The Western Bubble
Episodes
The Art of Doing Nothing #46
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Peace in the West #45
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we analyse the concept of peace, in particular how it influences Western Bubble mentality. Typically Europeans and North Americans th...
EXTRA : Simon Tisdall
22 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse a specific article from Guardian writer Simon Tisdall, whom we discussed in this week’s regular episode. The article in question is...
Simon Tisdall #44
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we analyse the Western bubble mentality of Guardian writer Simon Tisdall. Tisdall has been writing about foreign policy for 40 years n...
Technology and Politics #43
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we analyse the impact of technology on political accountability and policy making. While preparing for the planned episode, we noticed...
Jordan Peterson #42
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Symptoms of Western Decay #41
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 J...
EXTRA : Wagner Group
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this extra episode we briefly analyse the Western reaction to last week's events surrounding the Wagner Group in Russia. The palpable excitement an...
Free Speech #040
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse the West’s obsession with free speech and the dangers of overestimating its importance as well as underestimating its importance. S...
Georg W. Bush #039
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 tw...
Samuel Huntington #038
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how to understand the influence of Samuel Huntington on the Western Bubble. Huntington, a political scientist, had a significant impa...
Francis Fukuyama #37
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how to understand the influence of Francis Fukuyama on the Western Bubble. Fukuyama, a political scientist, rose to fame in the 1990...
The Middle Class #36
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ye...
Saudi Arabia #035
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 episod...
EXTRA: Biden and Carlson
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how this past week on one hand the continuation of the establishment through Joe Biden announcement to run again for President, while...
EXTRA: Macron China Trip
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Another extra episode in which we analyse the Western Bubble's reaction to the Macron trip to China. Rather than perceiving it as the French President...
#EXTRA: Pentagon Leaks
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how the recent security leaks affect the Western Bubble. These moments tend to lead to tensions and accusations between allies, yet h...
Conspiracy Theories & Externalising Responsibility #034
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how a major aspect of the Western Bubble is externalisation of responsibility. People live their lives insufficiently acknowledging t...
2003 Iraq War #033
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
Future of Democracy? #032
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 fact...
#Extra Putin and the ICC
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin: another case study in Western Bubble thinking where international law and the ICC are mistaken for objectiv...
Democratic Bubble #031
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the first of a two-part episode, we analyse the relationship between the Western Bubble and democracy. Democratic governance systems have many stre...
#EXTRA Saudi-Iran Peace?
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Dario is sick so Balder is alone recording an EXTRA episode instead of a regular one. Here he analyses the Saudi-Iran agreement brokered by ...
Nuclear (Non-)Proliferation #030
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this second out of two episodes on nuclear weapons (non-)proliferation, we analyse why Western countries push for non proliferation and how these e...
Nuclear Weapons #029
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this first out of two episodes on nuclear weapons (non-)proliferation, we cycle through those states that currently possess a nuclear arsenal and b...
EXTRA Putin leaves START
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Hero Worshipping #028
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how unrealistic perspectives on historical individuals contribute to bubble thinking. We as a society take characters such as Mother ...
EXTRA Chinese Balloons
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Bu...
Nordstream Sabotage #027
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse the media and political reaction to the Seymour Hersh article alleging that the US was behind the Nordstream sabotage. In particular,...
The Problem of Winning History #026
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse historical negationism and victor’s justice within the Western Bubble. Our misinterpretation of our own pasts makes us worse at und...
Why the Western Bubble? #000.1
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab, a professor and his former student of international relations. Together we examine how Western countries ...
End of the Year #025
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Historical Awareness #024
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Social Media #23
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 soci...
Ukraine: Murder, Sabotage and WWIII #022
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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. Especia...
Sick Leave #021
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 resea...
Last Month in Foreign Policy #020
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Neocolonialism #018
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Today we analyse neo-colonial actions of Western countries. Specifically, we talk about the DRC, South Sudan and Libya as case studies of...
The West and Covid-19 #019
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 United Kingdom, again #017
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Pri...
The Wealth Gap #016
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#016 THE WESTERN BUBBLE: Economic Growth and Growing InequalityToday we analyse growing income and wealth inequality in the West. Exorbitant wealth ac...
Recap #015
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Western Media Bias #014
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse the Western media more broadly after last week’s focus on Ukraine reporting. The Western Bubble is deeply ingrained in media behavi...
Western Media on Ukraine #013
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The United Kingdom #012
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Human Rights #011
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 dan...
Monthly Review #010
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 epi...
Development Aid from the West #009
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how the development aid sector is an important characteristic of the Western bubble and how it contributes to perpetuating destructiv...
China and Taiwan #008
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 burs...
The Fall of US FP #007
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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” throug...
The Rise of US FP #006
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Monthly Review #005
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 rec...
Terrorism and the West #004
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 thi...
The hollowing out of institutions #003
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse the internal weakness the West experiences and how that influences its external actions. As always we do this through the lens of the...
The Iran Nuclear Deal #002
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse the Iran Nuclear Deal through the lens of the Western bubble. Negotiations to reinstate the agreement between Iran and the permanent ...
Why the Western Bubble? #000
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab, a professor and his former student of international relations. Together we examine how Western countries ...
The War in Ukraine #001
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we analyse how the Western Bubble explains the West's attitudes and involvement regarding the war in Ukraine, and what we can expect further dow...