The EI Podcast

Historian David Cowan explains how radical reform can reshape the state. Read by Leighton Pugh. Image: A political caricature, 'Political Dreams, Visions of Peace, Perspective Horrors', by James Gillray of Pitt the Younger. Credit: INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo

David Omand, ex-head of GCHQ, the British government's world-renowned cyber agency, explores how intelligence officers exploit the latest technological advances. Image: Digital espionage is on the rise. Credit: Stu Gray / Alamy Stock Photo 

EI's Alastair Benn and Paul Lay are joined by Jonathan Esty, of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, to discuss Graham Greene’s The Quiet American, published 70 years ago, a gripping novel that captures the passing of the baton from the old colonial powers to the new masters in South-East Asia. Image: French paratroops at the beginning of the First Indochina War. Credit: Keystone Press

Samuel Rubinstein, a historian specializing in ideological narratives, delves into the manipulation of Charlemagne's legacy by Nazi historiographers. He discusses how they transformed Charlemagne from a revered king into a controversial symbol to enhance Hitler's image. The conversation highlights the distortion and rebranding of historical figures in Nazi propaganda and the ongoing debates about Charlemagne's legacy in post-war Europe. Rubinstein also reflects on how these interpretations continue to influence contemporary historical perspectives.

Discover the roots of political distrust as experts discuss the critical importance of sound judgment in leadership. Dive into the complexities of political decision-making, distinguishing true leadership from mere expertise. The conversation highlights the need for leaders who embrace responsibility and navigate uncertainty with moral character. A renewed appreciation for the nobility of political life calls for conviction over codification, emphasizing the essential qualities that define effective leadership in today's world.

Journalist Duncan Weldon reveals how liberal capitalist economies adapt to total war. Read by Leighton Pugh. Image: Second World War-era British propaganda. Credit: Venimages / Alamy Stock Photo 

Join Andrew Lambert, Lawton Professor of Naval History at King's College London and a distinguished naval historian, as he delves into Britain's strategic maneuvering from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to World War I. Lambert discusses how Britain leveraged naval power and diplomacy to maintain stability in Europe. He highlights key figures like Pitt and Wellington, examines the rise of Germany as a rising power, and addresses Britain's strategic missteps that ultimately contributed to its unpreparedness for World War I.

Historian Katherine Bayford exposes the fractures and contradictions that doomed the Confederacy from within. Read by Leighton Pugh. FURTHER READING: The rift that doomed the Confederacy | Katherine Bayford Image: A statue of Alexander Stephens in the US Congress. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo

This year marks the centenary of the publication of Franz Kafka’s novel, The Trial - a seminal work that continues to captivate and unsettle its readers. EI’s Alastair Benn and Paul Lay are joined by Karolina Watroba, author of Metamorphoses: In Search of Franz Kafka, to discuss Josef K’s tragic entanglement with a suffocating bureaucracy. Image: Portrait of Franz Kafka. Credit: history_docu_photo / Alamy Stock Photo 

Nicholas Morton, a historian dedicated to the study of the Knights Templars, shares fascinating insights into how marketing propelled the order to prominence. He discusses the myth and reality behind their rise, emphasizing their strategic branding and influential connections. The conversation also covers their legal troubles and the political machinations that led to their dramatic downfall under King Philip IV. Morton's expertise uncovers the less-known truths about these legendary figures and their impact on Christendom.