The Voices of War

Today, I spoke with Dr Mike Martin who is one of the go-to voices for insights and analysis of the war in Ukraine. Mike has authored several books, amongst which is still one of my favourites on conflict titled ‘Why We Fight’. Mike also recently released a new book titled, ‘How to Fight a War’, that details why wars are won and why they are lost. The book is getting released in Australia on the 1st of July and can be ordered here. Mike joins me today for an update on the war in Ukraine, especially on the events that transpired in Russia over the past week. Some of the themes we discussed are: Reasons for brittleness of autocratic regimes Sawing of dissent within Russian ranks The potential impact of the mutiny on the battlefield in Ukraine Discussion on the seeming purge of Prigozhin’s allies The possible shift of position by China Potential future scenarios Recent previous episodes with Dr Mike Martin: https://thevoicesofwar.com/68-special-release-dr-mike-martin-and-john-spencer-an-update-on-ukraine/ https://thevoicesofwar.com/58-dr-mike-martin-and-ltgen-ret-arne-dalhaug-update-on-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/ https://thevoicesofwar.com/20-dr-mike-martin-update-on-unfolding-situation-in-afghanistan/

Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Neil Greenberg, an esteemed clinical and academic psychiatrist based at King's College London. With a remarkable 23 years of experience in the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Neil has provided psychiatric care and conducted extensive research in challenging environments, including Afghanistan and Iraq.   In addition to his invaluable practical experience, Neil has made significant contributions to the field of psychiatry, with over 120 published scientific papers and book chapters. He is widely recognised as an expert speaker on topics such as psychological well-being in the UK Armed Forces, traumatic stress management, and occupational mental health. Notably, Neil was also involved in the appeal trial of Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman, a high-profile case concerning the killing of an injured Afghan insurgent.   During our conversation, Neil shared valuable insights on the crucial issue of mental health within military and veteran communities. Here are some of the key topics we discussed:    ·      Neil's background in the UK Armed Forces and qualification as a Green Beret  ·      Most common mental health issues faced by military personnel  ·      Distinguishing between PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, and Depression  ·      Risk factors of mental health challenges in the military  ·      How to reduce the risk of mental health injuries  ·      Understanding Moral Injury and its three primary causes  ·      The inoculating effect of a meaningful narrative  ·      What makes otherwise morally sound people do unethical deeds  ·      The role of leadership in maintaining mental health  ·      Individual moral degradation vs group moral degradation  ·      Distinguishing between a psychologically good and psychologically bad war ·      Blurring of the morality line by operational ineffectiveness  ·      The case of Royal Marine, Sergeant Blackman, associated war crimes trial, and appeal  ·      Finding solutions in combat that may clash with our moral compass and society's expectations  ·      The unique nature of Sergeant Blackman's case and its role as a precedent to account for the impact of war on soldiers' mental health  ·      The importance of considering how mental health challenges impact families and the broader community   #TheVoicesOfWar #mentalhealth #military #veterans #psychiatrist #research #traumaticstress #PTSD #occupationalhealth #peerledsupport #TRiM #UKArmedForces #King'sCollegeLondon #deployment #hostileenvironments #traumamanagement #organisationalhealth #psychologicalwellbeing #combatstress #veterancommunity #mentalhealthawareness #warcrimes #moraldrift

My guest today is Hasan Aygun, who is a prominent Turkish security analyst with an extensive career in international relations, global security issues and conflict management both as a diplomat and later as a political adviser. Some of our long-time listeners might recognise Hasan’s biography, as he appeared on the show all the way back in June of 2021. To hear more about Hasan’s extensive background and experiences, listen here. Today, however, Hasan joins me to discuss the results of the recent Turkish elections and possible implications for the country, the region, and the rest of the world. Some of the topics we discussed are: Hasan’s observations of the electoral process in Turkey The historical context to Turkish politics and Erdogan’s rise to power Description of the three dominant social groups determining election results Gradual decline into authoritarianism and its effects on the ‘fairness’ of Turkish elections Analysing the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor and credible rival to Erdogan, Ekrem Imamoglu Exploring the factors behind Turkey’s rapid economic decline Ownership of television and print media in Turkey and its impact on public discourse Suppression of dissenting voices and threats to journalists in Turkey The exploitation of migrants and Syrian refugees for political gain in Turkey The influence of the February earthquake on voter sentiment in Turkey The diminishing state of democracy in Turkey and its consequences Evaluating the geopolitical winners and losers following Erdogan’s victory Examining Turkey’s relationship with NATO and its implications The ‘F-35 Affair’ and its effects on Turkey-US relations Turkey’s ties with Russia and the consequences of Finland joining and Sweden’s imminent entry into NATO Exploring rumours surrounding Erdogan’s health issues

Today, I spoke with Dr Greta Uehling, who is a lecturer at the University of Michigan and whose scholarship is concerned with international migration and forced displacement. Her most recent project explored the subjective experience of the military conflict and forced displacement in Ukraine. Based on years of research living in Ukraine, she documented how the military conflict that started in 2014 reconfigured social worlds and how these social worlds became the site of a different, everyday kind of war. She recently published a book stemming from this research titled ‘Everyday War: The Conflict over Donbas, Ukraine’.    Some of the topics we covered are: ·       Greta's background, entry into anthropology, and her fieldwork in Ukraine ·       The birth of her book 'Everyday War: The Conflict over Donbas, Ukraine' ·       Meaning and manifestations of 'Everyday War' ·       Unique identity of the Donbas in Ukraine and its role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict ·       Importance of cultural and social immersion for understanding context ·       Perception differences of the war in different parts of Ukraine (2014-2022) ·       Impact of war on interpersonal relationships and fallout management strategies ·       Defining and contextualising 'Everyday Peace' ·       The story of the 'Black Tulips' ·       Influence of war on risk perception and redefinition of 'normal' ·       Prospects of peace in Ukraine   During this episode, I referred to a discussion with a previous guest, Tomislav Cvitanusic. You can listen to that episode here.

My guest today is Dr David Kilcullen, who is a renowned military strategist, scholar, and former soldier and diplomat who has served both the Australian and United States governments for three decades now. He is an expert in the fields of guerrilla warfare, terrorism, urbanisation, and the future of conflict.    David has authored several influential books, including ‘The Accidental Guerrilla’, ‘Counterinsurgency’, ‘Out of the Mountains’, ‘The Dragons and Snakes: How the Rest Leant to Fight the West’ and ‘The Ledger: Accounting for Failure in Afghanistan’. He has been named one of Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers and has won numerous awards for his writing. His work is widely used by policymakers, the military, intelligence services, and development agencies around the world.    Some of the topics we discussed are: ·      David’s background, military life, and journey into academia ·      Analysis of the fall of Kabul and the current situation in Afghanistan ·      Reflection on the power and influence of elites in the US and how their pursuit of selfish interests affects geopolitics ·      Competing partisan narratives in the US and their impact on global politics ·      Lack of accountability for the failures in Afghanistan and Iraq and its impact ·      Working towards preventing a potential war between the US and China as a national priority for Australia ·      Discussion on the likelihood and impact of a hot war between the US and China ·      Analysis of what the US-China contest is actually about ·      A discussion on the winners and losers in the 20th century ·      Reflection on Iraq as a pivotal moment for US global dominance ·      Loss of Western moral legitimacy and its impact ·      Australia’s position in a potential US-China conflict ·      Reflection on the recently announced Australian Defence Strategic Review ·      How Taiwan perceives China and how this shapes its strategic narrative ·      Reflection on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its origins, and potential outcomes ·      China’s attempt to mediate between Ukraine and Russia, as well as Iran and Saudi Arabia ·      How social media undermines conflict discourse and stifles dialogue due to parallel realities ·      The importance of national sovereignty, industry, resilience, and sustainability ·      Discussion on the fact that increased sovereignty would impact the current standard of living and national wealth ·      Impact of the collapse of confidence in experts, institutions, and the political elite in the West ·      Reflection on the ongoing domestic tensions in the US and the risks associated with the 2024 presidential election ·      Dave's two key risks for the immediate future—ongoing erosion of civil liberties in the West and a weaponised pandemic

My guest today is Dr Robert ‘Bob’ Bowker whose career in the politics and analysis of the Middle East spans five decades. He spent 37 years as an Australian diplomat in the region, firstly on postings to Saudi Arabia (74-06), and Syria (79-81) and later as the Australian ambassador to Jordan (89-92), Egypt (05-08) as well as non-resident ambassador to Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Sudan. Bob also held senior roles at the United Nations Relief and Works Program for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (1997-1998,) based in Gaza and Jerusalem.    Following his diplomatic career, Bob spent more than a decade as an academic, firstly as an Adjunct Professor and later as an Honorary Fellow at the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. For a period of that time, Bob also served as an intelligence analyst with the Office of National Assessments.    Bob recently published a memoir about his extensive career and personal attachment to the Middle East titled, ‘Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots: an Australian Diplomat in the Arab World’. Bob joins me today to discuss his book as well as his views on the state of the Middle East, its predominant and enduring fault lines, as well as the role of the West in the region.    Some of the topics we covered are: ·      Bob’s introduction to Islam and the Arab World ·      Misrepresentation of the Arab World’s relationship with the West ·      Meaning of the book’s title and why it captures the sentiment of the Middle East ·      Importance of cross-cultural engagement for diplomatic success and understanding of power structures ·      Memorable cultural exchanges and their impact  ·      The importance of history to societies of the Middle East ·      Western politicians' failure to consider culture and history when dealing with the Middle East ·      Analysis of the 2003 Iraq Invasion, its background, and failures ·      Australia’s involvement in the Iraq War  ·      Whether Australia should debate a decision to go to war in the Parliament ·      Reconciling the tensions between national interests and promoting certain values ·      Bob’s work in Palestine with United Nations Relief and Works Program for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) ·      Analysis of the Palestine and Israel conflict and why peace remains untenable  ·      Why the ‘Two State Solution’ is dead ·      The unwavering US support for Israel and the possibility of change ·      The future of Iran’s relationship with the West and the US ·      Prospects of Chinese success in mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia

Today, I spoke with Will Storr, who is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker and The New York Times. He is the author of six critically acclaimed books, including ‘Selfie: How the West became self-obsessed’, ‘The Heretics: Adventures with the enemies of science’, as well as the Sunday Times Bestseller ‘The Science of Storytelling’. He also recently published the book 'The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It' and he joins me today to explore how status influences our behaviour, relationships, and how it contributes to so much of what’s good as well as bad in our world. Some of the topics we covered are: The Significance of Status: Understanding Its Purpose and Implications Dominance, Virtue, and Success: The Three Types of Status Games You Need to Know Cultural Influence on Status Games: Why Understanding Culture is Key Influencing Social Groups: The Importance of Understanding their Culture and Status Dynamics The Impact of Status on Physical and Psychological Wellbeing: What You Need to Know Status Loss and Suicide Ideation: Understanding the Correlation Genocide and National Status Loss: Examining the Link Status in Culture Wars: Brexit, Trump, and the Role of Status Games The Use of Status Games by Cultural Elites Geopolitics and Status: Understanding Their Interconnection Escaping Status Games: Is It Possible? Playing a Hierarchy of Status Games: Why It Matters and How to Do It

Please note that this entire episode is available on the public channel. To gain access to all other episodes, please subscribe at https://thevoicesofwar.supercast.com/ ---- Today, I spoke with Robert Hartley, who is a former Australian Army Officer who served for 12 years in the Artillery Corps before transitioning to a civilian career in the technology sector. During his time in the military, Robert deployed on exchange with the British Army on Operation Herrick XII (12) to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. In his civilian life, Robert has worked for a number of technology companies, including Microsoft, before joining a start-up where he is an Executive Director. Robert joins me today to discuss his life in the Army, how his deployment to Helmand resulted in a PTSD diagnosis, as well as his journey to recovery, which includes being part of the ketamine program that I discussed at length with Dr Alex Lim a few episodes ago. Things we covered include: Rob’s entry into the Army and the Artillery Corps Rotation into Helmand with the British Army The thrill of preparing for and going to war Use of artillery as a direct-fire weapon The reality of Helmand as the ‘kinetic province’ How the local population perceived the Coalition Forces Dealing with numerous casualties Reflecting on mateship, camaraderie, and sense of purpose The process of desensitisation to war and combat Reflection on the burden of command The challenge of preserving one’s own moral compass The struggle of upholding the delicate facade of morality in battle The price of extreme compartmentalisation and rationalisation Returning home, signs that things weren’t right and asking for help Symptoms, PTSD diagnosis, and importance of command support Short-term fixes but eventual relapse, downward spiral, and continual emotional compartmentalisation The path to recovery and reconnecting to emotions Joining Dr Alex Lim’s ketamine program, onboarding, and treatment initiation A reflection on the ketamine treatment, its sensations, experiences, and insights Why ketamine remains contentious How the ketamine treatment affected Rob’s relationships with his wife and children Why seeking help matters! During this discussion, we referred to the following previous episodes: Ashley Judd – On combat, mental health and the road to recovery Dr Alex Lim - On veterans’ mental health: the good, the bad and the promising Given the nature of this discussion, and the fact that many in our audience are veterans, there is a risk that elements of this episode might be difficult listening for some. If this is the case, I encourage you to seek help through one of the many channels nowadays available, some of which are listed below (Australian audiences only):   All-hours Support Line (1800 628 036 / +612 9425 3878 if O/S)   Open Arms (VVCS) 1800 011 046 https://www.openarms.gov.au/   1800 IMSICK (1800 624 608)   Defence Community Organisation (DCO) Defence Family Helpline 1800 624 608 http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/   Lifeline 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au   Suicide Call back service 1300 659 467 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au   Soldier On 1300 620 380 www.soldieron.org.au

Today, I spoke with Dr Christopher Coyne, who is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University and the Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center. He is the author of five books and numerous academic articles, book chapters, and policy studies. He joins me today to discuss his latest book, In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace (2022), which is a pragmatic and unashamedly critical appraisal of American foreign policy. Some of the things we talked about are: Chris’ background and entry into academia and How and why training in economics shaped Chris’ worldview Importance of understanding incentives and their power An argument against the concept of a 'Hobbesian world' Definition of the American Empire and its governance of 'dominion' Dangers of crony capitalism and its ties to the Military Industrial Complex Issues with broken or non-existent chains of accountability Concerns surrounding the 'revolving door' principle Origins of US militarism and the Permanent War Economy Military Keynesianism and the 'Iron Triangle' Limitations and unintended consequences of American interventionism Unpredictability of complex systems Impact of technological advances and the shift from 'defence' to 'offence' Exploring alternatives to war Previous episodes that address similar topics and were referenced in this discussion include: Samuel Moyn - On ‘Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War‘ Marc Garlasco - War through the eyes of a Pentagon Chief of High Value Targeting Amos Fox - Beyond the illusion of manoeuvre: Navigating the clash between intentions and reality in modern warfare

My guest today is Dr Elizabeth Boulton, who is an eco-military theorist with Destination Safe Earth, and a research affiliate with the ‘Climate Change & (In)Security Project’ which is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research (CHACR) and the British Army. She joins me today to discuss her thinking behind the concepts of ‘Hyperthreat’, ‘Hyper-response’, and Plan E as a response to tackling climate change. Some of the topics we discussed are: • Elizabeth’s background and journey towards a PhD • Timothy Morton and the Hyperobject • Conceptualising climate change as a ‘Hyperthreat’  • Uncovering the disguised cause and effect of the ‘Hyperthreat’ • ‘Entangled Security’ and why understanding it is crucial for tackling the climate crisis • The problem of establishing credibility about climate change • Corporate capture, competing priorities and corrupted incentives in the ‘Hyperthreat’ • ‘Plan E’ and the essential steps to fight climate change • Reframing the idea of security for a sustainable future • Why a localised response is key to addressing the climate change ‘Hyperthreat’ • Unlocking global creativity to achieve a ‘Hyper-response’ • Testing the viability of ‘Plan E’ through wargaming • Increasing geopolitical tensions as a threat to climate change solutions To find out more about Elizabeth and her work, you can start here.  #TheVoicesOfWar #PlanE, #hyperthreat, #EntangledSecurity, #ClimateChange, #Hyperobject, #Strategy, #ClimateEmergency, #Mobilization, #Transdisciplinary, #PlanetarySecurity, #SlowViolence, #SixthExtinctionEvent