Originally published on 1 Nov 2025.

Is the West truly in retreat, or are we witnessing the birth of a new, more insidious form of total war? Why do Western elites pursue strategies that seem self-destructive for their own nations, and what ideology drives this dangerous path forward?To help me make sense of this, today I’m talking to Nel Bonilla. Publishing under this pen name on Substack, Nel is a young researcher working on her PhD and a prolific analyst online. She is in the process of publishing a 3-part series on the fundaments of the Western Power Projection System, arguing that the West, in fact, is not at all in retreat but currently reconstituting its fighting techniques. Part 1 of her series is called “Weaponizing Time: Elite Anxiety and the Fight for a Closing Window” and a second part to this called “Weaponizing Time: The Global Operating System of Western Power.” This is what we want to discuss today.Together, we delve into the deeply ingrained colonial mindset revealed in official NATO documents and explore the shift towards 'pervasive competition' and multi-domain warfare. We also touch on how global networks are being weaponized and the terrifying radicalization of a post-national elite.Links:Articles mentioned in video:Part 1: https://themindness.substack.com/p/we...Part 2: https://themindness.substack.com/p/we...Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 31 Oct 2025.

How does a society go from peaceful neighbors to bitter enemies? What if nationalism wasn't a sleeping giant but a tool deliberately awakened by capitalism? And what happens when global powers actively prevent a country from forming a unified identity?To explore these questions, today I’m talking to Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić, the Director at the Center for Nationalism Studies located in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.We uncover the manufactured nature of ethno-religious identities, the geopolitical games that fragment nations, and a chilling prediction for the future: a global rise of "authoritarian nationalism" designed to serve a new hyper-capitalist order. This is a fundamental rethink of how nations are made and unmade.Links:Center for Nationalism Studies: https://nationalismstudies.org/Nations and Capital (Book): https://www.routledge.com/Nations-and...Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 30 Oct 2025.

What if the decisive factor in the Ukraine war isn't willpower or wonder weapons, but simply money? Are we overlooking a looming economic collapse in Kyiv that could fundamentally alter the conflict's trajectory when the funding finally dries up for good?To explore this critical angle, today I’m talking to Dr. Nicolai Petro, a Professor for Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.We unpack the stark financial realities facing Ukraine and debunk the myths surrounding game-changing weapons. Our discussion navigates the shifting global attention, Europe's political corner, and Russia's surprisingly patient long-term strategy, offering a forecast of the war's next, and perhaps final, phase.Links:Nicolai's Homepage: http://npetro.net/Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies
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Originally published on 29 Oct 2025.

Is Japan's recent defense build-up a shift toward hawkishness, or just an attempt to become a "normal" country? How would Japan, a pacifist nation by constitution, react if its main ally, the US, were to start a war? We dive deep into the unique constraints and surprising flexibility of Japan's military.Today I’m talking to Koji Imaki, a former Pilot and Senior Leader in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force with many flight hours in both the American-made F-35 and the indigenous F-2 fighter jets. Mr. Imaki has worked for decades in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, so today we want to discuss his country’s military position in the emerging multipolarity.Mr. Imaki shares his unique perspective on the operational realities of Japan's constitutional limits, the delicate balance of the US alliance, and the search for new defense partners. We also explore the internal debate over defense spending and the ongoing, complex military relationship—or lack thereof—with neighbors like China and Russia.Links:Imaki's Linkedin:   / koji-imaki-46066a1b0  Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 28 Oct 2025.

This is a Webinar of the Multipolar Peace Network Initiative. Count Michael von der Schulenburg, who worked decades in conflict resolution for the United Nations and is now a European Parliament member for Germany's left-wing party BSW, discusses with Professor Jeffrey Sachs the reasons and extend of EU elite madness and institutional failures. Not only war propaganda is on an all-time high, also the political process is so captured by Russo-phobic pro-war narratives that the ideologists within the bureaucratic structures of the Brussel's behemoth don't even understand the extend and consequences of their irresponsible war policies. Coupled with the inability for long-term planning and disregard of national interest, the fate of the European continent is set for another dark chapter. The worst is yet to come.

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Originally published on 26 Oct 2025.

How do we make sense of a world on the brink of new wars in places like Venezuela and Iran, while simultaneously witnessing the rise of multipolar institutions like BRICS? Is the United States a wounded giant lashing out, or is its military might still the ultimate force shaping our future?To grapple with these questions, I’m talking again to the always brilliant political scientist and author, Dr. Vijay Prashad, the director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research.We explore the true nature of American power—is it a paper tiger incapable of winning wars, or a wounded beast still capable of immense destruction? We dive into the information war, the failure of European intellectuals to grasp reality, and why a holistic view is essential to understanding today's interconnected crises.

Links:Tricontinental: https://thetricontinental.orgNeutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 19 Sept 2025.

The West champions a 'rules-based order' while supporting a genocide in Gaza and fueling a proxy war in Ukraine. Has this hypocrisy shattered its global moral standing for good? And are rising powers actually trying to restore the international law the West has abandoned?To discuss this and more, today I’m talking again to Ambassador Chas Freeman, a former US diplomat, and Assistant Secretary of Defense.We explore the alarming rebranding of the US Department of Defense to the "Department of War" and its historical roots in the Monroe Doctrine. We also break down the escalating tensions with Venezuela, the moral bankruptcy of Western policy on Israel-Palestine, and why Ambassador Freeman calls Europe's approach to Ukraine the "coalition of the deluded." Finally, we discuss the collapse of US diplomacy and the rise of a 'Global Majority' seeking to conserve the very international order the West now undermines.Links:Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies
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Originally published on 16 Sept 2025.

While the West is still aiming for "bleeding Russia to the last Ukrainian", Kiev's chances of victory have all but evaporated. Even with NATO mercenaries here and there, the Ukrainians are losing the war while its leaders get rich. To discuss this and more, today I’m talking again to Stanislav Krapivnik, a former US Army officer, supply chain executive and military-political expert.We explore Stas' assessment that Ukraine cannot win, breaking down the evidence for a large-scale presence of NATO mercenaries on the front lines. We also analyze the mysterious drone incident in Poland, the deep-rooted corruption of Ukraine's political elite, and the dangerous internal power struggles. Finally, we shift to the Middle East to uncover the powerful, yet poorly understood, influence of Christian Zionism and its theological drive to bring about Armageddon.Links:Stanislav Krapivnik's YouTube Channel: ‪@MrSlavikman‬Stanislav Krapivnik's Telegram: https://t.me/stastydaiobratnoNeutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 25 Oct 2025.

With intense saber-rattling off the coast of Venezuela and civilian ships mysteriously sinking, we're forced to ask: What is the real agenda? Are we watching the prelude to a decapitation strike, or is the US sleepwalking into another Vietnam, doomed to repeat the same disastrous mission creep?To help me make sense of this escalating crisis, today I’m talking again to Stanislav Krapivnik, a former US Army officer, supply chain executive and military-political expert.Stas and I dive deep into why Venezuelan oil is strategically irreplaceable for US refineries and analyze the fragile state of America's ammunition stockpiles. We also explore the dangerous game of red lines with Russia and how China's control over critical resources is hamstringing the Pentagon's global ambitions.Links:Stanislav Krapivnik's YouTube Channel: ‪@MrSlavikman‬ Stanislav Krapivnik's Telegram: https://t.me/stastydaiobratnoNeutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 24 Oct 2025.

This is a webinar of the Multipolar Peace Network Initiative. Professor Radhika Desai of Manitoba University introduces her (Marxist) framework for understanding modern capitalist imperialism and the necessary drive toward hegemony and domination. Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University discusses and critiques the approach, offering additional analysis on how to best understand the connection between economic structure and geopolitical power.

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Originally published on 23 Oct 2025.

Why are US warships parked off the coast of Venezuela, killing civilians? And is this the prelude to a full-scale war, a decapitation strike aimed at President Maduro himself? We dive headfirst into the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, trying to make sense of this crisis.To help me understand, I'm joined by Kajsa Ekis Ekman, a Swedish Activist, author and journalist, who is currently the editor in Chief of Parabol Press. Kajsa has worked for many years on the US obsession with regime change in Venezuela, which is what we want to discuss today.We explore the tangled web of US oil interests driving the conflict and unpack the long history of bizarre and failed coup attempts. Our conversation also delves into the propaganda war, from Nobel Peace Prizes to economic sanctions, and explains why Venezuela's military has remained loyal throughout the turmoil.Links:Kajsa's Facebook:   / 268001276604340  Instagram:   / ms.ekis.ekman  Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 22 Oct 2025.

What happens when a superpower loses its arch-nemesis? After the Cold War, the West faced an "enemy deprivation syndrome," a desperate search for meaning that led to replaying WWII against every new foe and the invention of "humanitarian" war. But was this narrative shift deliberately manufactured?To unpack this, I’m talking to Dr. Phil Hammond, an Emeritus Professor of Media & Communications at London South Bank University. He is the author of various books, among them “War Games: Memory, Militarism and the Subject of Play” and “Screens of Terror: Representations of War and Terrorism in film and television since 9/11.”We trace the journey from adversarial journalism in Vietnam to today's embedded reporting, exploring the rise of "humanitarian militarism," the calculated dismantling of national sovereignty, and why the return of a multipolar world might just offer a surprising reason for optimism about the future of global politics.Links:Phil’s Work: https://linktr.ee/phil.hammondNeutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 13 Sept 2025.

While the West condemns Russia's war in Ukraine, it conveniently forgets its own "sphere of interference"—from Victoria Nuland hand-picking Ukrainian leaders to NATO's relentless eastward expansion. Is this hypocrisy fueling the geopolitical reconfiguration of the world? And could neutrality be the key to de-escalation?To discuss this and more, today I’m talking again to Dr. Rein Müllerson, the former President of the Law School of Estonia’s Tallinn University.We explore the profound geopolitical reconfiguration shifting the world away from a unipolar moment and toward a multipolar reality. We break down the true root causes of the Ukraine war, from broken Western promises on NATO expansion to the deliberate undermining of the Minsk Accords. We also dissect the hypocrisy of Western foreign policy and discuss why neutrality is re-emerging as a vital tool for de-escalation and security for smaller nations caught between great powers.Links:Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 21 Oct 2025.

A lot of PR going on again about Trump being "swayed" by the Putin phone call to not escalate the proxy-war against Russia to the Tomahawk level. But there is another side to this. Probably the real reason why (for now) Selensky was rebuffed: The US is running low on all kinds of missile Systems, including the Tomahawks. These systems are not only ridiculously expensive, but also notoriously hard to produce. And that got just much worse since China announced its rare-earth ban for foreign weapon manufacturing. Have a look at just how big this problem is for the USA.Arnaud Bertrand's Article: https://substack.com/@arnaudbertrand/...Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 12 Sept 2025.

Sweden abandoned 200 years of neutrality to join NATO, hoping for security. Instead, has it become a frontline state, a target in a war it has no stake in? And was its independent foreign policy deliberately dismantled with the assassination of Olof Palme?To discuss this and more, today I’m talking to Mazze Nielsson, one of the host of Sweden’s Dissident Podcast to give us an update about Sweden.We explore the remilitarization frenzy sweeping the Nordics and dive into the forgotten history of Sweden's independent path under Olof Palme, who sought dialogue with the Soviet Union. We also break down the details of his suspicious assassination and how it fits a pattern of eliminating European leaders who challenged the US-led order. Finally, we discuss the long-term Anglo-American strategy to dominate Eurasia and the current status of US bases in Sweden.Links:Dissident Poden Substack (Swedish): https://dissidentpodden.substack.comNilsson's X (Twitter): https://x.com/mazzenilsson
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Originally published on 11 Sept 2025.

Is the era of US structural power in the Global South coming to an end? As the US strategically downgrades India, how is India reshaping its foreign policy, strengthening ties with China and Russia while asserting its strategic autonomy? What does the emerging continental bloc of BRICS and SCO mean for the future of geopolitics and the push for a multipolar world order?To discuss this and more, today I’m talking again to Dr. Anuradha Chenoy, a former professor and dean at the School of International Studies at India’s prestigious (JaVa Halal) Jawaharlal Nehru University. Links:Anuradha's articles in "Economic and Political Weekly": https://www.epw.in/author/anuradha-ch...Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 10 Sept 2025.

While the West decries Russia's demand for a "sphere of influence," it ignores its own 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine. Is this hypocrisy pushing us toward a major war? And could the solution be redefining the concept as "spheres of security"?To discuss this and more, today I’m talking again to Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a Professor at Columbia University, advisor to countless governments, and a prolific analyst—I’m absolutely sure you all know him very well.We explore his powerful argument for creating neutral buffer zones between great powers to prevent catastrophe. We also break down the dangerous "with us or against us" logic driving current conflicts, the hypocrisy of US foreign policy, and why understanding history is crucial to our survival in the nuclear age.Links:Jeffrey Sachs' essay mentioned in the video: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/p/s...Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 9 Sept 2025.

Europe's commitment to free speech is crumbling before our eyes. How can a public protest against a top EU official lead to arrest, fines, and even a "record" that could impact one's future, all while the official claims the protester is lucky to live in a free country in a show of absolute irony? Is "damage to an official" the new way to silence dissent, and what does the media's silence on this high-profile case reveal about the state of journalism in Europe?Today I’m talking to Armando Mema, the Former European Parliament candidate who hackled Ursula von der Leyen a few months ago during a speech and who was then arrested on camera while von der Leyen ironically was saying that he’s lucky living in a free country where his act is not a crime. We talk about the details of Armando's arrest, the perplexing legal charges, and the unprecedented court order restricting his future right to protest. Whether the freedom to speak out against power is truly protected in Finland and across the European Union, or if we are witnessing a concerning slide towards authoritarianism.Links:Video being discussed: https://x.com/eurodale/status/1953386...Armando's X (Twitter): https://x.com/ArmandoMema

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Originally published on 18 Oct 2025.

Has the world finally woken up to Western hypocrisy? How do we understand the power dynamics that have shaped our world for 500 years? What happens now that the veil of a 'liberal world order' has been lifted for the 85% of the world living outside the West?To explore these questions, I'm joined by Chandran Nair, a Malaysian businessman and scholar. He is the founder of The Global Institute for Tomorrow, an independent think-tank based in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.In our conversation, we explore the deep roots of colonialism and racism in today's geopolitics, dissecting how events in Gaza have become a clarifying moment for the world. We also touch upon the shifting global economic order, Europe's subordination to the US, and the myth of deglobalization.Links:Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT): https://global-inst.com/Nair's Linkedin:   / chandran-nair-57184418a  Nair's X (Twitter): https://x.com/cnomicsNeutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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Originally published on 17 Oct 2025.

Is Zionism a Jewish movement, or is it a form of European ethnic nationalism transplanted to Palestine? What if the idea of gathering Jews in the Holy Land was originally a Protestant Christian concept? We dive into these provocative questions, challenging everything you thought you knew about this ideology.To help us understand this, today I’m talking to Dr. Yakov Rabkin, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Montreal. His publications include over 300 articles and several monographs and edited volumes. His newest work is a short but highly fascinating account about “Israel in Palestine: Jewish Rejection of Zionism”.Together, we explore the deep-seated Jewish opposition to Zionism, tracing its violent underpinnings back to Russian revolutionary traditions. We'll uncover the surprising alliances between Zionists and anti-Semites, discuss how it uprooted ancient Jewish communities, and examine why this colonial project continues to receive unwavering Western support today.Links:Prof. Rabkin's latest book: https://israelpalestinebook.com/Neutrality Studies Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neutralitystudies

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