A conversation with Researcher, Speaker, and Writer, Samo Burja—
Last month we sat down with Samo Burja. Samo is a researcher, speaker, and writer. He is also the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a research fellow at the Long Now Foundation, and a senior research fellow in political science at the Foresight Institute. Samo has previous bylines in City Journal, Palladium Magazine, and The National Interest.
It is refreshing, and desperately needed, in today’s filter bubbled world to see a unique blend of historical synthesis that is both academic and respected while being critical from a nuanced contrarian position. Samo’s expertise on institutional and societal decline will only become handier as we march headlong into the Anthropocene epoch.
Our conversation was wide-ranging as we discussed Samo’s unique journey, the explosion of knowledge transfer through YouTube, and how different cultures have different relationships with their technologies. We riffed on writing as part of public discourse, the difference between live vs. dead players, and how we can really learn from history, our past, and our ancestors.
We also discussed his consulting firm Bismarck Analysis, and “building long-term partnerships with select clients who aim to make a difference in the world.”
We thank Samo for his time, research, and eclectic mind. Enjoy the conversation, and until next time - Ad Astra!
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Timestamps:
- Samo’s European travels helped foster his intellectual journey (05:29)
- Samo’s research fellowships at the Long Now Foundation & the Foresight Institute (10:42)
- YouTube’s role in the revolution of knowledge transfer (16:20)
- History as a discipline, and how different cultures see & shape society (23:38)
- Are we at the End of History as Francis Fukuyama posited? (33:39)
- How does travel and tourism, like going to Göbekli Tepe, influence how we interact with history? (39:49)
- Samo’s essay on how civilization is much older than we thought and his “Long Now” bet (50:29)
- Samo’s thesis & manuscript The Great Founder Theory (1:03:18)
- Founding Bismarck Analysis (01:11:33)
- Samo’s answer to the Overview Effect question (01:17:15)
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More on Samo Burja:
Website: https://samoburja.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamoBurja
Great Founder Theory: https://samoburja.com/gft/
Bismarck Analysis Website: https://www.bismarckanalysis.com/#/
Palladium Mag article on Göbekli Tepe: https://palladiummag.com/2021/05/17/why-civilization-is-older-than-we-thought/
The YouTube Revolution in Knowledge Transfer: https://samoburja.com/the-youtube-revolution-in-knowledge-transfer/
Foresight Institute talk: Civilization: Institutions, Knowledge and the Future: https://youtu.be/OiNmTVThNEY
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