vassals.We explore the potential for a new geopolitical alignment: a "Continental Bloc" stretching from Brussels to Beijing via Moscow, united by shared hostility to American unilateralism. Could Europe really pivot away from the US? And what does the weaponization of the dollar mean for the future of Western power?Plus: A final reminder for students! Tickets for our Russian Revolution Masterclass on Sunday, January 25th are selling fast. Book now to secure your place.Key Topics:The Greenland Ultimatum: Trump's imperial vanity project and the European pushback.British Impotence: Why Keir Starmer cannot afford to challenge Washington.The Continental Pivot: Could the EU ally with China and Russia to survive Trump?De-Dollarization: The existential threat to American hegemony.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores one of the darkest chapters of the American Civil Rights movement: the Freedom Summer of 1964 and the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner.Drawing on Jonathan Darman's Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America, we delve into the terrifying reality of Mississippi in the mid-60s. Why did over a thousand idealistic students head south to register Black voters? And how did the local white establishment—from the police to the Klan—respond with a campaign of terror designed to maintain the racial hierarchy?We examine the chilling details of the abduction and execution of the three civil rights workers, the complicity of local law enforcement, and the political calculations of President Lyndon B. Johnson as he navigated the passage of the Civil Rights Act. From the "psychological wage" of whiteness to the long shadow of Jim Crow violence, this episode uncovers the brutal resistance to democracy in the Deep South.Plus: Don't miss our upcoming Russian Revolution Masterclass on Sunday, January 25th. Book your spot now to master exam technique and essay structure!Key Topics:Freedom Summer: The campaign to register Black voters in Mississippi.The Murders: The abduction and killing of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner by the Klan and police.LBJ's Dilemma: How the president balanced civil rights legislation with the fear of a "second Reconstruction."The White Backlash: Understanding the violent defense of racial hierarchy in the South.Books Mentioned:Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America by Jonathan DarmanSet the Night on Fire by Mike Davis and Jon WienerBlack Reconstruction in America by W.E.B. Du BoisExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In the second part of our deep dive into the origins of the Soviet famine, Nick continues his exploration of 1928-1929, the critical years that sealed the fate of the Russian peasantry.Drawing again on Robert Conquest's The Harvest of Sorrow, we examine how Stalin's "emergency measures"—intended to be temporary—became a permanent war on the countryside. Why did the Bolsheviks believe that the "middle peasant" was a capitalist hoarder? How did the regime's reliance on bad data lead to a spiral of confiscation and violence that destroyed the incentives to produce food?We uncover the tragic logic of a state that viewed market mechanisms as a threat and chose instead to loot its own people, setting the stage for the catastrophic famine of the early 1930s.Plus: A reminder for history students! Tickets are selling fast for our Russian Revolution Masterclass on Sunday, January 25th. Book your spot now to master exam technique and essay structure.Key Topics:The Emergency Measures of 1928: How temporary requisitioning became permanent policy.The Destruction of the Market: Why peasants stopped producing grain once the state began seizing it.Stalin's "Breathtaking Frankness": Admitting that the "tribute" levied on peasants was necessary for industrialization.The Myth of Hoarding: How the regime chased a phantom surplus that didn't exist.Books Mentioned:The Harvest of Sorrow by Robert ConquestBloodlands by Timothy SnyderExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick turns his attention to the economic chaos brewing in Washington. With Donald Trump threatening a criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, we explore the dangerous politicization of America's central bank.Why is the independence of the Fed so crucial to the global financial system? What happens when a president tries to bully interest rates down to win an election? Nick argues that Trump's erratic behavior, combined with the weaponization of the dollar, is accelerating the process of "de-dollarization"—an existential threat to American power far greater than any tariff war.From the exorbitant privilege of the dollar to the looming debt crisis, we unpack the mechanics of imperial decline. Is Trump about to crash the only thing keeping the US military machine afloat?Plus: A reminder for history students—tickets are now available for our Russian Revolution Masterclass on January 26th!Key Topics:The War on the Fed: Trump's attempt to seize control of monetary policy.De-Dollarization: Why global investors are losing faith in the greenback.Imperial Overstretch: How the dollar funds America's global military footprint.Stalinist Paranoia: Comparing Trump's use of the FBI to historical purges.Listen to this episode advert free on Patreon hereAlso, you can sign up for the Explaining History Russian Revolution Masterclass hereExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick returns to the turbulent twilight of the Ottoman Empire. Following the euphoria of the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, disillusionment quickly set in. We explore the 1909 Counter-Revolution, where religious conservatives and mutinous soldiers attempted to roll back constitutional rule and restore the Sultan's absolute power.But the restoration of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) did not bring stability. Instead, it exposed deep ethnic fault lines. Drawing on Eugene Rogan's The Fall of the Ottomans, we examine how the "Armenian Question" metastasized from a demand for civil rights into a pretext for mass murder.From the massacres in Adana to the cynical interventions of European powers, we trace the road to the first genocide of the 20th century. How did the fear of partition radicalize the Ottoman state? And what role did the Great Powers play in turning ethnic tension into catastrophe?Listen to this episode advert free on Patreon hereAlso, you can sign up for the Explaining History Russian Revolution Masterclass hereKey Topics:The 1909 Counter-Revolution: The failed attempt to restore Islamic law and absolutism.The Armenian Question: How demands for autonomy were viewed as an existential threat.The Adana Massacres: The prelude to the genocide of 1915.European Intervention: How Western meddling exacerbated sectarian violence.Books Mentioned:The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene RoganExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR ADVERT FREE EPISODES JOIN OUR PATREON HEREEpisode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the pervasive yet elusive ideology of neoliberalism. Why do we treat free-market capitalism as a natural law, like gravity, rather than a political choice?Drawing on George Monbiot and Peter Hutchison's The Invisible Doctrine, we delve into the origins of the neoliberal project—from the Mont Pelerin Society to the policies of Reagan and Thatcher. Nick argues that capitalism isn't just about market exchange; it is a system designed for the concentration of capital, one that reshapes all social and political relations to serve that end.From the myth of meritocracy and the "trickle-down" fallacy to the rise of what Yanis Varoufakis calls "techno-feudalism," we examine how this anonymous ideology has led to inequality, environmental degradation, and the erosion of democracy.Plus: A reminder for history students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is coming up on Sunday, January 25th. Listen for details on how to book your spot.Key Topics:The Invisible Doctrine: How neoliberalism hides in plain sight.Techno-Feudalism: Rent extraction in the age of Silicon Valley.The Myth of the Free Market: Why capitalism requires an active, sometimes authoritarian, state.The Great Reversal: How the post-war social democratic consensus was dismantled.Books Mentioned:The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism by George Monbiot and Peter HutchisonTechnofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism by Yanis VaroufakisDebt: The First 5000 Years by David GraeberExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this urgent episode of Explaining History, Nick addresses the breaking news from Minnesota: the execution of 37-year-old Renée Good by ICE agents.This is not just a news story; it is a historical inflection point. We explore the parallels between the unchecked violence of ICE and the early days of the Nazi SA (Brownshirts) in 1933. When a paramilitary force operates with impunity and state backing, the rule of law collapses.Nick argues that we cannot separate the history of the 20th century from the crisis of the present. From the "flexible labor markets" of neoliberalism to the racial violence of the Jim Crow era, the forces that led to this moment have deep roots. Why are political figures like Kristi Noem rushing to defend the indefensible? And is the US now sliding into the kind of state-sanctioned terror usually associated with 1970s Latin American dictatorships?Key Topics:The Execution of Renée Good: Analyzing the chilling reports of an extrajudicial killing.Historical Parallels: Comparing the impunity of ICE to the Nazi Brownshirts.The Politics of Cruelty: Why figures like Stephen Miller revel in suffering.The End of the Liberal Order: How the "beacon of freedom" became a carceral state.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the complex and often suppressed memory of China's recent past. Drawing on Tania Branigan's Red Memory, we delve into the heart of Beijing—Tiananmen Square—and unpack its layers of history, from the May Fourth Movement of 1919 to the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 and the tragedy of 1989.Why does the portrait of Mao Zedong still gaze over the square, despite the catastrophes of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution? How does the Chinese Communist Party use "Red Tourism" and curated museums to construct a narrative of national rejuvenation while burying the trauma of its own making? From the "Century of Humiliation" to Xi Jinping's "Chinese Dream," we examine how memory is not just history, but a tool of state legitimacy.Plus: A reminder for students! Tickets are selling fast for our live masterclass on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism on January 26th.and you can access advert free episodes here on PatreonKey Topics:Tiananmen Square: A site of revolution, celebration, and massacre.The Cult of Mao: Why the Chairman remains the "vigilant eye" over modern China.Red Tourism: How the party commodifies its revolutionary past.Historical Amnesia: The erasure of the Cultural Revolution and the Great Famine from public discourse.Books Mentioned:Red Memory: Living, Remembering and Forgetting China's Cultural Revolution by Tania BraniganThe Age of Extremes by Eric Hobsbawm (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the escalating crisis that threatens to destroy the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). With Donald Trump eyeing Greenland as a territorial acquisition and European leaders issuing a rare, unified rebuke, the alliance forged in 1949 to contain Soviet power is facing its greatest existential threat.We delve into the history of NATO—from the Berlin Airlift and the Truman Doctrine to its expansion after the Cold War. How did an alliance built on the principle of "an attack on one is an attack on all" crumble into transactionalism? Nick argues that Trump doesn't see a Pax Americana; he sees a world of rival great powers where alliances are liabilities unless they pay cash.If the US moves against Danish sovereign territory, can NATO survive? And what does this mean for Vladimir Putin, who may be watching the disintegration of his greatest enemy with glee?Plus: Big announcements! We are launching on Patreon for ad-free listening, and tickets are now live for our Russian Revolution Masterclass on January 26th.Key Topics:The Greenland Crisis: European leaders draw a line in the sand over Danish sovereignty.The Origins of NATO: How the Berlin Blockade and the Marshall Plan built the Western alliance.Trump vs. The Alliance: Why the "America First" doctrine views NATO as a bad deal.A European Defense Force? What happens to European security if the US pulls out?Books Mentioned:The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis (contextual reference)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores one of the most debated questions in modern history: Was the Russian Revolution inevitable?Moving beyond the simple narrative of "peace, land, and bread," we delve into the competing schools of historiography that have shaped our understanding of 1917. From the Soviet orthodoxy of historical determinism to the Western liberal view of a Bolshevik coup d'état, and finally to the revisionist and post-revisionist syntheses of scholars like Sheila Fitzpatrick and Orlando Figes.We also examine the structural argument: that revolutions only happen when states cease to function. Was the Tsarist regime doomed by its own incompetence, or could it have survived without the catalyst of World War I? Nick unpacks how the "Great Man" theory fails to explain the collapse of empires and why understanding historiography is the key to unlocking top grades in history exams.Plus: A major announcement for students! Booking is now open for our live masterclass on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism, taking place on Sunday, January 25th. Listen to the end for details on how to secure your spot.Key Topics:The Soviet View: Historical inevitability and Marxist-Leninist dogma.The Liberal View: The revolution as a coup by a fanatical minority.The Revisionist View: The role of genuine mass movements and social history.State Collapse: Why you can't overthrow a functioning state.Books Mentioned:A People's Tragedy by Orlando FigesThe Russian Revolution by Sheila FitzpatrickThe Anxious Triumph by Donald SassoonExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:One day after the shock attack on Caracas, Nick returns with an update on the US intervention in Venezuela. With President Maduro reportedly abducted and Donald Trump promising to "run Venezuela," we delve into the grim logistics of occupying a nation larger than France.Drawing parallels with the Boer War, Vietnam, and the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003, Nick argues that while the US may have the firepower to win a battle, it lacks the numbers, the political will, and the institutional memory to win the peace. Has the Trump administration purged the very experts who would have warned against such a folly? And will this act of imperial hubris mark the moment American hard power finally collapses under its own weight?Key Topics:The Logistical Nightmare: Why occupying Venezuela would require hundreds of thousands of troops.Trump's "Quiet Part Out Loud": The explicit goal of seizing oil resources.Asymmetric Warfare: How drones and insurgency could bleed an occupying force dry.Institutional Memory Loss: The danger of purging the State Department and Pentagon of dissenting voices.Plus: A new announcement about Patreon! Listen ad-free for just £5 a month.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this special emergency episode of Explaining History, Nick reacts to the breaking news of US military action in Venezuela. Reports indicate Apache gunships over Caracas and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro by American forces.We explore the profound historical implications of this event. While Maduro may be a "gangster," his removal by a foreign power shatters centuries of diplomatic norms dating back to the Treaty of Westphalia. Nick argues that 2026 marks the definitive end of the "Pax Americana" and the rules-based international order established in 1945.From the echoes of the Monroe Doctrine to the collapse of American soft power, we discuss how the Trump administration's "gangster state" tactics are reshaping the world into naked power blocs. Is this a strategic masterstroke to secure oil resources, or a reckless gamble that will accelerate America's isolation?Key Topics:The Attack on Caracas: Assessing the reports of US intervention and the kidnapping of a head of state.The End of International Law: Why pre-emptive regime change destroys the post-WWII consensus.Trump's "Gangster State": The shift from soft power to raw, transactional force.Geopolitical Fallout: How Russia, China, and the Global South will react to this flagrant breach of sovereignty.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick takes a deep dive into the grim reality of the Soviet camp system. Drawing on Anne Applebaum's Gulag: A History, we explore how the camps evolved from disorganized prisons into a vast industrial complex of slave labour.We examine the "Great Terror" of 1937-38 not just as a political purge, but as a bureaucratic process driven by quotas and paranoia. Why did Stalin purge the very men—Yagoda, Yezhov, Berman—who built the Gulag system? How did the failure of forced industrialization lead to a search for scapegoats? And why were the death rates in the camps actually higher during the famine of 1932-33 and the war years than during the height of the political terror?Plus: A huge announcement for A-Level and IB History students! Nick unveils the dates for our upcoming live masterclasses on Russia, America, China, and Germany. Listen to the end for details on how to book your spot.Key Topics:The Great Terror: Why 1937-38 marked a watershed moment for the camps.Quotas of Death: How the NKVD assigned arrest targets to regions like production goals.The Purge of the Purgers: The downfall of the Gulag's founders.Clientelism and Paranoia: Why Stalin feared networks of loyalty within the Soviet bureaucracy.Books Mentioned:Gulag: A History by Anne ApplebaumEveryday Stalinism by Sheila FitzpatrickExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In the first episode of 2026, Nick embarks on a year-long exploration of Eric Hobsbawm's monumental work, The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914–1991.We begin by examining Hobsbawm's premise: that the 20th century was defined by a binary struggle between ideologies that mutually excluded one another—capitalism vs. communism, democracy vs. fascism. But as Nick argues, this Western-centric view often simplifies the complex realities of national liberation struggles in China, Vietnam, and the Global South.The episode also delves into one of the most pressing issues for modern historians: "historical amnesia." Why, despite living in an age of information saturation, do we feel increasingly disconnected from the past? Drawing on Tony Judt and Hobsbawm, we explore how the breakdown of intergenerational storytelling and the allure of the "endless now" have created a society adrift in a permanent present.Plus: Important announcements about our upcoming live masterclasses for history students launching later this month!Key Topics:The Short 20th Century: Hobsbawm's definition of the era from 1914 to 1991.Historical Amnesia: Why the destruction of social memory is the eerie hallmark of the late 20th century.The Problem of Judgment: Why understanding the context of atrocities like the Holocaust does not mean forgiving them.The Binary Trap: Moving beyond the simple "Good vs. Evil" narrative of the Cold War.Books Mentioned:The Age of Extremes by Eric HobsbawmPostwar by Tony JudtExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the neglected connection between economic austerity and political repression in the early years of Fascist Italy.Drawing on the groundbreaking work of economist Clara Mattei, we delve into how Mussolini's regime used budget cuts, regressive taxation, and mass layoffs not just to balance the books, but to crush the Italian working class. We examine the "Two Red Years" (Biennio Rosso) that terrified the bourgeoisie and how Fascism was welcomed by liberal elites as a necessary tool to restore order and protect private capital.From the hiking of third-class rail fares to the slashing of veteran benefits, we unpack how economic policy was weaponized to reverse the democratic gains of the post-WWI era. Was austerity the true engine of the Fascist counter-revolution?Key Topics:Austerity as Repression: How economic policy was used to discipline the working class.The Liberal-Fascist Alliance: Why mainstream economists supported Mussolini.The Biennio Rosso: The socialist uprising that terrified Italy's elites.The Motto "Nothing for Nothing": De Stefani's ruthless approach to public spending.Resources:"Austerity and Repressive Politics: Italian Economists and the Early Years of the Fascist Government" by Clara Mattei (Institute of Economics, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of 1960s radicalism, focusing on the disconnect between the student-led "New Left" and the American working class.While the counterculture is often remembered through images of campus protests and the SDS, the reality was far more complex. Drawing on Kim McQuaid's The Anxious Years and Mike Davis's Set the Night on Fire, we examine why the anti-war movement struggled to build bridges with blue-collar workers who were enjoying unprecedented prosperity.From the "hard hat riots" to the collapse of the Old Left after Khrushchev's secret speech, we delve into the ideological vacuum that student radicals tried—and largely failed—to fill. Why did the New Left view unions as "traitors to their class"? And how did the affluent origins of the student movement alienate the very people they hoped to liberate?Plus: Important announcements about our upcoming live masterclasses for history students in early 2026!Key Topics:The Ivory Tower: Why the New Left remained isolated on university campuses.The Hard Hat Riots: The clash between student radicals and pro-Nixon construction workers.The Collapse of the Old Left: How 1956 and 1968 destroyed faith in Soviet communism.Affluence vs. Revolution: Why prosperity dampened the revolutionary zeal of the American working class.Books Mentioned:The Anxious Years by Kim McQuaidSet the Night on Fire by Mike Davis and Jon WienerOne-Dimensional Man by Herbert MarcuseExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores how nostalgia has become a toxic force in British politics. Drawing on Liam Stanley's Britain Alone, we examine how the "Blitz Spirit" and memories of WWII rationing have been cynically weaponized to justify modern austerity.Why do politicians suggest that food insecure families should "learn lessons from the wartime generation"? We unpack the myth that poverty is a moral failing rather than a structural one, and how the "Make Do and Mend" narrative is used to gaslight a population suffering from 15 years of cuts. From the "creative destruction" of the high street to the privatization of the public realm, Nick argues that the longing for a golden age is a symptom of a society in deep crisis.Plus: Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming live masterclasses for history students launching in January!Key Topics:Toxic Nostalgia: How the memory of WWII is used to enforce social compliance.The Myth of the Blitz: Challenging the idea of universal wartime solidarity.Austerity as Morality Play: The narrative of "strivers vs. skivers."State Intervention: How wartime rationing was actually a form of social protection, unlike modern food banks.Books Mentioned:Britain Alone by Liam StanleyThe People's War by Angus CalderThe Myth of the Blitz by Angus CalderExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years after the death of David Bowie, Nick is joined by author Alexander Larman to discuss his new biography, Lazarus: David Bowie from the Tin Machine to Blackstar.While the 1970s "Ziggy Stardust" era has been endlessly dissected, Larman shines a light on the often-overlooked second half of Bowie's career. From the artistic wilderness of the late 80s and the critical mauling of Tin Machine to his renaissance in the 90s and the "masterpiece" of his final album Blackstar, we explore the man behind the myths.Was Bowie a chameleon, a charlatan, or a genius trying to rediscover his voice? We discuss his flirtation with fascism, his "performative" interviews, and why, despite decades of reinvention, the Thin White Duke remains one of the most unknowable figures in cultural history.Key Topics:The Wilderness Years: Why Bowie lost his way in the 80s and how he found it again.Performance as Identity: Was Bowie ever "himself," or was every interview just another character?Blackstar: Reassessing Bowie's final album as a meditation on mortality in a godless universe.The Bowie Archive: What the newly opened V&A East archive reveals about his creative process.Books Mentioned:Lazarus: David Bowie from the Tin Machine to Blackstar by Alexander LarmanExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In the third part of our 2025 Year in Review, Nick shifts the focus to Asia, exploring the dramatic realignment of US-India relations under Donald Trump's second term.For decades, Washington viewed India as a "natural strategic partner"—a democratic counterweight to China, showered with military aid and technology transfers. But in 2025, that special relationship has collapsed. Drawing on a fascinating analysis by Chinese foreign policy expert Mao Keji, we delve into why Trump has relegated India from "favorite child" to "strategic discard."Is this just Trumpian transactionalism, or a symptom of deeper American anxiety over its own decline? From the impact of tariffs to India's refusal to abandon Russian energy, we examine how the US search for loyal "blood bags" to prop up its hegemony is alienating the very allies it needs most.Plus: Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming live masterclasses for history students launching in January!Key Topics:The Shift: From "Strategic Altruism" to transactional coercion.The Tariff War: How Trump's protectionism hit India harder than almost anyone else.Russian Energy: Why India's refusal to sanction Moscow broke the partnership.The Anxiety of Decline: How American weakness is driving a more aggressive, less strategic foreign policy.Resources:"Favorite Child to Abandoned Pawn" by Mao Keji (Beijing Cultural Review)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the rise of the "Consumer's Republic" in post-war America. We examine how the dream of the suburban idyll—white picket fences, gleaming appliances, and mass car ownership—became a central pillar of US identity and stability.Drawing on Lizabeth Cohen's A Consumer's Republic, we delve into how corporate and political elites consciously steered American citizens away from collectivist politics and towards a highly individualized "politics of consumption." Nick discusses how suburbia was not just a place to live, but a tool for managing the economy, creating a new "mass middle class" out of the industrial working class.But beneath the surface of this "happy-go-spending world," there were darker currents: racial exclusion, environmental costs, and the fragility of an economic model built on endless growth. Was the golden age of suburbia a unique historical accident? And what happens when the dream of upward mobility begins to fade?Key Topics:The Consumer's Republic: How consumption became a civic duty.Suburbia as Utopia: The role of magazines like Redbook in selling the suburban dream.Mass Home Ownership: How government-backed mortgages created a nation of property owners.The Politics of Prosperity: How affluence was used to defuse class conflict.Books Mentioned:A Consumer's Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America by Lizabeth CohenGrand Expectations by James T. PattersonExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores how different nations remember the Second World War, focusing on the stark contrast between American triumphalism and European melancholy.Drawing on Keith Lowe's brilliant book Prisoners of History, we delve into the cultural psychology behind monuments like the Iwo Jima Memorial. Why does America view its soldiers as "freedom warriors" and saints, while Europe often builds monuments to victims? We unpack the concept of "The Greatest Generation" and ask whether this mythology obscures the darker realities of the Pacific War.Nick also reflects on the "secular religion" of remembrance in Britain, the politicization of the poppy, and how the far-right has co-opted the memory of the war for modern nativist agendas. From the Blitz to Pearl Harbor, this episode examines how nations tell stories about themselves through stone and bronze.Plus: Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming live masterclasses for history students in early 2026!Key Topics:The Cult of Remembrance: How the poppy became politicized in 21st-century Britain.American Mythology: Why the US views WWII through a lens of heroism rather than trauma.Iwo Jima: The story behind the iconic photograph and the monument that immortalizes it.Monuments as Identity: How statues shape national narratives of victimhood and victory.Books Mentioned:Prisoners of History by Keith LoweThe Second World War by Antony Beevor (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the emergence of the "New Left" in 1960s America—a movement born from the failure of Cold War liberalism to deliver on its promises.Drawing on Kim McQuaid's The Anxious Years, we delve into the deep disillusionment that fuelled student radicalism. Why did young activists view "vital centre" liberals like JFK and LBJ not as allies, but as "closet right-wingers" trapped in an imperialist mindset? We examine the "bipartisan banality" of the era, where fear of being labelled "soft on communism" drove Democrats to escalate wars in Vietnam and Cuba, often with more ferocity than their Republican counterparts.From the devastating psychological blow of the Tet Offensive to the collapse of trust in the "foreign policy establishment," we uncover why 1968 became the year the liberal consensus shattered.Plus: Big announcements about our upcoming live masterclasses for history students in January and February 2026!Key Topics:The New Left: How the SDS and student radicals challenged the "Old Left" and the liberal establishment.Cold War Liberalism: Why Democrats felt compelled to "out-hawk" the Republicans.The Credibility Gap: How the Tet Offensive exposed the lies of the war managers.The "Deep State": The origins of the term and the critique of an unelected power elite.Books Mentioned:The Anxious Years: America in the Vietnam-Watergate Era by Kim McQuaidThe Great Fear by David CauteExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is 2025 the year the European project finally hit the wall? In this episode, we argue that 2025 serves as a massive historical inflection point—comparable to 1933, 1968, or 1989—marking the definitive end of the post-Cold War era.We explore the "perfect storm" battering the continent: the return of Donald Trump and the removal of the American security umbrella, the accelerating de-industrialization of Germany, and the demographic cliff-edge that makes mass migration an economic necessity despite the violent rise of the far-right. From the strategic failures of centrists like Macron and Starmer to the paralyzing energy crisis, we ask the hard question: Is Europe facing its own "Century of Humiliation"?Key Topics:Why the "End of History" (1989-2025) is officially over.The impact of the US National Security Strategy on European industry.The Centrist Trap: Why copying far-right rhetoric is failing.The Demographic Crisis: Replacement rates vs. political reality.The collapse of the German car industry and the China dilemma.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of post-war American affluence. We often think of the 1950s as a golden age of middle-class expansion, where the old divisions of wealth and status melted away under a wave of chrome-plated cars and suburban lawns. But was this "classless society" a reality or a comforting myth?Drawing again from James Patterson's Grand Expectations, we delve into the changing nature of work and the rise of the white-collar economy. We examine how unions secured unprecedented benefits like health insurance and paid vacations, creating a unique moment where a steelworker could live a life of bourgeois comfort. Yet, beneath the surface, manual labour remained the backbone of the economy, and inequality persisted. Why did the US labour movement abandon the fight for universal healthcare in favour of employer-based benefits? And how did this decision shape the fragmented social safety net we see today?Key Topics:The Myth of the Classless Society: How affluence disguised, but didn't erase, social stratification.The Rise of Fringe Benefits: Why unions prioritized employer-based healthcare over state provision.Blue Collar vs. White Collar: The shifting demographics of the American workforce.The End of an Era: How financialization and offshoring eventually hollowed out the working-class dream.Books Mentioned:Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974 by James T. PattersonSet the Night on Fire by Mike Davis and Jon WienerThink and Grow Rich by Napoleon HillExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the end of another year, Nick takes a moment to step back from the history books and reflect on the Explaining History podcast itself. What started 13 years ago as a "flipped classroom" experiment by a history teacher in Wales has grown into a global community.In this candid episode, Nick discusses his philosophy of history—why he rejects the "history as entertainment" model and the simplistic "Great Man" theories often peddled by TV documentaries. Instead, he argues for a structural understanding of the past, one that focuses on economics, demographics, and the lived experiences of ordinary people.From the horrors of the Holocaust to the complexities of post-war American abundance, Nick explores why we must never reduce human suffering to mere content. He also shares his personal gratitude to the listeners, authors, and friends—like Alvaro, Mehdi, and Michael—who have helped build this platform into what it is today.Key Topics:The Origins of the Podcast: From classroom tool to global platform.History vs. Entertainment: The moral responsibility of the historian.Structural History: Why "Great Men" don't shape events as much as economics do.Community: A vote of thanks to the listeners and contributors who make it all possible.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1908, the Ottoman Empire was on the brink of collapse. The despotism of Sultan Abdul Hamid II had stifled political life for decades, but a military uprising in Macedonia would soon change everything.In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores one of the great forgotten revolutions of the 20th century: the Young Turk Revolution. Drawing on Eugene Rogan's masterful book The Fall of the Ottomans, we delve into how the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) forced the Sultan to restore the constitution, sparking scenes of jubilation across the empire where Turks, Arabs, and Armenians briefly united as "Ottomans."But why did this moment of hope turn to disillusionment? Why did the revolutionaries leave the Sultan on the throne? And how did the failure to address deep social and economic crises pave the way for the brutal nationalism that would define the empire's final years?Key Topics:The 1908 Revolution: How junior officers forced the Sultan's hand.The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP): The secret society that seized power.Constitutional euphoria: The brief moment of multi-ethnic unity.The limits of political revolution: Why changing the constitution wasn't enough to save the empire.Books Mentioned:The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene RoganThe Balfour Declaration by Jonathan SchneerExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:As 2025 draws to a close, Nick reflects on a pivotal year in global history. From the economic shockwaves of the Trump tariffs to the accelerating shift of power back to Asia, this episode argues that we are witnessing the terminal decline of the Anglo-American world order.We explore the existential threat of "de-dollarization"—a process accelerated not just by Trump, but by the weaponization of the financial system under Biden. Nick also examines the hollowing out of the British state, now a vassal to American private equity, and the dangerous geopolitical flashpoints emerging in Venezuela. Is the AI bubble about to burst? Will the 2026 midterms offer a reprieve for democracy, or are we locked into a cycle of crisis?Key Topics:The Trump Tariffs: How protectionism is biting the American consumer.De-Dollarization: Why the end of the dollar as the reserve currency is an existential threat to US power.The AI Bubble: Will artificial intelligence save the economy or concentrate wealth even further?Britain as Vassal State: The colonization of the UK economy by American private equity.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the unprecedented explosion of wealth and consumption in post-war America. We often focus on the economic decline of the middle class in recent decades, but today we look back at the era of mass abundance that preceded it.Drawing on James Patterson's Grand Expectations, we delve into the cultural and economic forces that transformed a nation scarred by the Depression into a land of "gleaming kitchen conveniences" and tail-finned cars. From the futuristic designs of General Motors to the utopian promises of the atomic age, we examine how prosperity reshaped the American psyche. But beneath the chrome and the optimism lay a new kind of anxiety—one medicated by a booming pharmaceutical industry and shadowed by the fear that this golden age might be unrepeatable.Plus: Stay tuned for an update on our upcoming live masterclass on Stalinist Russia for students!Key Topics:The Post-War Boom: Why America was uniquely positioned to prosper after 1945.Car Culture: How the automobile became the ultimate symbol of freedom and status.Atomic Optimism: The belief that science could solve everything, from weather control to disease.The Anxiety of Affluence: The rise of tranquilizers and the darker side of the American Dream.Books Mentioned:Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974 by James T. PattersonThe Culture Industry by Theodor AdornoSilent Spring by Rachel CarsonExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the murky relationship between British intelligence, the Labour government, and the "gentleman capitalists" of the post-war era.Why was Harold Wilson, the most electorally successful British Prime Minister of the 20th century, targeted by paranoid elements within MI5 as a potential Soviet spy? We delve into Wilson's time at the Board of Trade in the late 1940s, where he forged controversial deals with the Soviet Union to secure timber for Britain's reconstruction.From the rise of corrupt tycoons like Robert Maxwell (who began as an intelligence officer in occupied Germany) to the class war between the "modernizing" Labour government and the "grouse moor" establishment, this episode uncovers the seeds of the plot to overthrow Wilson in the 1960s. It's a story of Cold War intrigue, antisemitism within the British elite, and the clash between a new technological Britain and the old school tie.Key Topics:The Plot Against Wilson: Why MI5 officers like Peter Wright suspected the PM was a KGB agent.The Timber Deals: How Wilson negotiated with Stalin's deputies to rebuild Britain.Robert Maxwell: The origins of a media mogul in the intelligence world of post-war Berlin.Class Conflict: The "Chapocracy" vs. Wilson's white heat of technology.Books Mentioned:Smear! Wilson and the Secret State by Stephen Dorril and Robin RamsayThinking the Twentieth Century by Tony JudtSpycatcher by Peter WrightExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we close out 2025, Nick takes stock of the first year of Donald Trump's second term. While some liberal commentators hold out hope that the upcoming 2026 midterms will curb his power, Nick argues that the real conflict isn't between Left and Right, but between two factions of capital: the liberal-democratic establishment and the nativist, protectionist forces embodied by Trump.We explore the failure of the Democratic Party to offer a meaningful alternative to neoliberalism, the rise of "America First" as a tool for personal enrichment, and the alarming normalization of far-right rhetoric in Europe. From the hollowing out of the British state to the potential end of the globalized order, this episode asks: If Trumpism is a symptom of a broken economic system, what happens when the opposition refuses to fix it?Key Topics:The Schism of Capital: Liberal globalism vs. conservative protectionism.The 2026 Midterms: Will a Democratic victory save democracy or just delay the inevitable?The Failure of Centrism: Why Hillary Clinton and Keir Starmer failed to stop the drift to the right.Trump as CEO: Viewing the presidency as a mechanism for personal wealth extraction.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into the critical years of 1928-1929, exploring the mindset of the Soviet leadership on the eve of the Great Famine. Drawing from Robert Conquest's seminal work The Harvest of Sorrow, we examine how Stalin's paranoia and Marxist-Leninist ideology filtered his understanding of the peasantry.Why did the Bolsheviks view grain reserves as evidence of a "Kulak war" against the state? How did faulty statistics and a fundamental misunderstanding of village life lead to catastrophic policy decisions? We unpack the tragic logic of collectivization—a "second revolution" that was essentially a continuation of the Civil War by other means.Plus: A special announcement for history students studying the Russian Revolution and Stalinism—don't miss details about our upcoming live masterclass in January!Key Topics:The Grain Procurement Crisis: Why grain exports ceased by 1928.The Myth of the Kulak: How hedging against famine was misinterpreted as capitalist speculation.Statistical Failure: How bad data fueled bad policy.The Second Revolution: Stalin's view of collectivization as a class war.Books Mentioned:The Harvest of Sorrow by Robert ConquestEveryday Stalinism by Sheila FitzpatrickFor the complete recordings on AQA Russia Revolution and Dictatorship see the links below: https://explaininghistory.org/2025/02/19/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-15/https://explaininghistory.org/2025/01/29/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-14/https://explaininghistory.org/2025/01/23/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-13/https://explaininghistory.org/2024/12/18/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-12/AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 11AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 Part TenAQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 9AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 8AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 7AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 6https://explaininghistory.org/2024/10/23/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-5/AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 4AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 3Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick moves beyond the familiar trenches of the Western Front to explore the terrifying reality of the Eastern Front in 1914. Drawing from Alexander Watson's masterful book Ring of Steel, we examine how the German and Austro-Hungarian empires experienced the outbreak of World War I not just as a military conflict, but as a fight for survival against a "despotic" Russian invader.We delve into the panic that gripped the border city of Allenstein (now Olsztyn, Poland) as Tsarist troops advanced, bringing with them rumors of Cossack atrocities and a "jarringly modern ambition" to racially remap the region. Why was the fear of Russian invasion so potent in the German psyche? And how did these early experiences of occupation and ethnic cleansing shape the brutal politics of the interwar period and the rise of Nazism?Plus: Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on Russian History for A-Level students!Key Topics:The Russian Steamroller: The massive Tsarist offensives into East Prussia and Galicia.Civilian Panic: The refugee crisis and the psychological trauma of invasion.Ethnic Cleansing in 1914: How Russian plans for "racial unity" foreshadowed the horrors of WWII.The Siege of Allenstein: A case study of a German city on the brink of occupation.Books Mentioned:Ring of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914–1918 by Alexander WatsonYou can read the full article at www.explaininghistory.orgExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick revisits Nikolaus Wachsmann's monumental study, KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps.We explore a critical and often misunderstood aspect of the Holocaust: the relationship between the Concentration Camps (KL) and the extermination camps of the East. Why were Jews initially marginalized within the KL system? How did the failure of the war against the Soviet Union in 1941 shift Nazi policy from the exploitation of Soviet POWs to the mass enslavement and murder of Jews?We delve into the infamous Wannsee Conference, decoding the euphemisms of "resettlement" and "natural wastage," and examine how chaotic decision-making at the top of the Nazi hierarchy led to the transformation of Auschwitz-Birkenau into an industrial center of death.Plus: Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism for students.Key Topics:The KL vs. Death Camps: Understanding the distinction between camps like Dachau and extermination centers like Treblinka.The Wannsee Conference: How bureaucrats planned genocide over lunch.Annihilation Through Labour: The shift from Soviet POWs to Jewish slave labour.The Transformation of Auschwitz: How Birkenau became the primary site for the "Final Solution."Books Mentioned:KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps by Nikolaus WachsmannThe Third Reich at War by Richard J. EvansBloodlands by Timothy SnyderExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into the harrowing yet complex world of child labour during the British Industrial Revolution. Moving beyond the Dickensian caricatures of helpless victims, we explore Emma Griffin's groundbreaking book, Liberty's Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution.Through the voices of those who lived it—captured in hundreds of working-class autobiographies—we uncover the brutal reality of 13-hour shifts in cotton mills and lonely vigils in sheep pastures. But we also find stories of agency, survival, and the nuanced family decisions that sent children as young as six into the workforce. Why did some destitute families hold their children back from work until age 10? And how did access to apprenticeships divide the working class into the "skilled" and the "unskilled"?Plus: Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on Russian History for students!Key Topics:The "White Slaves of England": How reformers and novelists shaped our view of child labour.The Age of Work: Analyzing data from 350 autobiographies to find the average starting age of a child worker.Agency vs. Victimhood: Why we must view historical subjects as complex human beings, not just statistics.The Skilled Divide: How apprenticeships offered a lifeline out of poverty.Books Mentioned:Liberty's Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution by Emma GriffinOliver Twist & David Copperfield by Charles DickensThe Water-Babies by Charles KingsleyExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1840, a monk disappeared in Damascus, and the ancient, deadly accusation of "blood libel" was levelled against the city's Jewish community. This event, known as the Damascus Affair, became a pivotal moment in 19th-century Jewish history, sending shockwaves from the Ottoman Empire to the capitals of Europe.In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of Jonathan Frankel's Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews. We examine how this crisis mobilized Western Jewish leaders like Moses Montefiore and Adolphe Crémieux, who launched an unprecedented international campaign for justice. But this wasn't just a story of Jewish solidarity; it was deeply entangled with the imperial ambitions of Britain and France. Why did Lord Palmerston advocate for Jewish restoration to Palestine decades before Herzl? And how did the liberal ideals of the French Revolution clash with the realpolitik of the Ottoman East?Key Topics:The Damascus Affair: The origins of the crisis and the torture of Jewish community leaders.The Liberal Response: How Western Jews used the press and public opinion to fight for their brethren.Imperial Meddling: Lord Palmerston, the Rothschilds, and the geopolitical chess game in the Middle East.Proto-Zionism: The early stirrings of the idea that Jewish safety might lie in a return to Palestine.Books Mentioned:Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews by Jonathan FrankelThe Damascus Affair by Jonathan Frankel (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick analyzes the newly published 2025 US National Security Strategy, a document that could be considered a foundational text for the global far-right.We explore how this strategy, with its language of "civilizational erasure" and "European greatness," mirrors the rhetoric of leaders like Viktor Orban and the conspiracy theories of the "Great Replacement." Nick argues that this is not just ideology; it is a manifesto for American interference in European elections, designed to undermine social democracy and pave the way for deregulation favorable to US capital.From the demonization of migration to the cynical normalization of Russia, we unpack how the Trump administration is attempting to reshape Europe in its own image—and why the economic weakness of the continent leaves it vulnerable to this new, aggressive Monroe Doctrine.Key Topics:The 2025 Strategy: A blueprint for far-right interventionism.Civilizational Rhetoric: How "Great Replacement" theory has entered US policy.Economic Imperialism: The drive to deregulate Europe for American corporations.The Future of NATO: Why the US is pivoting towards "patriotic" (i.e., far-right) allies.References:Cas Mudde's analysis in The GuardianOswald Spengler's The Decline of the WestRenaud Camus' The Great ReplacementExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In the second part of our exploration into the Stalin-Tito split, Nick delves into the dramatic climax of 1948: the expulsion of Yugoslavia from the Cominform.Stalin famously boasted, "I will shake my little finger, and there will be no more Tito." But as history shows, he couldn't have been more wrong. We examine how Tito's audacious foreign policy—from supporting Greek communists to proposing a Balkan Federation—terrified Moscow. We also look at the brutal internal purges that followed, as "Titoism" became the new "Trotskyism," a label used to hunt down heretics across the Eastern Bloc.From spy scandals to the grim reality of the Goli Otok prison camp, this episode reveals the high stakes of defying the Kremlin.Plus: Stay tuned for more details on our upcoming live masterclass on Stalinist Russia for A-Level students!Key Topics:The Bled Agreement: Tito's plan for a Balkan Federation.The Cominform Expulsion: How Stalin tried (and failed) to crush Yugoslav independence.Titoism as Heresy: The purges of "Titoist" elements across Eastern Europe.Goli Otok: The brutal camp where pro-Soviet communists were imprisoned.Books Mentioned:Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century – And After by R.J. CramptonKGB: The Inside Story by Christopher Andrew and Oleg Gordievsky (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick takes a deep dive into the history and necessity of taxation, connecting the Tudor reign of Henry VII to the modern crisis of inequality in the UK.With the Green Party surging past Labour in recent polls by promising to "tax the rich," we explore why this idea is about more than just funding public services—it's about democracy itself. Nick draws a parallel between the "overmighty nobles" of the 15th century, whose private armies threatened the crown, and today's billionaires, whose vast wealth allows them to purchase political influence and bypass democratic norms.From the dismantling of the post-war social democratic consensus to the devastating impact of austerity (or "de-development") on British society, we ask: Can a society survive when capital has captured the state?Key Topics:The Green Surge: Zack Polanski and the political shift to the left.Henry VII's Strategy: How taxing the nobility prevented civil war and consolidated power.Rentier Capitalism: Why "lazy money" prefers property to innovation.Austerity as De-development: The stealth privatization of British life.The Threat to Democracy: How extreme wealth inequality destabilizes nations.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores one of the most critical schisms in Cold War history: the rupture between Joseph Stalin and Josip Broz Tito. While the Sino-Soviet split often grabs the headlines, the breakdown in relations between the USSR and Yugoslavia in 1948 was the first major crack in the monolithic facade of international communism.We delve into why Tito, a leader who seized power largely without the help of the Red Army, posed such a unique threat to Stalin's worldview. From the economic exploitation of Yugoslav resources to the cultural arrogance of Soviet officials (who charged exorbitant fees for mediocre propaganda films while questioning Yugoslav culture), we uncover the petty grievances and deep ideological rifts that led to Yugoslavia's expulsion from the Cominform.Plus: Stick around until the end for an exclusive announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on Stalinist Russia for students!Key Topics:The Roots of the Split: Why Tito's independence terrified Stalin.Economic Imperialism: How the USSR tried to exploit Yugoslavia's resources.Cultural Dominance: The clash between Soviet arrogance and Yugoslav pride.The Assassination Plot: How Stalin planned to kill the "heretic" Tito.Books Mentioned:Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century – And After by R.J. CramptonFor the full story visit us at Explaining HistoryExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into Jonathan Frankel's seminal work, Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews. We explore how moments of acute crisis—from the Damascus Affair of 1840 to the pogroms of 1881—shaped the political and intellectual life of Jewish communities in the Russian Empire.How did a diaspora community, scattered across Europe and lacking a sovereign state, respond to existential threats? We examine the triadic conflict between traditionalism, liberal assimilation, and the rising tide of Jewish nationalism (Zionism) and socialism. Nick also reflects on the modern parallels of diaspora identity, the tension between integration and distinctiveness, and how persecution acts as a catalyst for political transformation.Key Topics:The Politics of Crisis: How external threats like the Damascus Affair mobilized Jewish solidarity across borders.Assimilation vs. Autonomy: The 19th-century debate between becoming "Russian" or "German" versus maintaining a distinct Jewish identity.The Turning Point of 1881: How the pogroms following the assassination of Alexander II shattered the dreams of integration and fueled the rise of Zionism and the Bund.Primo Levi & Identity: A reflection on how persecution forces identity upon individuals, regardless of their assimilation.Books Mentioned:Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews by Jonathan FrankelImagined Communities by Benedict AndersonIf This Is a Man by Primo LeviExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into the institutional failures of the Imperial Russian Army in the critical decade before World War I. Drawing from the essay collection Reforming the Tsar's Army, we explore how the disastrous defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905 shook the foundations of Tsarist power.We examine the struggle between military modernizers like General N.P. Mikhnevich, who sought to adapt to the new realities of machine guns and trenches, and traditionalists who clung to the Napoleonic dictum of "bayonets before bullets." Why did the Russian General Staff fail to develop a coherent doctrine for modern warfare? And how did this structural incompetence pave the way for the catastrophes of 1914?Key Topics:The Shock of 1905: How defeat by Japan exposed the rot in the Tsarist military.The General Staff Debate: The clash between modernizers and the old guard over the role of staff officers.Mikhnevich's Survey: A rare moment of candor where officers admitted their training was "thoroughly inadequate."Structural Incompetence: Why individual bravery couldn't overcome a failure to understand modern industrial warfare.Books Mentioned:Reforming the Tsar's Army: Military Innovation in Imperial Russia from Peter the Great to the Revolution edited by David Schimmelpenninck van der Oye and Bruce W. Menning.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick returns to Philip Knightley's seminal work, The First Casualty, to examine how British and American journalists covered the Vietnam War. While American reporters were often "embedded" and compromised by military PR, British correspondents like John Pilger offered a searing, independent critique of the conflict.We explore the endemic corruption of Saigon—a city described as a "vast brothel" of black marketeering—and the staggering scale of theft from the US military. But beyond the graft, we delve into the darker psychological toll of the war: how racism was weaponized to motivate GIs, turning patriotism into a license for atrocity. Why did so many reporters lose their compassion? And how did the dehumanization of the Vietnamese people set a template for modern conflicts?Key Topics:The British Perspective: How correspondents like John Pilger broke the mold of war reporting.Saigon's Black Market: The multi-billion dollar theft of US supplies and weapons.Racism as Strategy: How "dehumanizing the enemy" became official policy.The Hero Myth: The clash between "macho" war reporting and the reality of civilian slaughter.Books Mentioned:The First Casualty by Philip KnightleyHeroes by John PilgerHidden Agendas by John PilgerExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2025, Venezuela is once again in the crosshairs of US foreign policy, facing the threat of military intervention and heightened sanctions from a new Trump administration. But to understand the resilience of the Venezuelan people today, we must look back to a pivotal moment in their history that is often overlooked: the "Trienio" of 1945-1948.In this episode, Nick explores the dramatic coup of October 1945, led by young officers like Carlos Delgado Chalbaud and the democratic party Acción Democrática. We delve into how a military uprising transformed into a radical experiment in social democracy—quadrupling budgets for health and housing, eradicating malaria, and enfranchising the illiterate and women for the first time. Drawing on Keith Lowe's The Fear and the Freedom, we ask: Why did this democratic spring terrify the elites? And how does the memory of this revolution continue to shape Venezuelan resistance to US imperialism today?Key Topics:The 1945 Coup: How junior officers and democrats toppled a dictatorship.The Trienio (1945-48): A brief golden age of literacy, health, and worker power.Oil and Sovereignty: The radical decision to split oil profits 50/50, setting a global precedent.Class War: Why the middle classes and traditional elites revolted against the "government of espadrille-wearing peasants."Modern Parallels: US interventionism from 1945 to the Trump doctrine of 2025.Books Mentioned:The Fear and the Freedom by Keith LoweWar is a Racket by Smedley ButlerThe Spanish Holocaust by Paul PrestonExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick takes a hard look at the state of the British Left in late 2025. With the Starmer government firmly entrenched in "continuity Thatcherism," the opposition has splintered. We analyze the chaotic founding conference of the new left-wing coalition, "Your Party," led by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.From walkouts and factional disputes to the return of the "spectre of entryism" by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), we explore why the Left seems addicted to infighting at the moments it is needed most. Is the new Green Party under Zack Polanski the only viable home for progressives, or can the new Independent alliance survive its own birth?Key Topics:The Post-2024 Landscape: How Labour abandoned the Left.The "Your Party" Crisis: Inside the chaotic first conference and Zarah Sultana's walkout.The Return of Entryism: How the SWP and open membership could kill the new party.Green Shoots: The rise of Zack Polanski's Green Party as a serious socialist alternativeExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Explaining History, we sit down with author Maggie Ritchie to discuss her latest novel, White Raven. We explore the remarkable true story of Moira Beattie, a Glasgow art student recruited into the heart of Bletchley Park at just 18 years old. Maggie reveals how a chance encounter with the elderly artist unveiled a secret life of wartime codebreaking and a romance with a Russian intelligence officer.We also move beyond 1945 to shine a light on a forgotten chapter of British intelligence: the Joint Services School for Linguists (JSSL) at Crail, Scotland. Discover the "Bletchley of the Cold War," where National Service conscripts were trained in Russian to fight an ideological war, and explore the complex motivations that led some Britons to become agents for the Soviet Union.Key Topics:The Hidden Bletchley: Life, class, and romance in the codebreaking huts.Moira Beattie: The artist who broke German ciphers.JSSL Crail: The secret language school on the Scottish coast.Cold War Moral Ambiguity: Why patriots turned spy in the 1950s.Books Mentioned:White Raven by Maggie Ritchie (Scotland Street Press)For the full article and transcript visit the Explaining History website hereExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the era of Western global dominance coming to an end? This episode explores the profound decline of Western, and particularly American, "hard" and "soft" power on the world stage.We begin by contrasting two pivotal moments in history: Lord Palmerston's 19th-century Britain, which could blockade a nation over the dubious claims of a single subject, and the modern United States, a superpower unable to prevent a small city-state like Singapore from punishing one of its citizens. This shift illustrates a fundamental redistribution of global power.Join us as we delve into the deep-seated causes of this decline, arguing that it stems not from external threats, but from internal choices. We examine how the creed of neoliberalism has led to de-industrialization, austerity, and the "de-development" of Western nations, hollowing out the very economic foundations of their global strength. We also analyze how the presidency of Donald Trump, with its rejection of liberal internationalism, has acted as both a symptom and a powerful accelerant of this trend, shredding America's soft power and leaving a void on the world stage.In an increasingly multipolar world where rising powers like China and Brazil are forging new alliances, what does the future hold? Is the American-led liberal order gone for good? Listen in for a critical analysis of the end of an era.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Restraint to Ruin - The Birth of the Bombing WarAt the dawn of World War II in 1939, a fragile consensus existed among the warring powers. Spurred by an appeal from President Roosevelt, leaders like Neville Chamberlain and even Hitler gave public undertakings to abstain from the horror of aerial attacks on civilians. There was a genuine, if naïve, belief that the looming conflict could be "humanised," and that the bomber would be restricted to purely military targets.But how did this initial restraint crumble into the devastating strategic bombing campaigns that would define the war? In this episode, we delve into Richard Overy's "The Bombing War" to explore the complex factors that shaped Britain's approach to aerial warfare in the crucial early years of 1939-1942.Join us as we uncover the story of a nation caught between its self-image as a "civilised" power and the brutal necessities of total war. We'll examine why RAF Bomber Command was initially held back, not just by political and legal niceties, but by its own operational unreadiness. Discover how the unique, independent institutional culture of Bomber Command—a force designed solely to attack—fostered a doctrine that would eventually target the enemy's home front, leading to the destruction of cities like Hamburg, Cologne, and Dresden under the infamous command of Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris.If you liked this episode, listen to: https://shows.acast.com/explaininghistory/episodes/the-politics-of-rearmament-in-britain-1936Go Deeper: Visit our website at www.explaininghistory.org for articles and detailed explorations of the topics discussed.▸ Join the Conversation: Our community of history enthusiasts discusses episodes, shares ideas, and continues the conversation. Find us on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast/Substack: https://theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com/▸ Support the Podcast: Explaining History is a listener-supported production. Your contribution helps us cover the costs of research and keep these conversations going. You can support the show and get access to exclusive content by becoming a patron.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/explaininghistoryExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explaining History Podcast: 2025 in Review - The Year the Tech War Was LostAs 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a pivotal year that historians may one day see as the moment the world changed forever. This episode delves into the most significant geopolitical shift of our time: the American retreat from its tech and trade war with China, and the quiet acknowledgment that the battle has been lost.Join us as we analyze the key indicators of this tipping point, from tech oligarch Peter Thiel losing confidence in America's top chip manufacturer to the startling revelation that the vast majority of new tech startups are now built on Chinese, not American, artificial intelligence models.We explore the deep-seated historical and economic reasons behind this shift, arguing that the West has been hamstrung for decades by its unwavering faith in neoliberalism. This ideology has de-industrialized and hollowed out Western societies, leading to rampant inequality, austerity, and social decay. In contrast, we examine "neoliberalism with Chinese characteristics"—a model where the state harnesses market forces for national missions, like dominating chip fabrication, without ever ceding ultimate control to a capitalist class.Finally, we look to the future, speculating on the consequences of this new reality: a diminished American empire, the potential fracturing of its global influence, and a world grappling with the end of the American century. What happens to a society that has offshored its industries and strip-mined its own state? Listen in for a thought-provoking analysis of where we are, how we got here, and what might come next.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.