The Western Bubble: Recent Episodes

Balder Hageraats & Dario Hasenstab

Every Wednesday Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab examine how Western countries are increasingly lost in their own delusions on the world stage, and what can be done to bring them back to reality. We discuss issues ranging from geopolitics and human rights to development aid and current affairs, all through the lens of the Western Bubble.

This week we look at two stories that share a single underlying logic: the people running things have stopped pretending to care about the original purpose of the institutions they control, and are now just taking what they can before the music stops.

The first is FIFA. Gianni Infantino announced this week that FIFA, a nonprofit organisation founded to promote and regulate football around the world, will create a for-profit subsidiary and sell 20 percent of its stake to private investors, with Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner and son-in-law of Donald Trump, among those involved. We discuss why this is the logical endpoint of decades of slow institutional decay, and why UEFA, despite its own complicated record, finds it surprisingly easy to be the good guys here.

The second is the SpaceX IPO. Elon Musk bypassed the standard investor road show, set a valuation with no serious basis in the company's financials, ran a targeted marketing campaign at retail investors who worship him, and had SpaceX included in the Nasdaq composite index within 15 days of listing when the standard timeline is three months to a year. Index funds were then legally required to buy SpaceX shares, transferring wealth from ordinary pension holders to the richest man in the world and his Saudi co-investors.

We close with an announcement: we are going on our summer break. The deep dive series begins on August 10th and runs through August 31st, taking listeners from the Enlightenment through the 19th century institutionalisation of liberal democracy, through the 20th century peak, and into the 21st century collapse. Regular weekly episodes resume on September 7th.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy we react to an interview the Economist published with Elon Musk, conducted by Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes. We focus on the section where Musk talks about artificial intelligence, because it contains three logical steps in quick succession, none of which hold up to even basic scrutiny.

The tragedy is not Musk himself. It is that a man whose reasoning on these questions is this visibly incoherent is one of the most influential voices shaping how AI develops, and that so many people still take him seriously.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week we start with the World Cup final. Spain beat Argentina, Argentina's players started fights during the game, declined to return the guard of honour as Spain lifted the trophy, and the internet went into overdrive. We are not a football podcast, but what happened afterwards is worth examining: within days, the anti-Argentina sentiment online had reached a scale that Argentinians themselves found bewildering and disproportionate. They are not entirely wrong about that. But their response, fighting back and dismissing it as manufactured conspiracy, is exactly the wrong one.

The concept that links Argentina, Israel, and a few other cases we discuss is siege mentality: the collective belief that the rest of the world has negative intentions towards your group, leading to a closing of ranks, a dismissal of outside criticism, and a retreat into tribal identity. It explains why Argentina cannot seem to understand why the world found its football team unlikeable this summer. It explains far more about Israel than any individual policy decision can. And it explains why, in both cases, the countries concerned are actively damaging their own long-term interests while convinced they are defending them.

We discuss how siege mentality develops, how it spreads from the most hardline members of a society to the reasonable centre under sufficient pressure, and why it is particularly tragic in Israel's case, given how much diplomatic capital was spent in the years before October 7th building exactly the international relationships that the subsequent reaction has now destroyed. The question is not whether the feeling is understandable. It usually is. The question is whether it is constructive. The answer, in every case we look at today, is no.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy we react to two travel influencers who responded to a UN General Assembly vote on slavery by advising their followers which countries are unsafe to travel to based on how those countries voted. The video is well-intentioned and the sensitivity behind it is entirely understandable. The analysis is not.

The resolution in question called the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the racialized chattel enslavement of Africans the gravest crime against humanity. The United States, Israel and Argentina voted against. Roughly 50 countries abstained, most of them European. The influencers interpreted this as a vote between countries that think slavery is bad and countries that think it is acceptable, and drew travel safety conclusions accordingly. That is not what happened.

We discuss why this matters. Not because the influencers are bad people, but because collapsing a complex diplomatic vote into a binary of good countries and bad countries actively blocks the serious conversations that the topic of slavery, reparations and European responsibility actually deserves.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week we look at a pattern that has been building for years and is now accelerating: the establishment panicking, and the increasingly desperate measures it is reaching for in response. The AfD ban report in Germany, the EU Parliament procedure against the Europe of Sovereign Nations party, the removal of Hungary's president, and the Le Pen conviction all arrived within weeks of each other. They are not the same story, but they rhyme, do they?

We start with the deeper question of why the establishment finds itself here. The short answer is that it stopped having ideas. Neoliberal managerialism replaced political vision, triangulation replaced conviction, and the result is a political class that can tell you the inflation target but cannot tell you what kind of society it wants to build in twenty-five years. Into that vacuum, populists of the left and the right stepped with a simpler offer: here is your enemy, and we will fight them for you. Voters, being emotional rather than rational creatures, responded. And once anchored to that tribal identity, they do not let go when the populist fails to deliver. They simply find the next one.

We then work through the case studies. The EU procedure against ESN is philosophically incoherent: you cannot claim to defend liberal democracy by deciding which parties are allowed to participate in it.

The AfD ban report raises a genuinely harder question, since Germany's constitution explicitly anticipates this scenario, but the legal and political processes need to stay separate or the cure becomes the disease. Hungary under Magyar is the most complex: purging Orbán's system using some of Orbán's methods, restructuring public broadcasting by decree, removing the president through a tailor-made constitutional amendment. Some of it is defensible. Some of it sets precedents that will outlast Magyar's good intentions. And Le Pen, twice convicted, is running for president, because the electorate she is appealing to has long since stopped holding corruption against the people who tell them what they want to hear.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy we react to the controversy that followed the England-Argentina World Cup semi-final, when Argentine players held up a sign referencing the Falkland Islands. We are not a football podcast, and this episode is not about football. It is about what happens when empty nationalism spills into international relations and makes a country look unreasonable to the rest of the world.

Whatever the legal arguments of the early 19th century, 3,500 people have lived there for generations and do not want to be part of Argentina. Demanding they be removed is not a principled position on colonial history. It is empty nationalism that costs Argentina diplomatic goodwill, footballing support, and any claim to being a reasonable actor on the world stage, for a few rocky islands that will not fill a single Argentine stomach.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Three topics this week, none of them reassuring. Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain at the NATO summit in Ankara, apparently unaware that EU trade is negotiated through Brussels rather than individual member states. Mark Rutte sat next to him in silence. We discuss what that silence costs Europe in the long run, and why Spain, of all countries, is quietly emerging as one of the diplomatic winners of the current moment.

The bulk of the episode goes to Chat Control 2.0, the EU directive that would mandate tech companies to scan private messages, including encrypted ones, for child sexual abuse material. The law was pushed through the European Parliament just before the summer recess using a procedural manoeuvre that required only the absence of an absolute majority to pass, rather than its presence. We go through the European Commission's own impact report, which acknowledges no clear link between the law and actual convictions and records a 30 percent drop in reported cases after Chat Control 1.0 came into force, a drop now being used to justify expanding the law to encrypted communications. Germany's largest child protection organisation has itself said the law undermines children's rights rather than protecting them. We discuss why it is still moving forward anyway.

We close with China's ICBM test from a submarine, which the West treated as a provocation. The United States conducted two similar tests this year to no comparable coverage. France tested nuclear weapons in the Pacific until 1996. We make the obvious point, and note that Beijing's only real mistake was failing to give sufficient warning to neighbouring countries, which damages the very diplomatic image China has spent a decade carefully building.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy we react to Count Binface, the satirical independent candidate and self-described space warrior, facing off against Nigel Farage in a local by-election. Count Binface, the alter ego of British scriptwriter Jonathan Harvey, has previously stood against Theresa May as Lord Buckethead and against Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and Andy Burnham as Count Binface. His manifesto includes building one affordable house and tying ministers' salaries to those of nurses. He is, against all odds, the most honest candidate on the ballot.

The reason Farage is facing a by-election at all is revealing. Having failed to declare a five million pound donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire living in Thailand within the required twelve-month window, he now faces a parliamentary inquiry. His response is to step down and immediately run again, using the popular vote as a shield against institutional accountability. The message is classic right-wing populism: the rules are the establishment's weapon against your democratic will, and as long as enough people vote for me, none of it applies. The other major parties declined to participate, correctly identifying the whole exercise as a stunt. That left Count Binface.

We discuss what this moment says about where British politics has arrived: a world in which a member of parliament receiving five million pounds from a foreign entity is treated as a procedural question rather than a scandal, in which corruption has become so normalised that the electorate is expected to shrug, and in which the most coherent critique of the entire spectacle is delivered by a man in a bin-shaped helmet. We also make the case for local constituency democracy, and agree that bringing back Ceefax was genuinely ahead of its time.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

For our 150th episode we set aside the week's news cycle and talked about still does not get the attention it deserves: climate change, and why our political systems are structurally incapable of dealing with it.

The problem is not a lack of information. The Club of Rome warned about unsustainable economic growth in 1972. Nobel laureate Svante Arrhenius wrote about it in 1908 in his book "Worlds in the Making". Average heat days in Central Europe have risen from three per year in the 1950s to ten to twelve now. Two hundred thousand people died in Europe from extreme heat in the last four years alone. The science has been clear for decades. The political will has not followed, and the reason is straightforward: governments operate on four-year election cycles, and climate change in centuries. There is no political glory in prevention, and no visible enemy to fight.

We discuss why climate change is psychologically harder to mobilise around than COVID or the Russian invasion of Ukraine, why the masses and their leaders share responsibility for the inaction, and what the interaction between tribal politics, neoliberal managerialism, and the collapse of intellectual leadership has done to our collective ability to respond.

We also talk through Dario's experience bringing an energy efficiency proposal to his Berlin apartment block, which produced a 95 percent vote in favour and a useful microcosm of every obstacle that climate policy faces at every scale. As Naomi Klein put it: our economy is at war with many forms of life on Earth, and only one of those sets of rules can be changed.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we react to a DW News segment reporting that German prosecutors have concluded Ukraine ordered the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. You can watch the full segment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXy4wMdE1Hc. We analysed this in episode 27 back in February 2023, when a stakeholder analysis based purely on capability and motive pointed away from Russia and towards Ukraine and the United States as the most likely actors. Now we have a little more certainty.

The story is not just about who did it. It is about Germany's response, which is essentially no response at all. Nord Stream 2 was an eleven billion dollar infrastructure project and the foundation of Germany's strategic energy model for decades. Its destruction is a direct cause of the industrial crisis that German manufacturers, workers, and citizens have been living with ever since. The perpetrator has now been identified, and it is the country that Germany has been arming and financing for four years. The reaction from Berlin is closer to awkward silence than accountability.

This is the Western Bubble at its most revealing. Ukraine gets away with an act of war against a core NATO ally because the narrative of defeating Russia cannot be interrupted. Germany cannot hold Ukraine to account without undermining the entire political framework it has built around the conflict. So it does not.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week now news story is exploding and everything is on fire. Ukraine, Iran, US politics: three stories, three cycles, all stuck. Also, we recorded four years to the month since our first episodes on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which felt like the right moment to take stock.

On Ukraine, the war of attrition is slowly shifting. Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory, including a refinery fire producing a visible black cloud over Moscow, are making the conflict impossible for the average Russian citizen to ignore. Crimea is under pressure, Lukashenko appears to be distancing himself from Putin, and Putin's image as an invulnerable strategic mind has taken serious damage. At the same time, Zelensky is showing his tendency to overplay a strong hand, most recently by honouring a Ukrainian nationalist battalion responsible for killing tens of thousands of Polish civilians during World War II, antagonising one of his most important European allies for no clear strategic gain.

On Iran, the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran is mostly symbolic, and the situation is worse than it was before the attacks began in February. The Strait of Hormuz is at roughly 90 percent of pre-war traffic but oil prices remain elevated, months of supply chain disruption have not been undone. JD Vance told Israel it cannot kill its way out of every security problem and that it is attacking its only remaining powerful ally. He is correct, and it is painful to say so.

We close with the Democratic and Republican parties, both rudderless, both in identity crisis, and a country that has apparently settled on ranch dressing as its one remaining point of national consensus.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we react to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Donald Trump at the White House. Dario calls him the Trump brown nose. Balder, as a Dutch person, feels a particular kind of shame.

The visit features Rutte presenting Trump with a poster, in Trump gold and red, showing European defence spending going up. The numbers are accurate. The framing is not. European rearmament is happening because the transatlantic alliance has fractured and Europeans no longer trust the United States as a security guarantor, not because Trump successfully pressured them. Rutte knows this. He presents it differently anyway. He also describes the US war against Iran, in which at least 150 schoolgirls died in a single strike, as something to be celebrated and admired. He calls Trump the leader of the free world without apparent discomfort.

We discuss what this kind of politics actually costs in the long run. Rutte's defenders argue he is sacrificing his ego for the greater good, managing a difficult relationship to keep NATO functional. We argue the opposite: by cheerleading this war, by refusing to signal even basic moral disapproval, he tells the world that this behaviour is acceptable. Europe and NATO lose the moral standing they would need to argue against future aggression, by anyone. The managerial mindset that defines this kind of politics only sees tomorrow. It does not see what it is giving away.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week Balder defends his own people. A YouTube video titled "Economists are full of shit" and the hundred-plus likes underneath it sparked this episode, and the underlying complaint is understandable: a generation that was promised growth has watched that growth show up everywhere except their own bank accounts. But the target of that anger is wrong. Economists study economic behaviour. Politicians decide what to do with that knowledge. The neoliberal consensus that dominated policy from the 1980s onwards was a political choice, not an inevitable conclusion handed down by the discipline of economics itself.

The data makes the disconnect impossible to miss. GDP and median household income moved together until the 1990s, then diverged sharply. Productivity and hourly compensation tell the same story from 1970 onwards. Nearly 40 percent of Americans could not cover an unexpected expense without significant strain on their savings, despite a quarter century of consistent GDP growth. None of that is a failure of economics as a science. It is a failure of politics to ask economists the right questions, namely how do we improve human wellbeing, rather than how do we maximise growth and assume the rest follows.

We also dig into Gary Stevenson's viral critique of how economics is taught, which gets the methodology problem mostly right while building an oversimplified enemy out of an entire profession, and a Novara Media clip on China that shows exactly the same instinct from the opposite political direction: reaching for a tribe instead of an analysis. Economics is a soft science. It will sometimes get things wrong. That does not make it worthless, and confusing the discipline with the politicians who misused it is its own kind of Western Bubble thinking.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we react to JD Vance's commencement address to the graduating class of the US Air Force Academy.

The substance of the speech is troubling. Vance's central message on AI and warfare is essentially: trust us, we have it covered, humans will stay in charge. What that actually means in practice is a single person approving strike after strike without the ability to verify the intelligence behind any of them, because if a human could verify it, AI would not be needed in the first place.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 opened last week. The United States had, on paper, the greatest soft power opportunity in World Cup history: a 250th independence anniversary, three host nations, 48 competing teams, and the eyes of the world. Instead, hotel bookings in host cities are running 70 to 80 percent below expectations, a FIFA-certified Somali referee was turned away at the border, the Iraqi team had a striker detained for seven hours and their photographer denied entry, and the Iranian squad is permitted to enter only on match day and must leave the same day.

We examine why the American capitalist model is structurally incapable of understanding what a World Cup is actually for. Dynamic pricing that pushed tickets to seven hundred euros and beyond, hotels charging a thousand euros a night, and an immigration policy that has made millions of people genuinely afraid to travel to the United States. Qatar, for all its problems, understood the point: soft power is not about short-term profit, it is about who the world associates you with in twenty years. The United States is using the world's attention to remind everyone why they do not want to come.

The only country emerging from all of this with its reputation enhanced is Mexico, whose welcome of the Iranian and Iraqi delegations has generated more genuine goodwill than any marketing campaign could buy.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we react to a debate from the Munk Debates in Canada, featuring Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer against Mike Pompeo and Victoria Nuland on the question of Iran. The full video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntiLygd0ihE

On paper this is a clash between academia and policy. In practice it is a demonstration of exactly how Western Bubble thinking shuts down serious analysis the moment it feels threatened.

Walt and Mearsheimer do what good analysts are supposed to do: follow the evidence. The JCPOA worked. The IAEA inspectors were on the ground. Iran was not stockpiling. Iran was not, by any serious measure, this close to a nuclear weapon, despite thirty years of Western politicians insisting otherwise. The academics make these points clearly, without drama, and with data.

Pompeo's response is essentially: don't trust the inspectors, don't trust the international institutions, trust me. I was Secretary of State. I had information. Iran are monsters. That is the full argument. It is the same logic that preceded the invasion of Iraq, delivered with the same confidence, by someone who has apparently learned nothing from that episode.

What makes the debate particularly revealing is the moment Nuland effectively ends the conversation by saying "there you go" when Walt and Mearsheimer decline to describe Iran as a monster. That two words. In those two words you see the entire problem with Western foreign policy thinking: the moment someone refuses to accept the good versus evil frame, they become an invalid conversational partner. Not wrong, not misguided, simply irrelevant.

We also discuss what the debate says about the difference between policy and academia, why Iran's weapons development makes considerably more rational sense than Pompeo wants to admit, and why North Korea's survival as a state tells you everything you need to know about the real incentive structure around nuclear weapons.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week covers three topics that, at first glance, have nothing to do with each other. They are all the same story.

We start with Germany's failure to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, losing out to Austria and Portugal in a vote that sent shockwaves through German politics but barely registered anywhere else. That gap tells you everything. Germany spent decades building one of the most effective soft power strategies in the world: non-threatening, generous, culturally present, and economically indispensable. Since 2022 it has been systematically dismantling that strategy in favour of rearmament and hard power posturing, and the world has taken note. The foreign minister reportedly considered resigning. The German media focused on campaign timelines and lobbying failures. Nobody asked the more important question: why is the country that everyone used to want to hug now being treated like everyone else?

From there we move to the Iran-US-Israel situation, now in its fourth month with no resolution in sight. Trump's relationship with Netanyahu has visibly soured. The ceasefire that was supposed to take a few weeks is nowhere near complete. The one genuinely significant diplomatic achievement, Iran's agreement to stop stockpiling and enriching uranium, was thrown away before it could be signed. Meanwhile oil prices remain at levels last seen during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the OECD projects global growth slowing from 3.4 to 2.8% even in an optimistic scenario, and approximately 45 million additional people have been pushed into extreme hunger as a direct consequence of the conflict.

We close with Ebola and the Hantavirus, and what the Western obsession with both says about a political culture that would rather identify an invisible external enemy than ask the questions that actually matter. The Federated States of Micronesia issued a public health warning about diseases with zero confirmed cases on the island. It is a small detail. It is also a perfect summary of where we are.

As Joseph Nye put it: soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. Germany used to know that. The West used to know that. They have both forgotten.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we dissect a panel discussion from the Munich Security Conference 2026 featuring Hillary Rodham Clinton. Dario attended the same conference and observed her in person, which is part of what prompted this episode. The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqed2Dw-wVQ

Clinton is one of the most experienced politicians of her generation. Senator, Secretary of State under Obama, presidential candidate. Her policy track record is long and her influence remains significant. That is precisely why the thinking on display in this panel matters, because it is not just Clinton's thinking. It is the thinking of an entire establishment that has governed the West for the past twenty-five years and still has not grasped why the world has moved on.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week we take stock of a world in motion. Not in the dramatic, headline-grabbing way of the past few months, but in the quieter, structural way that tends to matter more in the long run. Countries are rearranging. Alliances are forming between actors who would have looked to Washington ten years ago. The global order is not collapsing so much as reorganising around the absence of a centre.

We start with the Iran-US negotiations, now firmly in Groundhog Day territory. Both sides want out, neither can afford to let the other claim victory, and Trump's shifting language on the Strait of Hormuz suggests he may be tired enough to accept an ending that does not come with a press conference. The catch, as always, is whether he can contain himself long enough for that to happen.

From there we move to the main event: a tour through the countries quietly building new relationships in the space that Western decline has opened up. Vietnam and Thailand on defence and supply chains. Japan and the Philippines on intelligence sharing. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan formalising a security relationship that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. South Africa's foreign minister saying, at a major regional summit, almost word for word what we have been arguing on this podcast for years. The world is not waiting for Western permission to reorganise itself.

We close by asking what all of this means for citizens, corporations, and governments, the three forces that will ultimately determine whether the chaos of the next decade produces something better or simply more of the same. The answer, as Eisenhower might have warned, depends entirely on whether any of them are willing to get off the tracks.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we dissect Obama's May 1st 2011 announcement of the killing of Osama bin Laden. On the surface, a moment of closure. Underneath, a masterclass in how the Western Bubble sustains itself even when the person delivering the message is intelligent, measured, and personally decent.

The problem is not Obama the man. It is the logic he inherited and chose to continue. Hunting down the perpetrators of 9/11 was a defensible objective with a clear endpoint. Declaring war on terror, an ideology rather than an organisation, is a commitment with no boundaries, no measurable success, and no exit. By 2011 that distinction should have been obvious. Instead, Obama doubled down.

We also examine what the speech reveals about America's relationship with war itself. A country that has not experienced violence on its mainland since 1812 approaches armed conflict with a set of assumptions that no European, Middle Eastern, or Asian country shares. War is noble. Soldiers are heroes. The costs are abstract. That disconnect does not just shape public opinion. It shapes foreign policy, and the results have been catastrophic, for the United States as much as for the countries on the receiving end.

The killing of Osama bin Laden was the moment to draw a line. Instead it became a comma.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week covers a lot of ground, but a single thread runs through all of it: the West's remarkable ability to undermine itself while convinced it is doing the opposite.

We start with Trump's visit to China, a summit that was months in the making and amounted to little beyond beef export quotas and Boeing orders. While Xi received Trump, Putin, and twelve other world leaders this year in Beijing, the United States arrived without preparation, without serious agreements, and without a strategic framework. The gap between American destructive capacity and American diplomatic influence has rarely been more visible.

Then we turn to Israeli Minister Ben Gvir's decision to film and publish a video of himself touring a detention facility where flotilla activists were held, taunting them for an audience back home. Netanyahu's response, sandwiched between references to Hamas terrorist supporters and deportation orders, managed to make things worse. We examine what this moment reveals, not just about Ben Gvir, but about where Israel is as a country, and why its current trajectory is a threat to its own security far more than to anyone else's.

Finally, Modi's European tour ran into the predictable obstacle: a continent that wants new partners but cannot resist lecturing them first. Europe succeeded only in signalling moral superiority to a domestic audience while making it more difficult to connect with India.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we dissect a recent DW News segment featuring Eugene Rumer, a Russia and Eurasia expert from the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, reacting to Russia's claim that Ukraine is launching drone strikes on Russian territory from Latvia.

The segment is a near-perfect specimen of Western Bubble analysis: selective, one-sided, and structurally incapable of asking the questions that actually matter. Rather than interrogating why we are where we are, or what NATO's increasingly entangled relationship with Ukraine means for Baltic security, Rumer defaults to the comfortable framework of vulnerable small states versus an existentially threatening Russia. The fact that NATO outspends Russia by a factor of ten to one receives considerably less attention.

We break down the subtle but telling rhetorical trick at the heart of the segment: the word "alliance" shifts meaning depending on the sentence, referring sometimes to NATO's collective defence obligation and sometimes to the broader coalition supporting Ukraine, two very different things with very different implications. This blurring is not accidental. It is precisely how the Western Bubble sustains its own internal logic.

We also discuss what a Carnegie Endowment for Peace analyst should actually be doing: not cheerleading for one side, but seriously engaging with Russia's strategic calculus, Ukraine's interest in drawing NATO deeper into the conflict, and the very real consequences of discriminating against Russian minorities in the Baltic states. Understanding is not sympathy. Complexity is not propaganda. And an institution with "Peace" in its name arguably has an obligation to at least try.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Are we actively outsourcing our critical thinking to algorithms? This week, we analyse the catastrophic impact of Artificial Intelligence on human cognition and geopolitical strategy.

We start with a recent MIT study which revealed that students using AI to complete tasks exhibited the absolute lowest levels of brain activity, effectively reducing their cognitive engagement to merely copy-pasting prompts. But the danger goes far beyond the classroom. When we apply these tools to international relations, such as interpreting a diplomatic meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Beijing, we fall into the trap of treating political science as a hard science with objective answers. In reality, geopolitics requires deep, human interpretation. If we force AI to do this work for us, we either get completely homogenised answers or an unnatural, forced diversity.

We also discuss how our current obsession with AI mirrors the early days of social media and the internet. Instead of learning from the societal damage caused by past tech disruptions, we are blindly rushing toward a new shiny object for the sake of short-term efficiency gains. By relying on algorithms to interpret the world for us, we become trapped even deeper within the Western Bubble, completely losing the critical creativity needed to assess our own structural decay.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy, we dissect a deeply uncomfortable manifesto from the CEO of Palantir, Alex Karp, regarding his new book The Technological Republic.

Rather than sticking to software and data, Palantir's leadership has decided to put themselves forward as the vanguard of Western civilisation. We break down their recent 22-point declaration, which outlines a terrifying vision where the tech elite essentially equates themselves with the government and assumes responsibility for the defence of the nation.

From demanding the remilitarisation of Germany and Japan to calling for universal conscription (while conveniently sitting safely behind their screens), we explore the dystopian mindset driving this narrative. We analyse how this manifesto perfectly captures the Western Bubble: a dangerous mix of messianic superiority complexes, a determined push for software-driven hard power, and a hypocritical demand to be shielded from public criticism.

Join us as we explore why private data companies playing at geopolitical crusaders is one of the most alarming symptoms of our current institutional decline.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we return to the European continent to analyse why leadership remains paralysed by the "Western Bubble". While we dedicated much of last week's episode to the United States, Europe’s current aimlessness and blind actionism deserve a much deeper dissection.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent comments at a school regarding the US war in Iran serve as a perfect example of the managerial mindset. By calling the US "humiliated" without a broader strategic plan, Merz has managed to anger Washington without gaining any of the geopolitical soft power benefits that Prime Minister Sánchez achieved for Spain.

We discuss why European leaders are so beholden to a neoliberal model that prioritises tomorrow’s stock market over long-term strategic autonomy. From the presence of 33,000 US troops on German soil to the lack of a 2040 vision, we explore why the "reasonable" ones in the room are actually the ones making the West increasingly fragile.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Are we being conditioned for a war that does not exist? In this week's Autopsy, we dissect a recent BBC interview featuring General Carsten Breuer, the highest-ranking soldier in the German armed forces. We examine the highly coordinated media offensive by European political and security elites, who are increasingly using vague, undefined threats of a Russian invasion by 2029 to justify astronomical increases in defence spending.

We break down why this general paranoia is so destructive. By refusing to paint specific, realistic scenarios, leadership is successfully shifting societal focus and resources away from productive investments like healthcare, infrastructure, and education, and redirecting them towards an endless military build-up. We also discuss the tragedy of Germany abandoning its historically responsible, post-1945 foreign policy to join the chorus of belligerence, and why true European security lies in the political mechanisms of the EU treaty rather than perpetual dependence on the United States and NATO.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

We are back! After a month-long break to release our special Deep Dive series, we return to our regular weekly format to analyse the ongoing madness of the world. And unfortunately, the insanity has not slowed down.

The episode kicks off in the Baltic Sea, where Germany has completely lost its collective mind over a stranded humpback whale. We break down why society is so eager to project its emotional energy onto a single animal while actively ignoring the infinitely more complex, systemic human suffering around the globe.

From there, our conversation shifts to the terrifying geopolitical reality of the ongoing US-Iran-Israel conflict. We unpack the illusion of power, exploring why the United States' massive military budget is proving completely ineffective at winning asymmetric wars or imposing its will in the Middle East. We also dive into the recent nuclear threats and ceasefires, offering an analysis of Trump’s dystopian threat to "wipe out a civilisation," the conflicting ceasefire agreements, and Israel's massive strike on Lebanon designed to disrupt the peace.

We then question whether the White House is playing 4D chess or just creating total chaos, examining how the erratic opening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz and JD Vance’s failed diplomatic mission to Pakistan prove that the current administration has absolutely no coherent strategy. Finally, we tackle Europe’s "Stockholm Syndrome." Despite Viktor Orbán finally losing power in Hungary, European leadership remains utterly visionless, leaving us to wonder why leaders like Friedrich Merz are condemning Iran while remaining entirely beholden to the United States.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in for our Deep Dives. It is great to be back analysing the weekly news cycle with you all!

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Welcome to the finale of our special four-part Deep Dive series into the international system! Over the past three weeks, we explored the philosophical origins of the "Western Bubble" and how post-WWII powers built a global infrastructure in their own image. This week, we examine how and why that exact same system is breaking down.

Are we meticulously transitioning to a new world order, or simply sliding into global anarchy?

The episode begins with an audio essay read by our producer, Stefani, detailing the West's 21st-century loss of internal purpose. Following the 1990s, ideological vision was replaced by a "neoliberal slumber." Politicians transformed into mid-level managers obsessed with financial markets, ultimately abandoning the complex transnational institutions they had painstakingly built.

Following the essay, Dario and Balder unpack the consequences of this geopolitical decay. We discuss:

The Managerial Slumber: How extreme deregulation and the 2008 financial crisis proved that Western leadership had sacrificed long-term geopolitical strategy for short-term corporate bailouts.
The G20 vs. The UN: Why the West bypassed the United Nations to create the G20—a mechanism designed not for global unity, but to save a failing Western financial system.
The Nail in the Coffin: How the 2003 invasion of Iraq proved to the rest of the world that the UN is geopolitically irrelevant when Western powers decide to break their own rules.
China’s Quiet Takeover: Why Beijing is happily picking up the diplomatic tools the West abandoned to build its own economic hegemony.

Thank you for joining us on this massive historical and political journey. Next week, we will return to our standard weekly format to analyse the ongoing madness of the world.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Welcome to Part 3 of our special four-part Deep Dive series into the international system! This week, we move from the historical and philosophical origins of the "Western Bubble" directly into the 20th century to examine the creation of the modern global order.

Following the devastation of the Second World War, Western powers embarked on an unprecedented era of institution building. But were organizations like the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions created to save the world from hell, or to ensure Western dominance? The episode begins with an audio essay read by our producer, Stefani, exploring how the West attempted to project its own domestic success onto the rest of the globe.

Following the essay, Dario and Balder unpack the immense arrogance of the 1940s geopolitical landscape. We discuss:

The Illusion of Universality: How the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by a small, Western-dominated vanguard that assumed its own history was the inevitable endpoint for all of humanity.
The Danger of Vague Language: Why international law is intentionally written at a "middle school level," and how this ambiguity allows powerful nations to weaponise morality for their own strategic agendas.
The "Sword of Damocles": How the West uses the guise of democracy and human rights to justify hypocritical military interventions—supporting dictators when convenient, and overthrowing them when they are not.

Note to our listeners: This is Part 3 of a 4-part series on the international system. Next week, we will conclude the Deep Dive by exploring the spectacular collapse of this system in the 21st century and the ultimate decline of Western geopolitical legitimacy.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Welcome to Part 2 of our special, pre-recorded Deep Dive series! This week, we continue our exploration of the international system by uncovering the philosophical and intellectual foundations of the "Western Bubble."

Why does the West believe it has the right to dictate global morality? The episode begins with an audio essay read by our producer, Stefani, exploring the concept of Western political determinism. We break down the delusion of the "Magic Formula"—the belief that liberal democracy and capitalism are the only legitimate paths to human wellbeing. We trace this superiority complex back to its ironic origins in medieval Christian theology, revealing how modern Western interventionism is eerily similar to historical, Abrahamic proselytising.

Following the essay, Dario and Balder unpack the dark side of this messianic approach to foreign policy.

We discuss:

The Illusion of Universal Values: Why concepts like "oppression" and "basic needs" are highly subjective, and how the West fails to understand societies that prioritise collective wellbeing over hyper-individualism.
The Alternative Models: A look at how modern hegemons like China expand their influence without demanding moral conversion, contrasting sharply with the Western approach.
The Death of "Agree to Disagree": How the West uses its self-appointed moral authority to override the Westphalian system, effectively using secular human rights as a justification for military conquest and regime change in places like Iraq, Libya, and Iran.

Note to our listeners: This is Part 2 of a 4-part series on the international system. Next week, we will move from historical philosophy into the real world to examine the rise and fall of the United Nations. We will resume our regular weekly news programming on the 4th of May.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Welcome to the first instalment of our special, pre-recorded Deep Dive series! Over the next four weeks, we are taking a step away from the weekly news cycle to analyse the foundational concepts of the international system and explore exactly how we arrived at the geopolitical chaos of 2026.

This episode begins with a special audio essay narrated by our producer, Stefani, exploring how the liberal world order was built—and why it is now collapsing. From the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 to the rise of Western transnational dominance, we break down the inherent hypocrisy of the "Westphalian Problem" and how the West's habit of soft-breaking territorial sovereignty has led to the current era of global anarchy.

Following the essay, Dario and Balder sit down to unpack the reality of the international system. Why is a peace treaty from the 17th century still the ultimate organic rule of global politics today? They discuss the terrifying vacuum caught between revolution and anarchy, the collapse of transnational institutions, and why the "Western Bubble" has officially burst.

Note to our listeners: This is Part 1 of a 4-part series on the international system. Next week, we will dive into the intellectual and philosophical foundations of this system. We will resume our regular weekly news analysis on the 4th of May.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In Episode 140 of The Western Bubble, Dario and Balder dissect the deepening chaos of the US-Iran standoff and its massive global ripple effects. As the White House issues shifting, hollow ultimatums and deploys thousands of troops to the Middle East, we analyse the fatal strategic trap of potentially occupying Iranian territory like Kharg Island. Rather than forcing a diplomatic win, Washington risks backing itself into an unwinnable corner while Tehran calls its bluff and keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed to its adversaries.

We also explore how this Middle Eastern crisis is actively benefiting Russia, providing Moscow with eased oil sanctions and vital geopolitical cover. Meanwhile, on the Eastern European front, we examine Ukraine's transformation into the global gold standard for asymmetric drone warfare, executing deep strikes into Russian territory and completely rewriting the rules of modern conventional conflict. Finally, we discuss the US military's severe recruitment crisis, the collapse of the Western moral narrative, and why we all desperately need a little bit of "whale escapism" in an increasingly dark world.

Note to our listeners: This episode marks our spring finale! For the month of April, The Western Bubble will be taking a break from the weekly news cycle to publish a special, pre-recorded Deep Dive series exploring the foundations of the international system.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In Autopsy #3, Dario and Balder put Western intelligence under the microscope. We analyse a recent interview with former MI6 Chief Alex Younger to expose the deep-seated biases and historical baggage that continue to cloud Western foreign policy. Why are Western intelligence agencies and media outlets acting "surprised" by Iran regionalising the conflict, especially when Tehran publicly broadcasted its exact strategy months in advance?

We break down the Western Bubble's "collective amnesia"—the tendency to frame Iran as an irrational actor poised to start World War III, while ignoring decades of strategically proportional responses. Furthermore, we dissect the operational nightmare currently unfolding in the Middle East: how the United States and Israel are effectively fighting two entirely different wars with contradictory objectives, leading to a dangerous diplomatic dead end where negotiators themselves become targets.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In Episode 139 of The Western Bubble, Dario and Balder analyse the global fallout as the US-Iran conflict enters its third week. With the Strait of Hormuz now closed and international energy markets in a state of panic, the White House finds itself trapped in a war of its own making with absolutely no viable exit strategy. We dismantle the popular conspiracy theory that the current administration is playing a geopolitical game of "4D chess", proving instead how rapid escalation and a lack of clear objectives have led to a catastrophic strategic failure.

The crisis is forcing a global realignment. We break down Europe's geopolitical "Stockholm syndrome"—examining why European leaders, despite initially resisting involvement, are once again sacrificing their own strategic independence to appease Washington. From German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pivoting towards Beijing, to South Korea being left strategically exposed, to the astronomical $12.7 billion price tag of the war's first six days, we explore how this conflict is accelerating the decline of Western hegemony and pushing the Global South further away.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this week's Autopsy episode, Dario and Balder put the foundational text of the Western Bubble under the microscope: Francis Fukuyama’s 1992 declaration of "The End of History". We analyse a vintage clip of the American political scientist explaining his famous thesis, examining why the post-Cold War era convinced an entire generation that liberal democracy and capitalism were the final, perfected stages of human governance.

While Fukuyama is often treated as the "poster boy" for Western arrogance—a position he has since heavily critiqued himself—his 1990s optimism perfectly encapsulates the Hegelian delusion that humanity is always marching comfortably upwards. Looking back from the geopolitical realities of 2026, we break down why this highly attractive worldview ultimately provided the cover for decades of destructive neoconservative foreign policy, military overreach, and a dangerous blindness to our own societal decay.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran enters its second week, we are turning our focus to a topic we can no longer avoid: the thoroughly embarrassing European reaction. In Episode 138, we analyse the delayed, disjointed, and hypocritical response from European leadership. We examine how the continent rushed to condemn Iran's retaliatory strikes while remaining glaringly silent on the initial aggression from Washington, exposing a dangerous reliance on the "good guys versus bad guys" narrative that continues to blind the Western Bubble.

We break down the stark divide in how individual European leaders are navigating this crisis. We contrast NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s sycophantic praise of Donald Trump with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s bold refusal to allow US military bases in Spain to be used for offensive operations. From the overblown reaction to three drones in Cyprus to the complicit silence of leaders like Friedrich Merz and Keir Starmer, we explore why Europe is actively risking its own global relevance and alienating the Global South in the process.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6390268301112

It has been just over a week since the United States and Israel launched a massive military campaign against Iran, and the justifications coming out of Washington are unravelling in real time. In Episode 137, we bypass the breaking news cycle to analyse the absolute absence of a coherent strategy driving this escalation. We examine what we call the "spaghetti tactic"—the Trump administration's chaotic attempt to throw every possible narrative at the wall, from claims of imminent attacks and forced regime change to the deeply concerning rhetoric of a "religious war", to see which one the public will accept.

Beyond the shifting talking points, we look at the timeline of events leading up to the strikes. We break down the significance of Iran's unprecedented nuclear concessions mediated by Oman just hours before the attack, and how the Netanyahu government effectively cornered the White House. We also analyse the rhetoric of figures like Pete Hegseth, the silence of European leaders like Friedrich Merz, and the US and Israel are rapidly destabilising the entire region.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4wqB2cGCFo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1btI_c3j78

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/02/world/video/pete-hegseth-pentagon-iran-strikes-digvid

Welcome to our very first Autopsy episode, a new format where we step back to analyse a specific piece of media, speech, or historical moment that perfectly encapsulates the Western Bubble. This week, as the world watches the United States and Israel launch a massive military campaign against Iran, we turn the clock back to 1 May 2003. We are analysing President George W. Bush’s infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln to understand the dangerous parallels between the invasion of Iraq and today's escalating conflict.

In this episode, we break down the fundamental flaws in Western interventionist logic. We examine the illusion that a quick military victory equates to long-term stability, the hypocritical narrative of the West acting as a "force for good", and the deep disconnect between Washington's promise of freedom and the devastating reality on the ground. By looking at how the Bush administration justified the Iraq war through the lens of the War on Terror, we can better understand the exact same narratives being recycled by the current administration in 2026.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

The United States and Israel have launched a massive military campaign against Iran, creating a devastating geopolitical earthquake. In this urgent episode, we analyse President Trump’s stated justifications for the strikes—from baseless claims of imminent nuclear threats to forced regime change—and expose the severe strategic incompetence driving this chaotic escalation.

Beyond the White House's rhetoric, we turn to the Western Bubble itself, examining the Orwellian complicity of European leaders like Keir Starmer and the stark bias of Western media outlets. By fiercely condemning the retaliations while remaining entirely silent on the original American aggression, the West continues to prove that its foreign policy illusions are rapidly collapsing on the global stage.

This podcast is an individual project between Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

In this new trailer episode, we reintroduce the show with video and reflect on our journey from a university professor and International Relations student a few years ago to consulting partners at WB Insights today. We examine exactly what the Western Bubble is in 2026 and how the global geopolitical landscape has shifted over the last four years.

As we launch our new video format, we are also upgrading our programming. We introduce our new producer, Stefani Obradovic and break down exactly what you can expect from our schedule:

The New Formats:

The Weekly Analysis (Mondays): A sharp breakdown of the current state of the Western Bubble.
The Autopsy (Fridays): We react to a speech, article, or video from within the bubble to dissect where the authors went wrong, or occasionally, right.
The Emergency Pod: Immediate reactions to unexpected geopolitical events that simply cannot wait until Monday.
Deep Dives: Interviews with friends of the podcast, debates with individuals who might disagree with us, and deep historical analysis of events.

Our Seasonal Schedule: To keep our analysis sharp and ensure our team gets a deserved mental pause, we are dividing the year into three core seasons for our weekly episodes and autopsies:

Spring Season: January until the end of March
Summer Season: May until the end of June
Fall Season: September until the end of November

During our off months (April, August, and December), we will release our pre-recorded Deep Dives so you never go a week without new insights.

This podcast is a project between Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab. We receive support from our wonderful producer Stefani Obradovic. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us anemail to thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week, we look at the growing concerns around the so-called AI bubble and why the panic is beginning to resemble the early 2000s, only multiplied by trillions. Nvidia is now valued higher than Germany’s entire economic output in 2025, which means one single company is worth two and a half times the combined value of all publicly traded firms in Germany.

A recent MIT report shows that 95 percent of organisations investing in generative AI see zero return, despite pouring thirty to forty billion dollars into it. Even Google’s own CEO has admitted that parts of the current AI boom look irrational. Still, optimists like Mustafa Suleyman insist this moment is historic and that sceptics simply lack imagination.

So, is this genuine technological transformation or a collective fever dream, driven by hype, speculation, and fear of missing out? What is the role of managerial attitudes in this whole situation?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As COP 30 begins in Belém, we look at how the world is heading into another climate summit with rising emissions, crumbling political will, and a system still built on ideas from the 1990s. Global fossil CO2 emissions are expected to increase again in 2025 to a record 38.1 billion metric tons. Western will to climate protection is suffering from populism, which is weakening climate policy across democracies, a trend Dario sees firsthand in his work.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week, we talk about the surprising rise of Zohran Mamdani and why his victory matters far beyond New York. His proposals are, in reality, standard European centre-left policies. The reaction to him, though, reveals something deeper in American political culture: racism, Islamophobia, and a growing panic about who gets to define the political centre at all.

Mamdani is winning over parts of the Trump base by talking about material conditions instead of cultural panic. Meanwhile, the Democratic establishment is telling itself that recent wins in Virginia and New Jersey confirm the safety of staying in the centre. Mamdani is treated as an anomaly, not a blueprint. But this misreads the moment entirely. If the Democrats repeat the mistake of 2016 with Bernie Sanders, by drifting further to the centre (right) out of fear of their own voters, they will continue to inflate the Western Bubble rather than address the real crisis.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we look at what the world actually looks like after the decline of neoliberalism. The systems that once kept global politics, trade, and humanitarian responses predictable are dissolving, and what is emerging is not a stable alternative but something closer to global anarchy.

The United States has pushed tariffs to levels not seen in over a century, and is now carrying out airstrikes on civilian vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific with almost no international consequences. Meanwhile, the humanitarian disaster in Sudan continues without meaningful action from the so-called international community, even as millions are displaced and famine spreads.

Multilateralism is not simply weakening. It is disappearing. And when there is no mechanism for cooperation, crisis management, or accountability, what remains is a world where power decides everything and suffering becomes background noise.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

China has quietly positioned itself as the global gatekeeper of rare-earth metals, now expanding export restrictions as a response to the United States imposing new trade barriers and levies. Meanwhile, the Netherlands caused a geopolitical tug-of-war between the European Union and China over the chip industry that powers modern life. Once again, Western countries seem unprepared for the long game as Western actions against China are hurting domestic industries.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Donald Trump has done it again: a dramatic announcement, a deadline, and a deal. His new 20-point peace plan for Gaza was signed between Israel and Hamas, hailed as the beginning of a new era, and even earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Javier Milei and Bosnia.

But is this truly the end of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts, or just another temporary ceasefire dressed up as history?

In this episode, we unpack the so-called Trump Peace Plan, how it differs from his earlier proposals, and why nearly everyone, from Western leaders to regional actors, seems eager to believe this time will be different. We also look at the historical record, current statements, and political incentives that suggest the fighting might not be over for long.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

After Balder called out Generation Z two weeks ago for not engaging enough in activism, we return to the question that lingers beneath everything: what can we actually do in a world where the West keeps declining, institutions are under attack, and everything feels like it is too much?

Is the answer to cancel Disney, rage on social media, or take to the streets? Or are we simply too caught up in symbolic gestures while real change slips further away?

There are also policy proposals emerging in response to a West in decline. From California’s Proposition 50 (the so-called Election Rigging Response Act) to renewed calls to ban Germany’s AfD, this episode explores what happens when societies start losing faith in their own systems, and how democracies respond when pushed to the edge.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode of the Western Bubble, we turn our attention to Israel, where events of the past weeks have revealed a country spiralling out of control. The largest civilian-led convoy in history, with over 40 vessels and 500 participants from more than 44 countries, attempted to break the blockade of Gaza, only to be intercepted by Israeli forces. At the same time, Israel ordered airstrikes against seven different countries in the past two months: Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar, Iran, and Yemen.

We also discuss why more and more Western countries have begun to recognise Palestine since 2023, and why this shift is happening now.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

After a two-month break, we return to find the decline of liberal democracy in the United States accelerating at a frightening pace. We look back at the assassination of Charlie Kirk to the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel and the indictment of James Comey.

We then take a step aside to talk about Generation Z colliding with reality in today’s job market, reflecting on two recent Harvard studies about boredom, entry-level jobs, and the risks of outsourcing development to artificial intelligence.

Finally, we turn back to geopolitics and debate Europe’s role in the face of Trump’s bullying. Should the EU strike out boldly with a new vision for the future, or is a radical break with the transatlantic relationship too dangerous to risk?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

This week, we draw an uncomfortable comparison between ICE in the United States and Frontex in Europe. Whether it’s children in cages or children being handed picture books about their own deportation, the language of “in the child’s best interest” rings hollow.

We also challenge the idea that only the US is responsible for enabling Israel. While Washington’s military and political support is undeniable, Europe is also complicit, through inaction and ongoing arms deliveries. The truth is, both the US and Europe share a deeper problem: the erosion of personal responsibility and a neglect of the social contract.

Examples range from protests in Epping to a $16 million settlement and cancelling Stephen Colbert between Paramount and Trump, displaying open corruption, to Colombia paying $200 million and revoking 70 degrees over fear of Trump. We highlight examples of institutions and individuals failing in their duties.

But we end on a rare positive note before the summer break: a parent who actually took personal responsibility. See you back in September!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Here are the links we talked about:

Good parenting: https://x.com/AlexRothe92/status/1949103538082054435?s=19

Jubilee Video: https://youtu.be/2S-WJN3L5eo?si=m_O7w3x0riTojY2x&t=1322

"Children's Book": https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6eea0e99-e464-11ef-be2a-01aa75ed71a1#

This week, we dig into the renewed uproar around Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous network and how its resurfacing in 2025 is fueling not just conspiracy theories, but a deeper institutional and psychological crisis.

But this story isn’t really about Epstein or Trump. It’s about how simplified moral binaries are hijacking political discourse. We look at how these narratives flatten complex realities, fuel extreme tribalism, and damage the very institutions meant to uphold accountability.

If the system can't be trusted and people can’t agree on what’s real, how do we move forward? That’s the real question.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we return to a theme we first explored three years ago: the steady hollowing out of institutions. Recently, the decline has accelerated further, eroding both credibility and effectiveness.

We look at the wave of NATO and EU countries, including Finland and Lithuania, pulling out of the Vancouver landmine ban treaty, citing Russian threats. At the same time, the United States shows open hostility toward international institutions it created: from imposing sanctions on ICC judges investigating Israel to citing the “Hague Invasion Act” to undermine accountability when it is useful. At the same time, still relying on it to criticise those it sees as adversaries.

Elsewhere, Trump uses tariffs as a blunt instrument to reward allies and punish enemies. This time targeting Brazil over the indictment of Bolsonaro, and pressuring Israel to pardon Netanyahu altogether.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we unpack the newly passed Big Beautiful Bill and what it says about the state of Western democracy. Despite two Republican defections, the bill sailed through Congress, bringing with it massive increases in military and immigration enforcement spending, the extension of unsustainable tax cuts, and the likely loss of health coverage for millions of Americans.

But the real story goes deeper. How is it possible that legislation this harmful still passes? From weak parliamentarians to increasingly executive-dominated legislatures, to parties enforcing strict conformity, we explore how Western democracies are drifting toward top-down governance. We draw parallels from the U.S. to Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.K., all facing their own versions of this political decay.

Has democracy become too slow and inconvenient for the modern voter? Tune in as we explore what this latest bill really reveals about the Western Bubble.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week, we take a step back from geopolitics to explore how artificial intelligence is already reshaping our societies and our minds. From efficiency gains to cognitive decline, we reflect on how we personally use AI and why it’s so easy to fall into the traps of convenience and illusion.

Drawing lessons from the social media age, we look at how AI accelerates the collapse of shared reality, fuels parasocial relationships, and chips away at our ability to think critically. With tools like Grok and Google Veo 3 making privacy a memory and manipulation effortless, the question isn’t whether AI will turn evil, but whether we’re prepared for what it’s doing to us right now.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we navigate the chaos of the past week: as Trump launches airstrikes using bunker-buster bombs, supposedly to “bring peace,” we ask: what does the U.S. gain from this? And why is Europe so eager to look the other way?

We also offer two public service announcements, one on the myths surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, and one on the absurdity of the West’s new 5% defence spending target. Because sometimes, cutting through the noise is more important than adding to it.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

After the latest escalation between Israel and Iran, we take a step back to assess what just happened and what it means moving forward. With hundreds of Israeli missiles striking targets deep inside Iran, many are asking whether this constitutes an official act of war. But in an age where no one seems to declare war anymore, what does that even mean?

We unpack the short-, medium-, and long-term logic behind Israel’s actions, and ask whether strategic brilliance is really at play—or whether the current approach is sowing the seeds for even more instability within the Israeli government. We explore how global perceptions of Israel’s military success might be masking the damage being done, both regionally and internationally. And in the background, the question looms: does this kind of attack now justify Iran seeking a nuclear weapon, even if it shouldn’t?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this extra episode, we unpack the dramatic events of the early morning Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory. Around 3 AM CEST, hundreds of missiles struck multiple locations in a long-prepared operation involving cyberwarfare and ground operatives. As the attacks continue, we ask: Was this an act of war?

We explore the immediate reactions—Western allies balancing carefully worded responses like “Israel has a right to defend itself,” while distancing themselves from involvement. Meanwhile, Trump ominously warns this is “just a warm-up.”

As Benjamin Netanyahu calls it a decisive moment, we question the glaring imbalance in how military actions are perceived, depending on who launches them. Is the world’s focus on Iran’s possible response proof that some actions are simply more tolerated than others?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, please email us at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As protests in Los Angeles against ICE turn violent, Trump responds by sending in the National Guard—only to be publicly rebuked by California’s leadership. Is this an escalation of authoritarian tendencies or just another display of political incompetence? Meanwhile, a bizarre feud between Trump and Elon Musk unfolds, adding a layer of personal drama to an already volatile political landscape. Was the deployment of the National Guard just a smokescreen to distract from Trump’s embarrassing fallout with Musk?

We also briefly touch on the latest developments in the Netherlands, where domestic political chaos adds yet another data point to a growing transatlantic trend.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Elections have taken place in Canada, Australia and Romania; in each of these countries, the quasi-Trump candidate lost. However, the wins of centre parties can only slightly mask the need for each of these countries to redefine their identity on the world stage.

What do these elections tell us about the Western world’s evolving self-image, and what lessons, if any, can be drawn?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

From quiet UK streets under constant surveillance to the chaos of global power politics, this week we cover a whirlwind of developments.

Dario shares his impressions from a tightly monitored Britain, where the comfort of order comes at the cost of privacy. Meanwhile, Trump continues dismantling democratic norms: using federal money to reward friends and punish critics, tightening control over universities like Harvard. His recent treatment of South Africa’s leadership adds yet another layer to the humiliation tactics we’ve seen before. Is Trump a fascist by now?

In this episode, Eurovision even makes an appearance, as a strange cultural mirror to our geopolitical moment.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

This week's episode is a little different from our usual format as Dario is travelling and therefore unable to record. Balder is still bringing you the most important foreign policy updates within the Western Bubble context. Next week, we will take a break from recording and return afterwards.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

What happens when the lights go out across an entire region?

This week, we talk about the massive blackout that plunged the Iberian Peninsula into darkness and the strange psychological aftermath that followed. Balder shares his experience from the ground in Madrid, while we reflect on how quickly panic and rumors—especially of World War III and our last episode on the fear of war—spread through a society gripped by fear. From people raiding grocery stores to others flocking to parks, the reactions say as much about our modern mindset as they do about the incident itself.

We also look at how the blackout is already being politicised, reigniting old debates about renewables, nuclear energy, and infrastructure security, despite the fact that, as of recording day, we still don’t know what really happened.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As global tensions continue to rise, the West appears to be entering a psychological phase of preparing for war. From escalating rhetoric in Europe to increased defense spending and political leaders openly calling for rearmament, we examine how the narrative is shifting—from deterrence to expectation. What does it mean when headlines across the continent begin to normalize the prospect of conflict?

We start this episode with the latest flare-up between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, before turning to the growing militarization of Western thought and policy. Is this a justified response to external threats like Russia, or is the West also falling victim to its own fear-driven narratives?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Just hours after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, we take a step back to examine the enduring role of religion in shaping global politics. As crises multiply and chaos spreads, a growing number of people, especially young adults, are turning back to faith. But what does this resurgence mean for international relations?

We explore how religious structures—from the hierarchy of the Catholic Church to the decentralised force of Evangelicals—shape policy differently. We dive into the influence of Orthodox Christianity in Russia, Sunni and Shia Islam in the Middle East, and the unique roles played by Confucianism in China and even Buddhism on the global stage.

From legitimising war and empire to underpinning human rights discourse, religion has always had a seat at the table of power. The question is—how will that seat be used now?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Trump’s 90-day tariff pause might sound like an opening for diplomacy—but the real reason behind it lies in bond markets, not international goodwill. And while most countries now have a temporary reprieve, China is very much not included. With tariff levels now skyrocketing to 145% on both sides, Washington and Beijing are locked in a dangerous game.

So why is the EU still trying to play the part of the reasonable adult in the room? Ursula von der Leyen may believe that measured, moderate politics will prevail—but in a world of escalating economic warfare, is there still room for quiet diplomacy? Or is “being the reasonable one” a fast track to irrelevance?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Donald Trump’s latest tariff plan is as bold as it is baffling. A 60% tax on Chinese imports, arbitrary surcharges on trade deficits, and even tariffs on… the Penguin Islands? With Vietnam already targeted and Europe bracing for impact, what exactly is the strategy here—if any?

In this episode, we break down Trump’s tariff logic (or lack thereof) and explore the possible scenarios: Is this just a negotiating tactic? A deliberate move to collapse the global trade system? Or simply economic incompetence on full display?

More importantly, we examine the long-term consequences: Is the U.S. dismantling the very system that made it an economic superpower? And what happens if the world stops playing along?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

The Western Bubble has been added to the chat

In this episode, we delve into the recent security breach where U.S. national security leaders used the Signal app to discuss imminent military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. The situation escalated when National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the group chat, leading to public exposure of sensitive information.

We examine the implications of conducting high-level military planning over unsecured channels like Signal, which lacks the stringent protections of traditional secure facilities. The casual approach to decisions involving civilian casualties, the apparent disregard for legal and moral considerations, and the overt disdain expressed by officials like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth toward European allies further highlight the growing rift in transatlantic relations, echoing themes from our earlier discussions in Episode 104.

Join us as we unpack the events from March 15 onward, exploring the broader consequences of this breach on international alliances and the trust between governments and their citizens.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA, Dario Hasenstab, and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

The transatlantic alliance is broken—so what happens next? In this episode, we strip away the hype and look at the deep trends shaping our world: the growing disconnect between leaders and citizens, the rise of a global oligarchy, and the breakdown of Western institutions. With liberal democracy fading, does the world shift toward multipolar power centres like China, India, and Brazil? And if the West is in decline, what happens to the systems built on it—NATO, the WHO, the global economy?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

History is full of moments when people misjudged the future—either by being too pessimistic or not pessimistic enough. In the 1930s, optimism blinded many to the rise of fascism. During the Cold War, existential fears clashed with hopes for progress. In the late 1980s, faith in a post-Soviet world fueled the Western Bubble, while 2010 saw coping mechanisms replace real solutions, paving the way for today’s crises.

Now, as we stand at another crossroads, what lessons can we draw from the past? And more importantly—what will the world look like in 2050? Join us as we attempt to predict the future with history as our guide.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

With the transatlantic relationship in crisis, Europe faces a choice: continue clinging to a U.S. that no longer sees it as a true partner, or chart its own course. In this episode, we break down what the EU must do now—from shedding its emotional dependence on Washington to building real military autonomy and forging new alliances with nations similarly impacted by Trump’s policies.

We also discuss how Europe can play a decisive role in Ukraine’s path toward a ceasefire, and why strategic retaliation—not appeasement—may be the only way to respond to U.S. bullying. The West is being redefined; the question is whether Europe will shape its own future or let others dictate it.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As promised, we’re back this week to unpack the aftermath of the now-infamous Oval Office incident between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—with Vice President JD Vance awkwardly present in the background. This diplomatic mess goes far beyond the usual theatrics, shaking the very foundations of US Foreign Policy.

In Europe (and Canada), leaders are scrambling to respond—some choosing appeasement, others facing the reality that this could be the final nail in the coffin of the transatlantic partnership. We highlight two key reactions: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who manages to strike a surprisingly decent tone, and German almost-chancellor Friedrich Merz, who performs a full 180 just ten days after his election.

What does this tell us about the West’s ability to adapt—or its tendency to cling to outdated assumptions? Join us as we break down the fallout and what comes next for Europe, the U.S., and the global order.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we return to the ever-escalating tensions in the Middle East. From the latest prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas—where each side’s reactions reveal deep-rooted asymmetries—to repeated violations of agreements, the region is once again teetering on the edge.

We also turn our attention to Hezbollah and a lingering question—can you truly defeat an organisation’s ideas through military force alone? Meanwhile, Syria briefly steps back into the international spotlight, even earning a mention in Vatican News. That’s more than enough reason for us to examine what the Western Bubble gets wrong about the country’s latest developments.

And, of course, no episode on Middle East would be complete without the familiar Western headlines: Iran is once again "on the brink" of building a nuclear weapon—just like it has been for the past two decades.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In this episode, we focus on two key developments shaking the Western order. JD Vance at MSC says Europe's gravest threat isn’t external—it’s the continent's own retreat from the core values it once shared with the U.S. ... A retreat, it turns out, from the U.S. on those very values.

Meanwhile, on the international stage, Trump's unorthodox manoeuvres—from secret talks with Putin about Ukraine to his startling proposal to resettle Gaza’s population—signal a new era of unpredictable diplomacy. How do these internal and external shifts redefine the future of the West? Join us as we unpack these high-stakes moves and their far-reaching implications.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As we celebrate our 100th episode, we take a reflective journey through our past discussions—from early debates on institutional decline and the evolving Western narrative to our deep dives into the turmoil in Ukraine, Israel, and beyond. We’ve dissected the insights of figures like Tucker Carlson, Fukuyama, Huntington, G. W. Bush, Jordan Peterson, and Simon Tisdall, and scrutinized issues from European political dysfunction to the shifting balance of global power. In this special milestone episode, we look back at the pivotal moments that have defined our dialogue, question what we’ve learned, and explore how these reflections shape the future of the Western Bubble.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As we approach our 100th episode, we take a step back to examine the chaos of the past two months. From the latest developments in the U.S. to the growing influence of unchecked power—whether through Elon Musk’s reckless decisions, presidential decrees, or a media landscape failing to offer real scrutiny—one thing is clear: the cracks in Western institutions are widening. We also discuss Europe’s political dysfunction, by looking at the Netherlands and Germany. But as we lay out these challenges, the real question is—how does the West move forward? That’s what we’ll tackle in our milestone Episode 100.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Happy New Year! We’re back, and so is the geopolitical madness we’ve come to expect. With President Trump now inaugurated, he has wasted no time making bold moves. But what’s really behind his claims on Panama, Canada, and Greenland? What do these actions signal for U.S. foreign policy as a whole? And ultimately, is America now more or less likely to start a war? Tune in as we break it all down.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

As 2024 draws to a close, the cracks in the global order have become impossible to ignore. From Ukraine’s waning prospects in its war against Russia and Western disengagement to the political chaos in the Middle East, the world is at a crossroads. On top of that, we discuss the unchecked power of billionaires, the growing dominance of the populist right, and the harsh realities of climate change.

As we reflect on the changes and challenges of this year, we hope that the Western Bubble Podcast has helped shed light on some of the key events shaping our world. Your support means everything to us, and we look forward to continuing this journey together in 2025. Wishing you a joyful New Year filled with insight, growth, and inspiration!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Immigration is one of the most polarizing topics in Western politics today, consistently topping voter priorities and shaping political campaigns. But how much of what we believe about migration is actually true? In this episode, we unravel some of the most persistent myths about immigration, exposing how politicians and the media distort reality to serve their agendas.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

In today’s episode, we delve into South Korea, where President Yoon’s declaration of martial law raises critical questions about the Western Bubble. Are Western factions quietly observing what to avoid—or adopt—when consolidating control? We also examine the shocking murder of a healthcare CEO and what it reveals about the growing disconnect between economic and political elites and the public they claim to serve. Tune in to uncover the deeper implications of these events and how they resonate beyond South Korea.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

PS. We apologise for the audio of this episode, we experienced technical difficulties with this recording. Next week will be back to normal.

From Biden pardoning Hunter Biden to Trump’s influence on global diplomacy, this episode dives into the intricate web of U.S. domestic politics and its global ripple effects. We explore Trump’s role in Biden mediating a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, analyse the chaos in Georgia, and assess the resurging instability in Syria. How do these events connect, and what does it reveal about Western policymaking in an increasingly multipolar world?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!

As the Arctic transforms into a region of strategic importance due to climate change, new opportunities and tensions emerge. Trade routes, resource access, and geopolitical ambitions converge in a competition that involves Russia, NATO, and other global players. In this episode, we unpack the power dynamics and the stakes shaping the future of the Arctic.

This podcast is produced with the support of RAIA NOW gUG but remains an independent project by RAIA Director Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. To connect with us, email us at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

Over the past year, the dynamics in Gaza have shifted significantly, yet Western policy towards Israel remains largely unchanged. This episode explores the reasons behind this disconnect, analyzing the factors that keep Western governments entrenched in their existing approaches. We dive into a recent incident in Amsterdam, where tensions flared between supporters of an Israeli football club and local residents, offering a microcosm of the larger geopolitical stalemate.

We also start the episode with a brief look across the Atlantic, examining Donald Trump's latest cabinet picks and what they signal for the future of U.S. politics.

This is the video we reference on the reporting in Amsterdam from SkyNews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wATqghw5Ils

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

Donald Trump is President-elect of the United States of America and Dario does not want to talk about it. Why are people so afraid to seek discomfort in these times? We found out today why that is the case. Oh, and the German government imploded, so Dario's job in the political scene of Berlin has become a lot more intense...

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

The US election results are coming out as we are publishing this episode. Still, we already spoke on Sunday discussing the crazy campaigning period and the foreign policy ideals of both candidates. Also, the Western Bubble is proud to announce that we are not endorsing either candidate, we believe you can make that endorsement personally. ;) We also look into the role of the media and their endorsements ... (looking at you Washington Post).

Oh, the media in the UK and the new Tory leadership are also on our radar.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

The 2024 BRICS Summit in Russia just ended and did we hear about it in Western Media? Mostly when Putin spoke (or didn't) about North Korean soldiers in Ukraine, but apart from that ... it was "controversial" ... nothing else? If we look outside the Western Bubble we find that this summit was a glimpse into a world without the West!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

This time we talk about the death of Sinwar in Gaza and what this means for the conflict from a Western Bubble perspective. Then we swiftly think about Elon Musk and what trauma he must have been through to say what he is saying about Trump and the US. And lastly, we discuss migration in the EU and look into why Canada and India are disliking each other lately!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

We are back from our summer break and what a summer break that was. Joe Biden drops out of the US elections and Kamala Harris takes his place. In the meantime, Israel has been invading Lebanon while the Western Media is still waiting for Iran to throw the Middle East into a large-scale conflict. Time for us to analyse the world again, through the lens of the Western Bubble!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com

After weeks of hyping it up we are finally delivering on our promise to deliver some broad solutions to the problems of the Western Bubble. Can you think of any others? Feel free to share them with us!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Our 4th season is coming to an end, which provides us with an opportunity to look back at some of the topics we have discussed in the past months and see how they have developed. Is there still war in Ukraine and Gaza? How close is Iran this time to the nuclear bomb? How can Labour win two-thirds of the seats in the UK elections with only one-third of the voted? And finally, is Joe Biden too old to be US President?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The US Supreme Court has been the talk of the town this week. There are plenty of impactful cases to look at from the past weeks. Donald Trump basically reveiving imunity from his actions as President, bribery being legalised and the courts centralising power around itself. Plenty of actions that are in line with a further decay of institutions in the West, and plenty of matters to analyse for us!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Can we blame the average voters for their votes for destructive policies? To what extend are they victims or the establishment? To what extend should voters see through false promises? Today we are discussing a disagreement between us to what extend individuals in the West can be held accountable for their decisions.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

This June, US President Biden said that “Russia will not stop at Ukraine, and “All of Europe will be threataned”. Where is this fear of war coming from? Why is the West so afraid of it? How does this influence our foreign policy thinking?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The European Parliament Elections just took place and they took us for a ride. But unlike the European establishment we do not call anyone who voted for the extreme right idiots, but actually analyse what elements of the Western Bubble have created an environment in which more and more Europeans vote for right wing populist parties.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The third part of our three part episode series on institutional decline with today's focus of who still wants to come tonthe West? People who need money or flee violence, but is the West still the "shining light on a hill"? If not, why is this the case? Analyse this with us in this episode.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

In our second part of our three parter on institutional decline in the West we focus on foreign policy. Continuity and the resulting accountability are key to any foreign policy! The West has been lacking that continuity since the end of the Cold War now ... with incredibly destructive consequences.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Universities all over the globe are experiencing encampments of students demanding action against Israel. This is representing an increasing trend of frustrations of the younger generations with institutions managing rather than leading society with its visions. This episode is the first part of a three part series on institutional decline.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Over the weekend all of Europe went crazy over the European Song Contest - Eurovision. As a weekend full of scandals comes to an end, the biggest of which is "obviously" France not winning, we analyse Eurovision as a case study for the Western Bubble and particularly the role of Israel. Oh, and as you can imagine, Balder is "furious" that the Netherlands were disqualified...

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse the United Kingdom's agreement with Rwanda to fly asylum seekers and migrants to Rwanda to process them. We talk about how this is a perfect example of Western decay and also rant a little.

Here is the video of Chris Philp https://youtu.be/Olk61SGPb-o?si=bmojFxSL_L0I0zYx

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Haiti is always in the news for negative reports, the country is governed by a failed state. Today we discuss failed states from the Western Bubble perspective and use Haiti as a case study of destructive Western behaviour.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Multinational cooperations undermine and harm the West in various ways. But why does the West not do anything to control their power and influence? Because these MNCs are inherently Western and a Western product - find out how exactly in this episode!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

To discuss the Easter-West or non-Nato Western Bubble we invited someone from the Eastern-West. In this episode, we are talking to Daniel Bloch from Australia about Australia and to what extend we can or cannot apply the concept of the Western Bubble to Australia. Oh, ... and we also discuss how big Australia actually is, very big.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

As a special Easter-Ramadan-Purim Episode, we had an informal talk about religion. What's the role of religion in the Western Bubble? How do we personally see and interpret religion? What is the role of religion in societies? And is the Western Bubble a substitute religion for people living in the West?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Almost six months after the 7th of October Attacks, Israel is largely isolated on the world stage and in the West - driving it further into the arms of the West. We examine why this is the case and to what extend the West is to blame?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

What is the role of the military in the Western Bubble? Does it add to it? Does it intensify it? How come NATO has a military budget many times the ones of China or Russia? All questions we answer in this episode!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

"Northern European arrogance vs Southern European ingratitude" ... Europeans have their stereotypes for each other. But what does this have to do with the Western Bubble and its origins?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Two days after we recorded our episode on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine Denmark dropped its investigation into the Nordstream Bombing and Macron speculated sending troops to Ukraine. Oh, and Putin threatened to deploy nuclear weapons if NATO were to send troops.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Two years ago Russia invaded Ukraine, since then a lot has happened in the Western Bubble, but basically very little has changed on the battle fronts, except 500000 casualties. Is the West partially responsible for this suffering because it blocked negotiations in the summer of 2022?

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-24-2024

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Donald Trump has very good chances to become US President once again. Today we analyse what the Foreign Policy of a second Trump term would look like, based on the concept of the Western Bubble.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The Republican Party in the US is a great case study of Western behaviour in the past decades. Particularly recently, the Party has provided us with many things to analyse.

DISCLAIMER: Dario’s audio is a little messed up in this episode, we apologise for this.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The International Court of Justice issued an emergency ruling on a case of South Africa brought forward against Israel over Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. Today we look at the relevance of international law for the Western Bubble and the world of international relations. Is it relevant at all?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we discuss Cancel Culture! Where does it come from? And where is it going? Also, why is this unique to the Western World? Join us as we kick off our fourth season!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

It is the end of 2023 and we are awarding the bubble awards once again! Who will win the bubble blooper, bubble booster, bubble burster, bubble blower and the best bubble? - Biden, Putin, von der Leyen, many others or the fan favourite Liz Truss?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

During the recording of our last episode, right-wing populism, Dario went on a rant about society’s treatment of the youth during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was too long to keep in the original episode, but also too honest and important to fully cut it. So we decided to upload it as an EXTRA Episode, enjoy!

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem. Still, it is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Geert Wilders, Javier Milei, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson! Crazy hair populists are on our minds and we want to understand why the West is so vulnerable to these right-wing populists. What aspects of the Western Bubble led to larger and larger parts of society voting right-wing populists parties?

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

How many times per week do we think about the Roman Empire? Balder thinks about it twice a week, Dario prefers the Egyptians… But what does this mean for the Western Bubble? Well, the Romans are an essential part of the Western identity as we like to idealise them.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

David Cameron is back in the politics of the United Kingdom and so is our need to talk about the UK. The last time we did so was one year ago and the name of the Prime Minister was Liz Truss. This week we talk about the reasons that have led British party politics to be focused around individuals rather than ideas and whether the UK should be an example of Western liberal democracy for the world…

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Contrary to popular belief or media attention, the Israel-Hamas and the Russia-Ukraine conflicts are not the only ones in the world. Lives are also lost and destroyed in many other places in this world, some of which we highlight in this episode. What are the reasons we care so much about some conflicts, and so little about others.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

After popular demand, we are back with this topic and the situation on the ground still has not improved. Since our last episode, the West has further isolated itself on this topic on the global stage after a vote in the UN General Assembly. And, we introduce a new category in our podcast: “International Relations Perspective” where we quickly analyse what Russia, Saudi Arabia and China are saying about this conflict.

NOTE: We recorded this episode on November 5th, but due to technical issues we can only publish it today. Please bear this in mind when we mention numbers.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported by research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

For years now the West has put Venezuela in the naughty corner, only to realise that in the meantime the country has moved closer to Russia and China. Join us for this episode to observe Western efforts to reconnect with the country. As a little extra we will make fun of Jordan Goudreau who tried to take the Maduro government down with a total of 40 mercenaries.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

What do the United States and China have in common with Adidas and Nike? According to Dario they are an analogy for global realignment, but you let us know if this works in light of the 10 year celebration of the Chinese Belt-Road-Initiative. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. This episode was supported with research from Yu Jie Law and Aston Roth. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

One week later and the tragic situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip is still on everybody's mind. Since last week a lot of things have happened and a lot more actors with their own Western Bubble bias have entered the discussions. We analyse the three main groups forming the current conversation and have a particular look at the Western left. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The tragic situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip also needs to be analysed from the Western Bubble perspective. What lessons can be learned from our analysis of the past and applied here to de-escalate and decrease humanitarian suffering? IMPORTANT: We recorded this episode on October 8th at 10:30. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

The news of Azerbaijan taking over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh primarily inhabited by ethnic Armenians sparked a debate about self-determination. We weigh in on this debate from the Western Bubble perspective and explain the dynamics of the IR version of rock-paper-scissors: self-determination-sovereignty-global politics. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

This is our first interview episode of season three and we could not have started it with a better guest but our editor Usama Ghanem. We talk to him about his experiences in the West and with the Western. Listen to the episode to find out what obscure laws there are in the United Kingdom, the Arab Spring in Egypt and why Usama's name is spelled the way it is. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

With the BRICS and G20 summit taking place last week, Western countries and media are panicking over new members to the BRICS and interpreting China’s absence from the G20 summit as a difficult relationship with India. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

We are Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab, a professor and his former student of international relations. Together we examine how Western countries are increasingly lost in their own delusions on the world stage, and what can be done to bring them back to reality. In this introduction episode, we discuss the beginning of this podcast and the main theme, the Western bubble. For season 3 we are introducing a new segment in our episodes, guest interviews! This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the United Nations Human Rights Council issuing a report on Quran Burnings in Sweden and Denmark. This shows how the West has lost control over its own invention and how the United Nations no longer exclusively displays Western interpretations of morality. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse the coverage of a press team in Iraq that gives us hope that the Western Bubble is not impenetrable. As a basis of today's episodes serves a Foreign Affairs article written by John Walcott who wrote about his time at Knight Ridder, a former US media outlet, and their coverage of the build-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.https://www.foreignaffairs.com/iraq/journalism-press-failed-iraq-walcottThis podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

For the month of August, we decided to record four episodes that show signs of the Western Bubble bursting. And we are starting with the development surrounding the coup in Niger where it is becoming apparent how little influence the West still holds in this region. Here is the article we briefly discuss as an example of bubble thinking https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66364872This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

It is inherently human to act and to try anything in our power to stop bad things from happening. But is that always the best option? In this episode, we analyse the Art of Doing Nothing and how the Western Bubble could really benefit from it in its foreign policy choices.

The article by Susanne Klatt on American vs German firefighters: https://www.fireengineering.com/health-safety/an-international-comparison-training-standards-and-fireground-safety-susanne-klatt/#gref

The article Balder wrote during the pandemic on the art of doing nothing: https://raiagroup.org/the-art-of-doing-nothing

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Julia Ohm but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

In this episode, we analyse the concept of peace, in particular how it influences Western Bubble mentality. Typically Europeans and North Americans think of their societies as peaceful. This perception is often backed up by misleading statistics. Today we analyse one of these, namely the Global Peace Index. You can find the report we talk about here: https://www.economicsandpeace.org/reports/ This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

In this episode we analyse the Western bubble mentality of Guardian writer Simon Tisdall. Tisdall has been writing about foreign policy for 40 years now. Much of his analysis serves as a good case study of the Western delusions we discuss in our episodes.Here are the articles we quote from: China, Myanmar and now Darfur ... the horror of genocide is here again (July 2nd 2023)Defeat for Ukraine would be a global disaster. Nato must finally step in to stop Russia (July 8th 2023)Nato faces an all-out fight with Putin. It must stop pulling its punches (March 5th 2023)The world still needs a policeman. Let’s hope the US doesn’t quit the job (March 26th 2023)The uncounted: how millions died unseen in America’s post-9/11 wars (May 21st 2023)This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

In this episode we analyse the impact of technology on political accountability and policy making. While preparing for the planned episode, we noticed a different perspective between us and so we decided to record the conversation we usually have preparing for the episodes instead.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse the phenomenon of Jordan Peterson in the Western Bubble and why his prominence in the public discourse is a symptom of Western decay. In this episode we are commenting on three audio bites from Jordan Peterson. You can find the full videos here:Clip 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUiG5_GcMyYClip 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZYQpge1W5s&t=1120sClip 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTk-69f64KU This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse three developments in the West as a result of the Western Bubble. First, we look at Donald Trump on trial, second, we examine Boris Johnson stepping down as member of Parliament and, lastly, we are upset with the German police arresting a climate activist for wanting to protest. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse the West’s obsession with free speech and the dangers of overestimating its importance as well as underestimating its importance. Should it be illegal to deny the holocaust but legal to deny the Armenian genocide? Difficult questions in grey areas that society must have conversations about. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse how to understand the influence of George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, on the Western Bubble. In our previous two episodes we talked about Huntington and Fukuyama whose ideas were turned into practice by the Bush administration. This led, for example, to the disastrous War on Terror. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse how to understand the influence of Samuel Huntington on the Western Bubble. Huntington, a political scientist, had a significant impact on US intellectual thinking during the Cold War and its end. In the 21st century his most quoted work is “The Clash of Civilisations” which was hugely influential in shaping post-9/11 foreign policy. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse how to understand the influence of Francis Fukuyama on the Western Bubble. Fukuyama, a political scientist, rose to fame in the 1990s with his seminal work The End of History. This book encapsulated the inherent delusion of a post Cold War Western world. The results were often highly destructive. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse the rise and fall of the Middle Class in the Western Bubble. It has been a fundamental pillar in Western success over the past 400 years and has been the driving force behind core Western values. In the 21st century however, the Middle Class is threatened by an increasingly corrupt system that it created itself.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats

Today we analyse how the West continuously turns a blind eye towards Saudi Arabia’s policies and how this plays into the Western Bubble. This episode is largely based on Dario’s Thesis on Saudi Arabia’s regional foreign policy. If you are interested in learning more about this topic we can recommend the book “Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman's Ruthless Quest for Global Power” by Justin Scheck and Bradley Hope. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse how a major aspect of the Western Bubble is externalisation of responsibility. People live their lives insufficiently acknowledging their part in destructive behaviour of their society, instead choosing to project such failure onto "others", often supposedly wicked individuals out to do harm. Extreme versions of such irrational interpretations of reality are conspiracy theories.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In almost every episode we are referencing the 2003 Iraq War as an example of the Western Bubble and we finally devoted an entire episode to it. The reasons for it go to the heart of the Western Bubble and the damages are beyond repair. This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In this second of our two-part episode, we analyse the relationship between the Western Bubble and democracy. After last week's discussion on the facts and the bubble thinking. This week we analyse the serious problems democracy is facing in Western societies and whether it has a future?This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In the first of a two-part episode, we analyse the relationship between the Western Bubble and democracy. Democratic governance systems have many strengths and for many people are preferable to more authoritarian systems. However, Western societies have stopped critically assessing the reasons behind democracy, confusing the practical advantages of these systems with almost a sacred dogma about its supposed superiority. This is intellectually lazy and dangerous.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In this second out of two episodes on nuclear weapons (non-)proliferation, we analyse why Western countries push for non proliferation and how these efforts are undermined by foreign policy decisions from the past.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In this first out of two episodes on nuclear weapons (non-)proliferation, we cycle through those states that currently possess a nuclear arsenal and briefly discuss some of the main motivations behind these destructive capabilities. Next week we analyse this issue specifically from a Western Bubble perspective.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In this second of our EXTRA episodes, we do not dive into a topic as usual but provide our commentary and analysis on current events from the Western Bubble perspective. Here we look at the Western reaction to Russian President Putin announcing Russia will suspend controls of Russia’s nuclear arsenal under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse how unrealistic perspectives on historical individuals contribute to bubble thinking. We as a society take characters such as Mother Teresa, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi and elevate them to levels of irrational purity. This leads to a type of hero worshipping that strengthens delusional narratives about ourselves and our environment.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In this first of our EXTRA episodes we do not dive into a topic as usual but provide our commentary and analysis on current events from the Western Bubble perspective. Here we look at the US overreaction to the Chinese Balloons and lay out different scenarios of what may have happened.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the media and political reaction to the Seymour Hersh article alleging that the US was behind the Nordstream sabotage. In particular, we wonder what makes mainstream journalists so reluctant to delve into this important issue and so eager to cast doubt on Hersh's claims.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse historical negationism and victor’s justice within the Western Bubble. Our misinterpretation of our own pasts makes us worse at understanding our present and the future. We discuss items such as the Nuremberg Trials, the war in Iraq and scientific discoveries.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

We are Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab, a professor and his former student of international relations. Together we examine how Western countries are increasingly lost in their own delusions on the world stage, and what can be done to bring them back to reality. In this introduction episode, we discuss the beginning of this podcast and the main theme, the Western bubble.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA member Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we look back at the year in international relations in the Western Bubble and hand out the Bubble awards for individuals, actors and states. We will be giving out awards in the categories “Almost Started World War III”, “Biggest Bubble Blooper”, “News Reporting”, “Label Terrorism” and “Bubble Burster”.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, with the generous research and analysis assistance of Linda Steiner. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the importance of knowledge and awareness of one’s own national history, in particular when it comes to darker aspects. We contrast the way that Germany has thoroughly examined itself with respect to the second world war with the voluntary and selective amnesia that is typical for European nations.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, with the generous research and analysis assistance of Linda Steiner. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the impact of social media on the Western Bubble with the specific focus on Twitter and Elon Musk as a case study. We answer how social media intensifies the Bubble and what problems this causes.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, with the generous research and analysis assistance of Linda Steiner. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

There is a certain fatigue towards the war in Ukraine but there are a few items that have not been sufficiently covered and deserve attention. Especially, because they concern the Western Bubble. Today we will analyse the assassination of Darya Dugina, the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline and the missiles fired from Ukrainian territory into Poland killing two civilians.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, with the generous research and analysis assistance of Linda Steiner. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Balder is sick unfortunately, enjoy a quick outlook over the next few weeks of the Western Bubble and the introduction of Linda Steiner, our new research and analysis assistant.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats, with the generous research and analysis assistance of Linda Steiner. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In every fifth episode of this podcast, we will go through the news of the past month and relate to our analysis of our past recordings. In this week’s episode we will specifically talk about: Covid-19 measures and their damages, income inequality and trust in institutions, the protests in Iran, Neocolonialism and the COP27, and, finally, Türkiye resisting Western determinism.

Lancet Report on Covid: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00223-7/fulltext

Balder’s article: https://raiagroup.org/the-art-of-doing-nothing

The ECB report: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/economic-bulletin/articles/2022/html/ecb.ebart202203_02~f9d2d059f0.en.html#toc8

New York Times on global emissions: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/12/climate/cop26-emissions-compensation.html

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the Western reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically we talk about our personal experience and how the media, politicians and the middle class reacted to the pandemic. Overall, there has been an inadequate recognition of the costs attached to fighting Covid. These include the undermining of fundamental institutions as well as many direct- yet often unrecognised- victims of anti-Covid measures.

https://raiagroup.org/the-road-to-totalitarianism here Balder’s article from June 2020.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Description: Today we analyse neo-colonial actions of Western countries. Specifically we talk about the DRC, South Sudan and Libya as case studies of how the neo-colonial bubble negatively affects the West's own ambitions as well as how still- over sixty years after independence- it still causes havoc in its former colonies.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the United Kingdom for a second time within the last month. This comes after the past two weeks of political turmoil resulting in Prime Minister Lis Truss resigning. When listening to this episode please bear in mind that we recorded this on Sunday the 23rd of October, right before Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister. We specifically look at systemic failures within the UK.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

016 THE WESTERN BUBBLE: Economic Growth and Growing Inequality

Today we analyse growing income and wealth inequality in the West. Exorbitant wealth accumulation by people is perceived as positive and capitalism is seen as an ideal rather than a tool by societies increasingly detached from the original Western ideals. Rather than a cause for celebration, however, having rich individuals in society is a cost that liberal democracies should only reluctantly accept.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats. thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

In every fifth episode of this podcast, we will go through the news of the past month and relate to our analysis of our past recordings. In this week’s episode, we will specifically talk about: Liz Truss and the United Kingdom, attitudes towards immigration in the Netherlands, the protest in Iran and, finally, the newest developments in the Ukraine war.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, email us at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the Western media more broadly after last week’s focus on Ukraine reporting. The Western Bubble is deeply ingrained in media behaviour: foreign policy reporting is skewed favourably towards pro-democratic and liberal movements while domestic reporting is insufficiently critical of flaws within democratic establishment.

In this episode we are playing segments from the following three videos and quote from the following NY Times article:

Video 1: 0:00-0:26; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8c8PsHSTPM

Video 2: 5:29-6:00; https://youtu.be/lDSu8wlQG6c?t=329

Video 3: https://twitter.com/Taniel/status/850213433664458752?s=20&t=AnoHlMjVNq7YYiQN--uxNA

New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/world/from-the-editors-the-times-and-iraq.html

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats. thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse how the Western Bubble is dangerous when it comes to reporting on the war in Ukraine. The narrative is too biased for what you would want from a free press; Western media pushes a specific narrative rather than reporting and analysing reality.

In this episode we are playing segments from the following four videos:

Video 1: 1:41-2:25; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT_8HXAHZXE

Video 2: 0:34-1:35; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkKzJkpdRT4

Video 3: 1:35-1:58; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPvwzeOY0uM

Video 4: 2:20-3:34; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y56B8kk4Q

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats. thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse the United Kingdom. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the election of Liz Truss as new prime minister, Great Britain seems to have definitively entered a new era. In order to salvage the situation left by Brexit and other missteps, it will need to revise its relation with its own imperial past and formulate a new vision for the 21st century.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Today we analyse Human Rights as Western device. Human Rights are typically considered a source of objective morality but in reality they can be a dangerous tool enabling geopolitical abuse. As always we do this through the lens of the Western Bubble in our continued endeavour to burst it.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us write us an email to thewesternbubble@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter via @JD_Hasenstab and @BHageraats.

Every fifth episode of this podcast we will go through the news of the past month and relate to our analysis of our past recordings. This week’s episode we will specifically talk about: how domestic issues in the US relate to larger Western problems, the continued problem the west has in properly analysing the Russia-Ukraine war and, finally, Chinese geopolitical plays.

Here is the link to article we discussed:

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/08/23/tuning-out-did-we-grow-tired-of-ukraine-war-on-tv-and-in-newspapers

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA and edited by RAIA associate Usama Ghanem but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Today we analyse how the development aid sector is an important characteristic of the Western bubble and how it contributes to perpetuating destructive foreign foreign policy.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Today we analyse the conflict between China and Taiwan. As always we do this through the lens of the Western Bubble in our continued endeavour to burst it.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Today we analyse the fall of US foreign policy. This is the second half of the overall analysis on “The Rise and Fall of US Foreign Policy” through the lens of the Western Bubble. In this half we answer the questions: what is the personal bias, what is the damage and what is the future. We discuss individuals in US FP like Bush Senior, Bill Clinton, Bush Junior and Joe Bide. Furthermore we explain the negative implications of the bubble on US FP and finally we provide an outlook on the future.

Correction, Iceland deployed two Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers to Iraq. https://books.google.com/books?id=d8EnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA423

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Today we analyse the rise of US foreign policy. This is the first half of the overall analysis on “The Rise and Fall of US Foreign Policy” through the lens of the Western Bubble. We will be answering the questions: What are the facts and What is the bubble while describing the rise of US foreign policy from its independence in 1776 to its peak after the first world war to its demise after the second world war.

Next week we will discuss the fall of US foreign policy in the second half of the overall analysis on “The Rise and Fall of US Foreign Policy” through the lens of the Western Bubble. Then we will answer the remaining questions: What is the personal bias, what is the damage and what is the future.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Every fifth episode of this podcast we go through the news of the past month and relate a selection of articles and events to our analysis of past recordings. Today we focus on the political situation in Ukraine and Zelensky’s liberal credential, Biden’s visit to the Middle East, the parallels between the UK Tories and Donald Trump, Mario Draghi’s resignation, as well as the (mis)use of the word terrorism.

Here are the links to articles we discussed:

https://raiagroup.org/zelensky-hot-balancing-the-russian-threat

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/top-iranian-official-we-have-technical-capabilities-to-manufacture-nuclear-bomb/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/where-will-the-conservative-party-go-after-boris-johnson

https://www.voanews.com/a/calls-rise-in-congress-to-designate-russia-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism/6669225.html

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Today we analyse terrorism and the way it has been used as an external enemy and to justify destructive actions by Western states. As always we do this through the lens of the Western Bubble in our continued endeavour to burst it. The need to fight outsiders is a way of distracting our attention away from internal problems and further weakens the sustainability of the Western model.

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Hello there! Today we are analysing the internal weakness that the west is experiencing and how that influences external actions, as always we do this through the lens of the Western Bubble.

Follow us every Wednesday on our journey analysing our world. Feel free to send any feedback/comments/questions to jhasenstab@raiagroup.org

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.#003 BURSTING THE WESTERN BUBBLE: The hollowing out of institutions

Hello there! Today we are analysing the Iran Nuclear Deal through the lens of the Western bubble. Negotiations to reinstate the agreement between Iran and the permanent 5 UN security council members have stalled for quite some time now. In the next hour, we discuss how the Western bubble can explain Iranian-Western relations.

During this episode we reference Kenneth Waltz’s article for Foreign Affairs “Why Iran should get the Bomb”, you can read it here https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/iran/2012-06-15/why-iran-should-get-bomb

This podcast is published with the help of RAIA but is an individual project between General Coordinator of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats.

Hello there! We are Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab, a professor and his former student of international relations. Together we examine how Western countries are increasingly lost in their own delusions on the world stage, and what can be done to bring them back to reality. Follow us every Wednesday on our journey analysing our world.