John Anderson: Conversations

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg hosts John Anderson in his home for this Conversation. They discuss the roots and future of conservatism, British politics and economics, the role of the West in global affairs such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Chinese Communist Party, as well as diving into what motivates Jacob in politics.

Ethicist, theologian, and author, Professor Nigel Biggar challenges the anti-colonial narrative by presenting a historical analysis of the British Empire's actions. He argues that the empire was a force against slavery and racism. Topics covered include the complex nature of colonialism, the oversimplification of European empires, the impact of colonialism on native peoples, the concept of racism, debunking the genocide label in Tasmania, weaknesses of colonial governments, and the positive aspects of British colonialism, including peace, rule of law, and economic development. The podcast also discusses the British Empire's role in fighting Nazi Germany and emphasizes the importance of understanding history.

Philosopher, scholar and political theorist Dr. Yoram Hazony joins John for a rich and interweaving conversation about conservatism, nationalism, democracy and modern politics. Dr. Hazony, who has recently completed books on several of these topics, provides a compelling critique of the political right - where has gone wrong, the great benefits it can convey for society and how it diverges from liberalism.

John joins Konstantin Kisin for the third time for a wide-ranging conversation. They discuss Kisin's experience as a new father and how that has changed him, his recent viral Oxford Union speech, and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

In this conversation, John is joined by British journalist and author, Melanie Phillips.An outspoken British journalist with a reputation for fierce and honest opinions, Melanie offers cut-through commentary on a number of significant cultural and geopolitical issues. She and John discuss the coronation of Charles III, the cultural problems gripping the UK, and the relationship between Israel and the West.

John is joined by Walter Russell Mead, an American academic widely regarded for his incisive analysis of geopolitics and foreign affairs. They consider the worrying isolationist streak that seems to be running through US politics, the continuing struggle for supremacy and global leadership between China and the US, the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence, Western cultural decadence and Israeli democracy.

In this conversation, John is joined by Professor Steven Pinker, world renowned cognitive psychologist, psycholinguist and public intellectual.John and Steven discuss why, despite the profound influence of the Enlightenment on the modern world, so many have been captivated by postmodernism and critical theories which reject the essence of the Enlightenment - rationality and objective truth.They consider what it is to be rational, how rationality relates to being morally 'good', the difference between wisdom and knowledge, science and it's impact on modernity and why bad ideas so often stem from the halls of academia.Steven applies his mind to other topical questions, including the erosion of free speech, the rise of artificial intelligence and how aspiring writers can hone their craft.

In this Conversation, John is joined by former cabinet colleague Peter Costello. Alongside John, Peter was an integral member of the Howard government, serving as Treasurer between 1996 and 2007. No Treasurer in Australia's history has held the position longer than he.

In this conversation, John travels to Seattle to interview Katy Faust and Stacy Manning, co-authors of Them Before Us, a book which argues for a revolution in how we think about the family, and a re-focus on the needs of children above the desires of parents. We need to consider government policies and social changes from the child's perspective, because they don't have a voice of their own.

As Australia prepares to vote in a referendum on a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament, John sits down with one of Australia's foremost experts on constitutional law for a detailed analysis of what the Voice is likely to be, what it means for the Australian Constitution and system of representational government and what the implications of changing the Constitution to accomodate the Voice could be.