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PODCAST

The Focus

Auscast Network

The Focusis the flagship current affairs podcast ofSAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical think tank. Hosted byDr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focusbrings a critical edge to global affairs. John"s expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with theRoyal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst forJane’s

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

67:12

French Presidential Election 2022 - Key Issues, Key...

The Focus ·

2022/04/20

In this episode, Nicolas Michelon joins John in discussing the key issues and dilemmas surrounding the 2022 French Presidential Election. Macron might be slated to win, but far-right candidates will maintain their growing hold on the French electorate as people are angry at a French EU political class that has abandoned them for the power politics of the European Parliament in Brussels. The Yellow Vest movement and the issues that have sparked this revolt against the French version of ‘the

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42:53

What the Lockdown Has Taught Us

The Focus ·

2022/04/18

In this episode John is joined by Dr. Vittorio Bufacchi from University College, Cork, Ireland, where they spoke on the key themes of Vittorio’s recent book: Everything Must Change: Philosophical Lessons from Lockdown. In this broadranging conversation they talk about life’s fragility, the art of living, death, the media and politics. What lessons have we learnt from COVID-19? Are we any wiser from the misfortune and injustices that have befallen our societies due to the global

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53:19

Basic Instincts: Why Do We Fight?

The Focus ·

2022/04/13

In this episode, John is joined by The University of Chicago’s Prof. Chris Blattman in discussing his new book entitled ‘Why We Fight’. We journey deep within what motivates individuals, groups, and states to take up arms against each other. But as you’ll hear, Chris does come up with a somewhat different thesis that’s a little more optimistic about human nature and political institutions.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See

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53:08

Palestine, Israel & the Russia-Ukraine War

The Focus ·

2022/04/07

It is easy to focus just on the Russian-Ukrainian war without looking at this war’s broader global impacts. In this episode, John speaks with US-Palestinian Dr Ramzy Baroud on how Palestine and Israel are affected by this European conflict.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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35:48

The Belarusian Gambit

The Focus ·

2022/03/29

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko has been successfully boxed in by Russian president Vladimir Putin. The country is less of a nation and more of an outlying province of Russia. Belarus has been used as a staging base for Russia’s attack on Ukraine and is now host to some of Russia’s nuclear deterrent. Some twenty-to-thirty thousand troops are primed to enter Ukraine to support Russian forces should they be given the order, but will the Belarusian General Staff obey? What of the

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27:40

Punching above its weight - Cuba’s War on COVID

The Focus ·

2022/03/29

In the age of COVID, there is little ‘good news’ in how countries have dealt with this global pandemic. However, one good news story comes from an unexpected source - Cuba. This small and isolated Caribbean state, lumbered by US sanctions and with a small, underdeveloped economy, has produced and distributed its own version of the COVID-19 vaccine, even assisting other countries in managing their own relationship to the pandemic. In this episode, John is joined by Prof. Jennifer Ruth

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53:06

War in Ukraine & What Comes Next?

The Focus ·

2022/03/13

In this episode, John speaks with University College London’s Prof. Mark Galeotti on the ongoing war in Ukraine. This is a very comprehensive discussion on the origin of the war, the conduct of military operations, the future of Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin. Also, we look at how the war fits into Mark’s new book:The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War,Yale University Press, 2022.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See

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55:49

Tony Blair & Iraq: Legacy of a Complicated Man

The Focus ·

2022/02/24

In this episode, we speak with former British investigative journalist and politician in the Blair government, Chris Mullin. Tony Blair is a man for all seasons. Condemned for his support of US President George W. Bush’s disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq, not all of Blair’s political legacy is negative or about Iraq. However, Iraq haunts the former British Prime Minister in a way that continues to damage his reputation no matter what ‘good works’ he applies himself to.Support

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79:32

Putin & Ukraine - Gambler or Chess Master?

The Focus ·

2022/02/07

Like the old classic song by Kenny Rogers, The Gambler goes: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, Know when to fold ’em, Know when to walk away, And know when to run, You never count your money, When you’re sittin’ at the table, There’ll be time enough for countin’, When the dealin’s done” In this episode, John speaks with former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia, Eka Tkeshelavili, on Ukraine and Putin

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31:19

Kazakhstan’s January Riots: Was the violence a...

The Focus ·

2022/02/03

In this episode John speaks with Kazakh academic, Dr. Nurseit Niyazbekov. Nurseit found himself in the middle of Kazakh protests in Kazakstan's largest city, Almaty. Mystery still surrounds why peaceful protests rapidly turned violent & Kazakh PresidentTokayev found it necessary to call for Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) troops to reimpose order. In themiddleof the ongoing strategic crisis between Ukraine & Russia - was this meant to be an orchestrated display of

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36:30

Partygate: The beginning of the end for Boris Johnson?

The Focus ·

2022/01/29

The allegations that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff were involved in office parties while the rest of the UK population were expected to abide by strict lockdown provisions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have become a significant problem for Johnson and the Conservative Party. Unfortunately, the anticipated Gray Report, which should clearly show the culpability of those involved in these parties, has yet to be released when recording this podcast. The importance of this report

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42:44

Bosnia - Is the Nightmare of War Returning?

The Focus ·

2022/01/13

Last month Milorad Dodik sparked international controversy when a vote was cast to pull the autonomous statelet of Republic Srpska out of the Bosnian federation. In this episode of The Focus, John is joined by Bosnian politician and policy analyst Reuf Bajrovic where they discuss the ramifications of this move. Was this in answer to legitimate Bosnian Serb political grievances? How will this affect the area formerly known as Yugoslavia, the site of some of the worst fighting in Europe since World

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33:46

Brendan Borrell: The Race for the COVID Vaccines

The Focus ·

2022/01/07

In this our first episode for 2022, John speaks with American science correspondent and author Brendan Borrell on the race to produce the COVID vaccines.Brendan has recently released his book on this topic,The First Shots: The Epic Rivalries & Heroic Science behind the race to the Corona Virus Vaccines. Did the West win the race for the vaccines? Did competition between bigpharmacompanies drive development? How effective were the Chinese and Russian approaches? Was the Trump administration as

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59:02

The Truth is Out There

The Focus ·

2021/12/20

In this our final episode of the year we are joined by returning guest, New York Times Best-Seller & Harvard University Professor, Avi Loeb. Avi is not a conventional thinker. He believes that scientific discovery, including the search for extraterrestrial life, can be accelerated by maintaining an open mind and pursuing a child-like curiosity where nothing is taken off the table, until it is. Avi heads upProject Galileoa systematic, scientific search for extraterrestrial artefacts. Join John as

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61:26

On Calamities & World Order

The Focus ·

2021/12/13

Prof. Alfred W. McCoy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has recently published a book entitled “To Govern the Globe: World Orders and Catastrophic Change”. It is a highly readable, sweeping historical narrative. But within it pages lurks a stark warning that it is out of disasters that new world orders are born and that we are on the cusp of such a change. Join John as he speaks with Prof. McCoy on international order, disorder and rebirth and what might lie ahead for us all in

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45:03

Blurring the Lines between War and Peace: Belarus,...

The Focus ·

2021/12/07

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's use of migrants against the countries of Poland and Lithuania is but one example whereby aggressor-states are now deliberately blurring the lines between war and peace. Plausible deniability of these sorts of non-military ‘attack’ can leave the recipient country in a legal and ethical quandary. Do they counter? Do they simply absorb the attack and do nothing? Welcome to the peculiar world of 21st Century conflict. In this episode John speaks with

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41:43

Lithuania: the Mouse that Roared

The Focus ·

2021/11/30

Few would think that the tiny country of Lithuania has an activist foreign policy agenda, wedged as it is between Poland to its west and Russia to its east. But this country of just over 2 million people has played its part in pushing back the grey zone threat posed by ‘weaponised migrants’ from Belarus, in coordination with fellow EU/NATO state Poland. It has also taken a particularly strong stance against the worst totalitarian excesses of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by

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32:55

Putin, the last Tsar of Russia?

The Focus ·

2021/11/24

Russia is in the headlines again. With another military mobilisation of some 92,000 Russian troops on the border with neighbouring Ukraine in this episode John speaks with Moscow correspondent for The New Yorker, Joshua Yaffa. John & Joshua discuss Russia’s contemporary strategic positioning and Putin’s power politics within the Russian state. Join us for this extremely insightful interview.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See

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32:14

The EV Revolution - Driving Toward a Greener Future?

The Focus ·

2021/11/16

As we come out of COP26 Glasgow with a slight taste of disappointment in our mouths, what practical steps are being taken at the everyday level that will help make emission reduction a reality? In this episode John speaks with the University of Calgary’s Blake Shaffer to discuss the practicalities of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Revolution.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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21:19

Democracy in Action - the Mayoral Elections in...

The Focus ·

2021/11/13

In this episode, John speaks with Dr. Ana Dolidze, leader of the For the People Party who recently challenged incumbent Tbilisi’s Mayor, Kakha Kaladze. How important was this mayoral election to the city of Tbilisi, capital of the Republic of Georgia? Did this election signal a shift in Georgian politics generally? This interview was conducted while Ana was being driven to her office in Tbilisi. She was holding the phone in her hand and the noise you hear in the background is the that of her

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134 results

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