Podcast appearances and mentions of neal ascherson

Campaigning journalist Claud Cockburn – defiantly anti-establishment and proudly Communist – had as his watchword ‘believe nothing until it is officially denied', a saying borrowed by his son Patrick, himself a legendary foreign correspondent, for his biography of his maverick father. Described by schoolfriend Graham Greene as the greatest journalist of the twentieth century, Cockburn was born at the heart of the establishment it became his life's work to satirise, lampoon and undermine, with reports from Berlin during the rise of Fascism and Spain during the Civil War, as well as New York, Washington and Chicago, where he once conducted an interview with Al Capone. Patrick Cockburn spoke at the shop about Believe Nothing Until It Is Officially Denied (Verso), and its lessons for journalism then, now and in the future, with journalist Duncan Campbell. Find more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod Listen to Neal Ascherson discuss Claud Cockburn: https://lrb.me/aschersonpod Get the book: https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/believe-nothing-until-it-is-officially-denied-claud-cockburn-and-the-invention-of-guerrilla-journalism-patrick-cockburn

Neal Ascherson has worked as a journalist for more than six decades, reporting from Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, its successor states and elsewhere. He has also written more than a hundred pieces for the London Review of Books, from its seventh issue (in February 1980) to its most recent. In this episode of the LRB podcast, Ascherson talks to Thomas Jones about his recent piece on the journalist Claud Cockburn and about his own life and career, from his time as propaganda secretary for the Uganda National Congress to the moment he witnessed preparations for the kidnapping of Mikhail Gorbachev in Crimea but ‘missed the scoop of a lifetime'.Find further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/aschersonpodListen to Neal Ascherson deliver the 2012 LRB Winter Lecture: https://lrb.me/aschersonwlSubscribe to Close Readings for 2025: https://lrb.me/audioOr give your loved ones a Close Readings subscription: https://lrb.me/audiogifts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MPs are scheduled to vote on the Private Members' Bill proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP, to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults on Friday.However a cross party group has co-sponsored a so-called “fatal motion amendment” that could kill the Bill if enough MPs support it.The amendment comes amid concern in the Commons that such a significant change was proposed as a Private Members' Bill, meaning there is limited detailed assessment and analysis of the provisions it includes.We examine the detail of both the Leadbeater Bill and Liam McArthur's proposed Scottish Bill and ask what impact Friday's Westminster vote may have in Holyrood.Meanwhile there's much heat being generated in the media over the " Call a General Election Now" petition which has apparently garnered over 2 million signatures in the past four days.How significant is this in reality? Should Labour be concerned? Should the Tories be more concerned?Rachel Reeves has announced the payment to the Scottish Government to compensate for the impact of her raise in employers' National Insurance contributions.How fair was the package?After recent polling and by election results we look at the state of play of the parties in Scotland. How much of an impact have they had on Anas Sarwar's U-turn on Winter Fuel Allowance payments? How concerning is the rise of Reform? Will we face a Holyrood impasse in 2026 with no viable coalitions in prospect?And as Donald Trump makes his final nominations for his Cabinet we cast our eyes over the array of right wing, reality TV, Fox News hosts, dubious characters he's selected.Here's the link to the Neal Ascherson article Lesley mentionedhttps://www.thenational.scot/politics/24746186.neal-ascherson-scotland-needs-take-as-if-approach/ ★ Support this podcast ★

Humza Yousaf officially resigned as First Minister just before noon this Tuesday.John Swinney was elected unopposed as leader of the SNP after Graeme McCormick dropped out. The theatre switched stage to Holyrood where the formality of his ascendancy to FM was played out.We give our reaction to both of these.What will his election to both posts mean for the furtherance of independence?Will he manage to unify his party to fight the General Election?Will it be simply business as usual in terms of party management and government policies?Sir John Curtice has given his thoughts on 25 years of devolution, and despite the SNP's recent troubles, says it's been pretty positive for them.Meanwhile the Tories took a real beating in last week's series of English elections. We look at the results and ask what, if any ,extrapolation can be made between them and the looming General Election.After Dan Poulter's defection to Labour, the impending watering down of its New Deal For Working People, Labour Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves speech to business leaders  was introduced by ex Tory Minister Nick Boles. Boles has been advising other Shadow Ministers behind the scenes. What change will Labour bring in government?Here's the links to the Neal Ascherson and Ian McConnell  pieces Lesley mentioned in the podcasthttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/04/the-snp-may-be-laid-low-but-the-call-of-scottish-independence-is-loud-and-clear   https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24295961.snp-enormous-problem-scottish-business/  ★ Support this podcast ★

The Black Sea is geopolitically significant as both a theater of trade and a theater of war. Russia's invasion of Ukraine shifted the traditional balance between Moscow and Ankara in the region and has led to an increased NATO presence there. Can the EU leverage its economic and foreign policy tools to expand its influence in the Black Sea?Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, and Dimitar Bechev, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, discuss why the Black Sea is once again at the center of world events and what the future holds for the region.[00:00:00] Intro, [00:01:50] The Black Sea Today, [00:07:45] The Russian-Turkish Cohabitation [00.17.58] What Future for the Black Sea Region.Neal Ascherson, "Black Sea," Hill and Wang, Cambridge University Press, 1995Dimitar Bechev, February 28, 2023, “Sailing Through the Storm: Türkiye's Black Sea Strategy Amidst the Russian-Ukrainian War,” European Union Institute for Security Studies.Dimitar Bechev, February 27, 2023, “Facing tragedy, Turkey mends ties with Greece and Armenia,” Al Jazeera.Dimitar Bechev, April 13, 2022, “Russia, Turkey and the Spectre of Regional Instability,” Al Sharq Strategic Research.Dimitar Bechev, March 30, 2022, “Turkey's Response to the War in Ukraine,” Maple Institute.Thomas de Waal, July 07, 2022, “How Georgia Stumbled on the Road to Europe,” Foreign Policy.Thomas de Waal, June 09, 2022, “Georgia, Europe's Problem Child,” Carnegie Europe.Thomas de Waal, May 10, 2022, “A Fragile Stability in Moldova,” Carnegie Europe.Thomas de Waal, March 03, 2022, “Darkness Looms Over Ukraine's Neighborhood,” Carnegie Europe.Charles King, "The Black Sea: A History," Oxford University Press, 2005.

On the meaning of Gorbachev.   [Patreon Exclusive]   Mikhail Gorbachev continues to be lauded in Western circles for overseeing the collapse of the Soviet Union without much bloodshed. But given the historic societal disaster that followed, is this status unmerited? How naive was Gorbachev about the wolves at the door? And to what extent was the writing on the wall by the late '80s – was there an alternative path not taken?   Readings: Big Man Walking: Gorbachev's Dispensation, Neal Ascherson, LRB, 2017 Voices of Glasnost review  Why Gorbachev Failed, Slavoj Zizek, Compact   Listenings: OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 4 (on Gen X, the End of History and Soviet collapse) /276/ Broken Promises ft. Fritz Bartel (on the end of the Cold War and the rise of neoliberalism) /270/ Russia vs the West ft. Richard Sakwa (on the geopolitics of NATO expansion)

PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/geopolinomics 00:00 Introducción 00:52 Noticias geopolíticas de la semana 9:18 Armas para el proyecto hindú de Modi 29:49 Ucrania: historia de un territorio disputado 45:54 La posición estratégica de la ASEAN 1:04:31 Frank Capra es nuestro Mirlo Blanco 1:18:03 Recomendación bibliográfica: EL MAR NEGRO, Neal Ascherson. Enlace afiliado: https://amzn.to/30f32JQ 1:28:54 Preguntas de los espectadores

The second book in his acclaimed trilogy on the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, Richard J. Evans' The Third Reich in Power: How the Nazis Won Over the Hearts and Minds of a Nation explores how Hitler turned Germany from a vibrant democracy into a one-party state. Before Hitler seized power in 1933, Germany had been famous for its sophistication and complexity. So how was it possible for a group of ideological obsessives to re-mould it into a one-party state directed at war and race hate? How did the Nazis win over the hearts and minds of Germany's citizens, twist science, religion and culture, and transform the country's politics to achieve total dominance so quickly? From the Nuremberg Laws to the Olympic Games, Kristallnacht to the Hitler Youth, this gripping account shows how a whole population became enmeshed in a dictatorship that was consumed by hatred and driven by war. 'Impressive ... perceptive ... humane' Ian Kershaw 'Excellent ... powerful ... it makes an indelible impression' Robert Service, Sunday Times 'Likely to be the standard work for some years to come' Spectator Books of the Year 'A rich and detailed description of just what the Third Reich did in every compartment of the state and every corner of society ... Evans's magisterial study should be on our shelves for a long time to come' Economist 'Written with great style and human sympathy' Daily Telegraph Books of the Year 'Evans brilliantly conveys how the Fuhrer reignited Germans' pride as he led them to catastrophe' Neal Ascherson, Observer Sir Richard J. Evans is Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University. His previous books include In Defence of History, Telling Lies about Hitler and the companions to this title, The Coming of the Third Reich and The Third Reich at War.

As Pope Francis makes the first ever papal visit to Iraq, we look at his unofficial but important role as a diplomat. What does a papal visit look like? Who decides where he goes? How far does the Pope’s soft power reach? And what will Francis’s visit mean for Iraq? Andrew Mueller is joined by Samya Kullab, Joshua McElwee and Neal Ascherson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Forbes reads Neal Ascherson's Letter to the Lyceum on the sensuality, possibility and power represented by an empty theatre.Music by Rachel Newton See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode you will hear:Interviews:• A ticking piece of Poland with a charity twistRobin Devine makes beautiful watches which she donates as gifts to hundreds of veterans, at the same time providing significant support for many charities (over 22 years around half a million dollars have been donated to numerous charitable causes). Now on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland's independence, she created an exquisite Polish Eagle Watch to celebrate this special occasion. • It starts with a bang - Scotland and PolandWanda Koscia talks to Neal Ascherson, a renowned Scottish author and journalist, with books and articles on a wide range of topics: including the Congo, the Spanish Civil War, archaeology, Scotland and more, an expert on Poland, who recently published his first novel “The Death of the Fronsac”. • EKRAN - 10 years of Polish film in TorontoThe 10th EKRAN Toronto Polish Festival is starting very soon, on November 5. Nine years is a long time - lots of films, guests, screenings, events. It's a perfect moment to look back. • Great Poles - Henryk Sienkiewicz • Smacznego! Eating Polish  - halusky

*There was a problem with the microphone on the night; we apologise for the quality of the audio. The 2015 Alcuin Lecture was given by Neal Ascherson, a Scottish historian and journalist who currently writes for the Guardian, on the historical connections between Scotland and Europe, how they can be exploited in the present context, and the importance of re-establishing an active and distinct 'European identity' for Scotland in the next few years.

Bevan Tried To Change The Nation What Happened To The Idea of Britain? With David Torrance, Neal Ascherson, James Robertson, Isobel Lindsay, Andrew Tickell, Julia Taudevin, Jim Monaghan, Peter Arnott, Wounded Knee.

Neal Ascherson writes about Europe, its pasts and its possible future See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The distinguished Scottish journalist and commentator, Neal Ascherson, spoke on the relationship between Scotland and Poland in a public lecture. Recorded at the University of Edinburgh on 1 October, 2009.