In this discussion, geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan delves into the unraveling world order, highlighting America's declining influence and the shift towards isolationism. He analyzes the implications of Houthi terrorism, the conflict in the Middle East, and the precarious future of Israel. Zeihan also addresses Europe's economic struggles and demographic challenges, particularly with a shrinking workforce. The conversation touches on nuclear risks, the status of U.S. debt, and why Trump may not secure a win in the upcoming election.
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Bretton Woods Agreement
The Bretton Woods Agreement established a system where the US military secured global trade routes.
This allowed other countries to easily access trade, contributing to post-WWII economic growth.
insights INSIGHT
US Trade Reliance
The US has historically policed global trade while remaining less reliant on it than other nations.
This was driven by a focus on securing resources for allies, especially during the Cold War.
insights INSIGHT
End of Bretton Woods
The end of the Cold War brought a shift in US policy, with increasing economic nationalism since 1992.
This shift, coupled with changes in naval strategy, is weakening the US's global security role.
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In this book, Peter Zeihan analyzes how the hard rules of geography are impacting American commitment to free trade, the global aging crisis affecting markets and capital supplies, and the unique advantages of the American economy, particularly its rapid approach to energy independence. The book highlights how these factors are overturning the global system and ushering in a new order. It emphasizes the strategic gambit made by the United States after World War II, the role of the U.S. Navy in enforcing a global arrangement, and how America's geography and youth population position it favorably in a de-globalizing world.
The Holocaust: An Unfinished History
Dan Stone
This book provides a sweeping history of the Holocaust, challenging common perceptions by highlighting the depth of European collaboration and the brutal nature of killings beyond industrial settings. It emphasizes the ongoing impact of the Holocaust as a living trauma and explores the origins of genocidal ideology.
Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan about the unraveling world order. They discuss the Bretton Woods system, America’s role in securing the global supply chain, the coming end of American security guarantees, the shrinking of the US Navy, Houthi terrorism, deterring Iran, conflict in the Middle East, the future of Israel, the limits of immigration, the demographic pyramid, the demise of Europe, the war in Ukraine, the prospect of nuclear war, demographic collapse in China, loose nukes, America’s relative immunity to the world’s chaos, U.S. debt, the U.S. Southern border and immigration policy, why Trump will not win the 2024 election, and other topics.
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