Danube Institute - The Chain Bridge Podcast: Recent Episodes
Danube Institute
Broadcasting from a villa in the Budapest hills & featuring hour-long conversations with distinguished writers, thinkers, & political commentators.
Joanna Williams joins the podcast to discuss her recent research on the teaching of history in Europe, which reveals how critical thinking has given away to ideology, and a concern for modifying children's behaviour.
Former Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, joins the podcast to discuss his personal experience with Putin and Xi, and to offer his reflections on the similarities and differences between Russia's interest in Ukraine, and China's in Taiwan.
Prof David Martin Jones, the new head of research at the Danube Institute, and formerly of the University of Queensland, joins the podcast to discuss his book History's Fools: the pursuit of idealism and the revenge of politics, published by Hurst and Oxford. Is the West in the grip of foolish idealism? If so, who are the fools? What do they believe? And why does it matter?
Writer and psychiatrist Dr Iain McGilchrist discusses the problem with scientism, the need to pay attention, and the importance of beauty in our lives.
Historian and political philosopher, Ofir Haivry, joins the podcast to share his reflections on Christmas through the medium - naturally enough - of David Bowie's life and music.
Writer Paul Kingsnorth explains his concept of 'the machine' as a metaphor for what ails the contemporary west, and where the cure lies.
Journalist, editor, and President of the Danube Institute, John O'Sullivan, offers his thoughts and reflections on the late Queen, from his memories of her coronation, to her relationship with Thatcher, to what the public reaction her death says about Britain.
Due to recording conditions, adjusting your volume is advised.
In this episode, Martin Koci discusses the legacy of fellow Czech philosopher Jan Patočka (died 1977). Europe seems to have entered a post-Christian era: What do Patočka’s thoughts on Greek philosophy and Christianity, from behind the Iron Curtain, have to offer?
In this episode, Professor Dimitry Kochenov discusses the law and politics of EU enlargement. Is enlargement in the interests of peace? Should Ukraine be admitted to the EU - and when? These and many other questions are touched upon - from Henry VIII's closure of monasteries to the new sanctions imposed on Russia.
Cultural Historian Professor Jeffrey Kaplan discusses his career studying extreme, radical, millenarian, and apocalyptic movements and cults.
Journalist Heather Mac Donald discusses her book The Diversity Delusion, and her concerns about the growth of identity politics on campus and beyond.
Criminologist Simon Cottee discusses his 2021 book, Black Flags of the Caribbean: how Trinidad Became an ISIS Hotspot, and his new book, Watching Murder: ISIS, Death Videos, and Radicalisation, which will be published by Routledge in June 2022.
Advocate David Curry, cultural historian Jeff Kaplan, and political scientist Sarón Sugár discuss and debate the nature of communal violence, with a particular focus on violence against and persecution of Christians worldwide. What sorts of violence and persecution do Christian communities experience? How widespread is the problem? What are its causes? How does it compare to that experienced by other religious groups? And what can be done about it?
In this episode, historian and biographer Andrew Roberts discusses the nature and process of historical biography. Is the course of history determined by impersonal forces, or 'great men'? What can historical biographies teach us? And is the outcome of war determined on the scene or behind the scenes - in battle, or in logistics?
In the second episode of the Chain Bridge Podcast, Dr Paul Gilfillan joins us to reflect on his life as a researcher in modern British universities. Taking inspiration from Friedrich von Hayek's Nobel Prize Lecture, "The Pretence of Knowledge", Gilfillan reminds us that the search for knowledge always requires courage, and humility.
In this first episode of the Chain Bridge Podcast, Julius Strauss joins us to discuss his experience and reflections on being a war correspondent. Having just returned from Ukraine, he cautions us not to assume we can predict how the conflict will develop.
Julius writes a newsletter about Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and the Balkans. You can find it at https://backtothefront.substack.com.