The Polarizing Nature of Henry Kissinger

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In 1972, with the presidential election looming, pressure increased on peace talks happening in Paris. Jane Fonda cast a cynical eye on the Nixon administration for their conduct of the war. The next day, Hanoi was bombed and the French embassy was bombed. For Cambodia, it contributed to instability and energized a violent revolutionary faction.

Henry Kissinger was one of the most influential and controversial diplomats of the 20th century. He was National Security Advisor and Secretary of State to two American presidents. Now, with China’s growing influence and the prospect of powerful technology that could change the nature of war, his ideas on great power conflict are more relevant than ever. On the eve of his 100th birthday, The Economist spent over eight hours in conversation with Mr Kissinger. In this podcast special, we focus on three elements of the wide-ranging discussion: the role of China, AI and weak American leadership.

Zanny Minton Beddoes hosts with Edward Carr. The full transcript of the conversation with Mr Kissinger is available online.

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