Honestly with Bari Weiss

Are We In A Pre-War Era?

Jul 27, 2023

Walter Russell Mead, a fellow at the Hudson Institute and an expert on foreign policy, discusses the paradox of technological progress making us safer, yet more vulnerable to human-caused threats. He argues that we are in a pre-war era and emphasizes the importance of addressing the decline of trust in institutions and the rise of populism. Mead explores America's shifting role in global politics, critiques past foreign interventions, and highlights the necessity of strategic engagement amidst rising challenges from powers like Russia and China.

01:33:47

Episode guests

Walter Russell Mead

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Signs of Violence and Rising Tensions: The Unstable 21st Century

01:34

Class divisions and agendas: Plutocrats, professionals, and the masses

01:51

The Decline of Religion and its Impact on American Life

01:06

The Importance of India in US Strategy Against China

01:21

Intro

4min

The Paradox of Progress

26min

Erosion of Trust and the Rise of Populism

6min

Faith and Society in Crisis

5min

Navigating Global Power Dynamics

23min

The Rise of Illiberal Democracies and the Quest for Effective Leadership

3min

Navigating Nuclear Proliferation and American Values

18min

Navigating History: Lessons and Optimism in a Pre-War Era

3min

Recently, Walter Russell Mead wrote an outstanding article in Tablet titled “You Are Not Destined to Live in Quiet Times.” It’s about the paradox—and great dangers—of technological progress: “Human ingenuity has made us much safer from natural calamities. We can treat many diseases, predict storms, build dams both to prevent floods and to save water against drought, and many other fine things. Many fewer of us starve than in former times, and billions of us today enjoy better living conditions than our forebears dreamed possible. Yet if we are safer from most natural catastrophes, we are more vulnerable than ever to human-caused ones.”

Today on Honestly, Walter talks about that significant vulnerability, and why human-caused catastrophes are the most serious threat to humanity today. Walter also explains why he believes we have definitively entered a pre-war era, and what he thinks needs to change in order to get us out of it.

Walter Russell Mead is a fellow at Hudson Institute, a columnist at The Wall Street Journal, and a professor of foreign affairs and humanities at Bard College. He’s written numerous books on foreign policy, including last year’s excellent book on Israel titled The Arc of a Covenant, and he is the host of the brand-new podcast What Really Matters.

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