The Burning Archive

The latest Burning Archive podcast on the Ukraine Conflict provides a situation report as of 18 March 2022 when tens of thousands of citizens have been freed from Mariupol; American diplomacy picks fights with China, India and anyone else; cracks appear in the Great Media Wall; and the sanctions from hell backfire. And I ask - who has made the greatest miscalculation of all - could it be America, not Russia? 

This series of podcasts is exploring the unfolding crisis of the conflict in Ukraine, security in Europe, the NATO v Russia war, and the emergence of the multipolar world. This episode (recorded on 12 March) looks at different names and mental models for the conflict - invasion, war of choice, Cold War II, incursion, special military operation and Cold War III. And it makes the case for thinking of this conflict as the first episode in the Wars of the Anglo-American Succession. Plus cameos from biolabs, Kamala Harris, MK Bhadrakhumar, the Saker and much much more. Full notes and links going up on theburningarchive.com soon.

This series of podcasts is exploring the unfolding crisis of the war in Ukraine, security in Europe, and the NATO vs Russia War. This episode (recorded on 9 March, Melbourne time) explores the revelations that the USA has operated over 30 Biolabs in Ukraine, the American concerns about Russian control of those facilities and what records may reveal about compliance with bans on biological and chemical weapons, and the role of Victoria Nuland in domestic "democratic" Ukrainian politics. Stay sane all.

This series of podcasts is exploring the unfolding crisis of the war in Ukraine, security in Europe, and the NATO vs Russia War. This episode (recorded on 7 March, Melbourne time) explores the current situation with humanitarian corridors around main Ukrainian cities enabling evacuations, and also looks at the diplomatic positions of major players of China, India and the Gulf States. Is the world really unified against Russia? Geopolitics Upside Down will continue exploring the military, economic, information and diplomatic vectors of the emrging war for the multipolar world. Links to articles referred to in the show : International Crisis Group - Gulf States positions - https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/eastern-europe/ukraine/ukraine-war-global-crisis Global Times. Wang Yi phone call with Secretary of State Blinken (5 March 2022) https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1254024.shtml Read-out of Quad eaders summit meeting (India) http://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/34927 MK Bhadrakumar, "Foreign policy at T-junction" Tribune Indiahttps://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/foreign-policy-at-t-junction-375687

When COVID hit, the numbers of people who played computer games exploded - not just among adolescents but across many age groups. People found out something about gaming - that, as Forbes magazine wrote, gaming has the “potential to unlock bonds of community, educate and inspire.” This episode responds to questions posed by Isaac Rich in episode 32 (This Archive is for the Players), and explores how games are windows to history, how they are a form of art, and an aspect of a fundamental experience, play. And just possibly, they preserve the hope that not even Sylvanas can kill. Credits:  Voice clips and "Lament of the HighBorne from World of Warcraft https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2020/01/the-history-of-video-games/

This new series of podcasts will explore the unfolding crisis of security in Europe, precipitated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and America/NATO's expansion eastward over 30 years. This first episode reports on the military situation on 3 March 2022, the economic war against Russia by waged by America and the European Union, and the exploding information and cultural war. This new twice-weekly podcast will explore the unfolding crisis of the emergence of a new multipolar world order.

This special episode on the crisis in Ukraine was recorded on 26 and 27 February. I discuss the background to the conflict in the failure to negotiate a fair peace to end the cold war, and the response to Russian proposals for a new security architecture in Europe. Events are unfolding quickly and a major information war is under way. Take care all and remember what thou lovest well will not be reft from thee.

Before Britain ruled with waves, it was the empire of Spain that was known as the empire on which the sun never sets. For a century or so it even joined with Portugal to be the first and only empire of land and sea across multiple oceans that was built with pre-industrial resources. But it declined. When? How? Why? And should we remember these empires not by images of conquistadores and the Spanish Inquisition, but by walking through the Botanic Gardens of Madrid? In Part II of Flowers of Empire the Burning Archive takes a closer look at Portugal's empire and the extraordinary legacy of the expeditions of the Hispanic Enlightenment including the botanical collections of Jose Celestino Mutis. Full details of materials referred to in the show will be available on www.theburningarchive.com.

Before Britain ruled with waves, it was the empire of Spain that was known as the empire on which the sun never sets. For a century or so it even joined with Portugal to be the first and only empire of land and sea across multiple oceans that was built with pre-industrial resources. But it declined. When? How? Why? And should we remember these empires not by images of conquistadores and the Spanish Inquisition, but by walking through the Botanic Gardens of Madrid? 

In the first episode recorded in 2022 Jeff Rich explores the big signs of cultural decay and renewal in 2021, and makes for predictions for the year ahead. And in a postscript comments on the major geo-political events of the summer, including the information war on Ukraine and the Xi-Putin Summit in Beijing that does not augur well for the declining American Empire.