Worlds Apart is a fast-paced, in-depth discussion on the most pressing issues facing the world today.It strives to depart from the traditional Q&A form of interview in favor of a more emotive and engaging conversation. Host Oksana Boyko is not afraid to ask the hard questions that others avoid, with the aim of promoting intelligent public debate.
Epic fury, epic fail? Alam Saleh, Senior Lecturer in Iranian Studies, Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies, ANU
Promising to wipe out a whole civilization and asking for God’s blessing for the Great People of Iran — this now historic post by President Trump seems to have set in motion a peace-making process that may cool tensions in the Middle East for at least two weeks. Is it enough, though, to leave the realm of epic fury and create the conditions for normal, ordinary diplomacy? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Alam Saleh, Senior Lecturer in Iranian Studies at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University.
Opting for pain? Max Otte, Economist
NATO’s first secretary general famously said that the bloc’s purpose was to keep the Russians out and the Germans down. The war in Ukraine seems to have fully accomplished this goal but is it enough to keep the Americans in? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Max Otte, a German economist, entrepreneur, and political activist.
Frenemy feud? Kanica Rakhra, Assistant Professor of International Relations & Global Affairs
With friends like these, who needs enemies? This phrase, attributed to the late 20th century American comedian Joey Adams, has already become the ethos of 21st century geopolitics. The US-Israeli attack on Iran has created existential problems for American allies in the Gulf and, simultaneously, delivered an unexpected economic bonus to rivals like Russia, which, for now at least, can carry on with exporting oil without the overhang of US sanctions. Where will it at all lead? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Kanica Rakhra, an Assistant Professor of International Relations and Global Affairs at the Kautilya School of Public Policy.
Structural perversion? Joti Brar, Leader of the Communist Party of Great Britain
A century and a half ago, one of the forefathers of communism, Friedrich Engels, wrote that, “in the democratic republic … wealth employs its power indirectly, but all the more surely,” using incriminating personal corruption and institutionalized vested interests to do so. The recent release of the Epstein files and the media splash it produced have proved this point, but, after all the apologies, is the system itself likely to change? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Joti Brar, leader of the Communist Party of Great Britain.
Conflict for capital? William Robinson, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara
From Epic to Epochal — the Trump administration may be tantalized by its outsized impact on everything but my guest today argues that many of its expansionist initiatives are undergirded by a deep, epochal crisis in global capitalism. What will be left when it depletes the last remaining modicums of predictability in the international system? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by William Robinson, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and author of Epochal Crisis: The Exhaustion of Global Capitalism.
Engulfed by fury? Pietro Shakarian, historian & lecturer at the American University of Armenia
A week into operation Epic Fury, it does seem to be living up to its title, although, perhaps, not in the way intended. The expanding geography of the strikes and skyrocketing energy prices have seen the fortunes of many American allies go from bad to worse, unable to move either way. Where is this war taking the already shattered global system? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Pietro Shakarian, historian and lecturer at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan.