Prof Jiang’s Predictive History and other lectures

A sweeping lecture traces how reserve currencies, Bretton Woods and petrodollars shaped US power. It follows central banking from 1688 to modern financialization and easy-money cycles. The talk maps deindustrialization, 2008 shock, China’s rise and shifting geostrategies. It culminates in imperial overreach, Middle East stakes and a humanist call for imagination and love.

Civilization #59 - The Man of Steel

Civilization #58 - Birth of the Nation-State

Civilization #57 - How Modernism Ruined Everything

Civilization #56 - What Marx Got Wrong

Civilization #55 - Kant, Hegel, and the Theory of Everything

Civilization #54 - The German Will to Power

Explore the complexities of Russian civilization through the lens of Dostoevsky's life and works. Discover how Russian fatalism and Orthodox beliefs shape the human experience. Delve into the cultural-historical motives behind Putin's actions in Ukraine and contrast Russian expansionism with America's. Learn about the significance of suffering in Russian arts and how it intertwines with moral psychology. Unpack the tensions within Russia, revealing the rich, dual nature of its identity amidst trials and triumphs.

Civilization #52 - Empire of Democracy

Dive into the fascinating connections between Shakespeare and the British Empire. Discover how geography and religious identities shaped four pivotal civilizations. Explore Shakespeare's linguistic innovations, including groundbreaking metaphors and layered meanings that transformed English. The podcast reveals why great art influences collective consciousness and redefines societal norms. Hamlet's existential musings and Julius Caesar's rhetoric illustrate Shakespeare's depth, while the discussion of race in Othello and his impact on modern culture highlights his enduring relevance.