How the World Works
I did a lengthy interview with The Institute of Art and Ideas in London on 6 November 2023, which was recently posted on YouTube. The interviewer asks probing questions about how I think the world works. In addition to asking questions about specific cases like the Ukraine war, he asks question about the value of realist theory for understanding international relations.
This is simply brilliant. Thank you.
A state may be a rational actor, but the people who run it are not. I’ve come to believe in something I call “folie à plusieurs” (from folie à deux) which can become more widely contagious under the right conditions. Neo-conservative geopolitical ideology and neo-liberal economic ideology are the “deux” in this scenario and they have bred a kind of irrationality affecting everyone and everything to some degree. This period will keep historians busy for a long time. Assuming we survive as a species.
1. It would be neat to see an article titled, "When Realist Theory Doesn't Work". What is the domain of the 25%? Ideology? Irrationality?
2. By the answer to the question at the end of the interview, you made the claim in effect that, "When Realist Theory doesn't work, States should act like better Realists." This feels true, but why? Because when States are not being good Realists, they are not putting their survival first (for one reason or another). So an investigation into this might lead to a subtitle for #1 above: "Why States Don't Always Put Survival First." (Maybe I'll write this article if you don't.)