The Duran Podcast

Dirty war, second front and South Caucasus w/ Jeffrey Sachs (Live)

27 snips
Jun 12, 2025
Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned Professor of Economics at Columbia University, dives into the tangled web of geopolitics in the South Caucasus. He examines historical conflicts between Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, shedding light on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Sachs critiques Western involvement in regional dirty wars and advocates for peaceful resolutions. He draws intriguing parallels between Vietnam War negotiations and current tensions with Russia, urging a re-evaluation of military strategies and the importance of diplomatic engagement for stability.
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INSIGHT

South Caucasus as a Contested Crossroads

  • The South Caucasus is a historic contested borderland influenced by imperial powers for centuries.
  • U.S. interventions, especially in Georgia, have exacerbated tensions instead of promoting peace.
ANECDOTE

Sachs Warned of Saakashvili's Recklessness

  • Jeffrey Sachs attended a speech by Saakashvili in New York and felt his reckless confidence.
  • He predicted this arrogance would lead to Georgia's destruction, which occurred soon after.
INSIGHT

Longstanding British-Russian Hostility

  • Britain's hostility towards Russia dates back to the 1840s and drives current conflicts.
  • Modern British intelligence actions echo historical strategies aimed at weakening Russia.
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