Episodes

  • In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Manufacturing of a Cold War by Cynthia Chung

    In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Manufacturing of a Cold War by Cynthia Chung
    Oct 2 2024

    This Substack article argues that American Cold War nuclear strategy was not a rational response to Soviet aggression, but rather a self-fulfilling prophecy based on faulty assumptions and a distorted understanding of history. The author, Cynthia Chung, critiques the “systems analysis” approach of the RAND Corporation, a research group established after World War Two. She argues that RAND's reliance on mathematical models and “rational choice theory” led to a dangerous escalation of Cold War tensions, culminating in a near-nuclear war. The author further argues that RAND's embrace of this flawed approach was driven by a deep-seated American paranoia, fueled by the traumatic experience of Pearl Harbour, and a desire to maintain American global dominance. Ultimately, the article posits that the United States' obsession with "winning" at all costs, rather than engaging in genuine diplomacy, created a Cold War that threatened the world with nuclear annihilation.

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    11 mins
  • Ireland 1845-1850 The Perfect Holocaust

    Ireland 1845-1850 The Perfect Holocaust
    Oct 1 2024
    The text presents a forceful argument that the Irish famine of 1845-1850 was not a natural disaster, but a deliberate and systematic genocide perpetrated by the British government. The author, Chris Fogarty, argues that the British government's policies, including the enforced removal of food from Ireland, led to mass starvation and death, with a significantly higher death toll than previously acknowledged. The text meticulously compiles historical evidence and sources, including primary sources, to support this assertion, disputing common narratives and highlighting the role of British landlords and officials in the famine. It seeks to expose the "perfect holocaust" as a crime deliberately hidden by the British government and subsequently by Irish institutions.

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    9 mins
  • The Olive Branch by Mathew Carey

    The Olive Branch by Mathew Carey
    Sep 29 2024
    The provided text is an excerpt from "The Olive Branch," a political treatise written in 1815 by a politically-motivated author. This text delves into the political and economic tensions between the United States and Britain in the early 19th century, especially during the War of 1812. The author critiques the actions of both the American and British governments, highlighting issues like impressment, the Embargo Act, and the political divisions within the United States. He argues that the Federalists, who generally favoured Britain, misrepresented the situation to both the British and American publics, leading to an unnecessary war. Throughout the text, the author also expresses his concerns about potential unrest and even separation within the United States, driven by these political and economic tensions.

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    11 mins
  • Lettres, instructions et mémoires de Colbert

    Lettres, instructions et mémoires de Colbert
    Sep 29 2024
    The text is a collection of letters and memos written by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French Minister of Finance under King Louis XIV, discussing his policies. The excerpts focus on the administration of finances, especially the collection of taxes, the management of royal estates, and the regulation of trade and industry. Colbert’s meticulous attention to detail is evident, as he issues instructions to his officials on everything from the collection of taxes to the regulation of the quality of manufactured goods. The texts reveal Colbert’s vision for a strong and prosperous France based on a centralised, efficient bureaucracy.

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    11 mins
  • The Economic Policy That Made the Peace Of Westphalia

    The Economic Policy That Made the Peace Of Westphalia
    Sep 29 2024
    The article, "The Economic Policy That Made the Peace of Westphalia", discusses the economic and political policies of Cardinal Jules Mazarin and Jean-Baptiste Colbert in 17th-century France. The piece argues that their approach to economic development, centred on the principle of "the Advantage of the other", was crucial to ending the Thirty Years' War and establishing the era of sovereign nation-states. This principle, the article asserts, was based on the idea that each nation should strive for the mutual benefit of all, and that by promoting economic growth and infrastructure development, conflict could be minimized. The article specifically examines Colbert's reforms, including his establishment of protectionist measures for French manufacturing, his investment in infrastructure projects, and his creation of the Royal Academy of Sciences. The piece also provides a detailed account of Pierre-Paul Riquet's construction of the Languedoc Canal, which serves as an exemplar of Colbert's vision for economic development and the power of "the Advantage of the other" principle.

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    12 mins
  • The cosmopolitan railway, compacting and fusing together all the world's continents by William Gilpin

    The cosmopolitan railway, compacting and fusing together all the world's continents by William Gilpin
    Sep 29 2024
    The text is a long excerpt from William Gilpin’s book “The Cosmopolitan Railway”, published in 1890. Gilpin, a former governor of Colorado, advocates for the construction of a transcontinental railway system that would connect North America, Alaska, Siberia, and eventually all continents. He examines the political, social, and economic implications of such a system, arguing that it would not only stimulate economic growth but also contribute to the unification and advancement of global civilization. In particular, he focuses on the potential for this railway to spur development in Siberia and Turkestan, areas he believes are rich in resources but hindered by poor infrastructure and isolation.

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    10 mins
  • Report on the Subject of Manufactures by Alexander Hamilton

    Report on the Subject of Manufactures by Alexander Hamilton
    Sep 29 2024
    The text is an excerpt from Alexander Hamilton’s 1791 Report on Manufactures, which argues for government support of American manufacturing. Hamilton examines arguments against the encouragement of manufacturing, especially those that claim agriculture is more productive than manufacturing. He contends that these arguments are based on a misunderstanding of how both industries contribute to national wealth and income. He argues that manufacturing promotes greater efficiency and productivity, particularly through the division of labor and the use of machinery, and that it can lead to a more diverse and resilient economy. Hamilton also explores various policy measures, such as tariffs, bounties, and premiums, which can be used to encourage the growth of manufacturing and its associated industries.

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    9 mins
  • Profiles In Courage by Kennedy, John F

    Profiles In Courage by Kennedy, John F
    Sep 29 2024
    This text is an excerpt from John F. Kennedy's book "Profiles in Courage", which explores the actions of various American politicians who demonstrated courage in the face of political adversity. Kennedy, through the stories of historical figures such as John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, and Thomas Hart Benton, examines the challenges and complexities of maintaining one's principles in the face of public pressure and party loyalty. The text highlights the importance of individual integrity and moral fortitude in shaping political discourse and defending the principles of democracy.

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    13 mins