

Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
ABC
Move beyond the headlines to see how the past defines our world. Whether it's a local or international story, Rear Vision's expert analysis gives you the background you need to understand today's news.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 31, 2024 • 29min
Haiti — the background to political and social chaos
The gang violence that is gripping the Caribbean nation of Haiti, is the most recent disaster in a long line of political, economic, and natural disasters. Today Haiti is one of the poorest and most unstable country on the planet, but this was not always the case, it was once France’s riches colony and the world’s first black-lead republic. So why has Haiti become such a political and economic mess?

Mar 23, 2024 • 29min
Border crossings — a history of migration at the US-Mexico border
Immigrants are showing up at the southern border in record numbers. We examine the history of US policy toward immigration and border security with Mexico.

Mar 17, 2024 • 29min
How to end conflict—The art of peace making
It’s a truism of peace talks that we’re not negotiating with our friends but rather our enemies. And when most of our enemies have been designated as terrorist and murderers it’s not an easy task. How have we’ve ended violent conflicts in the past and are there lessons we can learn from previous peace negotiations.

Mar 9, 2024 • 29min
Qatar has become the world's go-to mediator, but what's in it for them?
The story of how this tiny country got so good at conflict mediation and why their pragmatism is also a liability.

Mar 3, 2024 • 29min
Power without Responsibility—The role of the Pakistani military in politics
Since the birth Pakistan in 1947 the military has been interfering either directly or indirectly in politics and their election last month was no different. So how and why has the military come to play such a critical role in Pakistan politics and what has this meant for Pakistan’s democracy.

Feb 24, 2024 • 29min
Tough on Crime: a history of putting kids in prison
Figuring out the best way to respond to young people who commit crimes is a vexed issue.Especially when there is a perception that not enough is being done to keep the community safe.We examine the evolution of juvenile justice and the use of institutions to reform and punish children.

Feb 18, 2024 • 29min
Axis of Resistance—Terrorists or Resistance Fighters?
The Axis of Resistance, is a coalition of state and non-state actors, led by Iran and committed to resisting the presence of the United States and Israel in the Middle East. Since Hamas’s attack on Israel and the subsequent invasion of Gaza, members of the Axis have targeted anything connected with Israel or the United States across the region. Yet Iran has remained reluctant to confront the US or Israel directly. Is this reluctance undermining Iran’s standing within the Axis of resistance?

Feb 10, 2024 • 29min
How Australia's supermarket sector became one of the most concentrated in the world
Coles and Woolworths didn't start out in food retail but after making the switch in the 1950s they quickly started taking over the competition.So what do we lose when an industry is dominated by just two players?

Feb 4, 2024 • 29min
US Presidential Elections—Are they democratic?
American Presidents are not elected by a popular vote but rather by a select group – known as the Electoral College. It’s a system that was devised in 1787 to bring together a number of very disparate states – all with their own agendas. But is it appropriate for Presidential elections in the 21st century and can it said to be a truly democratic?

Jan 27, 2024 • 29min
Who are the Houthis and why are they attacking ships in the Red Sea?
The Houthis, a militia group from Yemen, began targeting cargo vessels in the Red Sea last year.It's one of the world's busiest shipping lanes so disruptions can have a big impact on global trade.The United States and UK have responded with air strikes on targets in Yemen.We examine the Houthis origins and rising influence.


