In this espisode, the first one for 2024, we start off hot by speaking with Scott Lucas on events in the Middle East from Gaza to Lebanon and from Yemen to Jordan and Iran, why have things gone so wrong and what lies ahead?

Scott’s latest piece in The Conversation can be found - here

927 Magazine can be found - here

Scott’s website EA Worldview can be found - here

In this espisode, the first one for 2024, we start off hot by speaking with Scott Lucas on events in the Middle East from Gaza to Lebanon and from Yemen to Jordan and Iran, why have things gone so wrong and what lies ahead?
Scott’s latest piece in The Conversation can be found - <a href="https://theconversation.com/iran-with-a-tanking-economy-and-an-election-in-weeks-the-islamic-republic-tries-to-rally-support-by-acting-tough-221660">here</a>
927 Magazine can be found - <a href="https://www.972mag.com/">here</a>
Scott’s website EA Worldview can be found - <a href="https://eaworldview.com/">here</a>

The news today is often biased at the personal, organisational and structural levels, polarising our societies. The Focus is a program designed to cut through this bias to get at the heart of a topic. Join Host Dr. John Bruni and Producers Malcolm Hughes and Neil Smart as they examine the pressing issues of our time whether in Australia or overseas. In an interdependent, troubled and fast-moving world, knowing what questions to ask can lead us to understand and adapt to new and disruptive circumstances.

The Focus

Middle East Madness

Is there a new 'Harris Doctrine' on the horizon? Join Yale historian Dr. Michael Brenes as we unpack Kamala Harris's foreign policy vision in our latest podcast!

Show Notes:

You can contact Michael here:

X: @mbrenes1

Substack: michaelbrenes.substack.com

Books published by Michael – 
And, as mentioned in the podcast - The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy, and TO BE published by Yale University Press in January 2025.
Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic Histories of U.S. Foreign Relations, published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2024.
For Might and Right: Cold War Defense Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy, published by University of Massachusetts Press in 2020.

Is there a new 'Harris Doctrine' on the horizon? Join Yale historian Dr. Michael Brenes as we unpack Kamala Harris's foreign policy vision in our latest podcast!
Show Notes:
You can contact Michael here:
X: @mbrenes1
Substack: <a href="http://michaelbrenes.substack.com">michaelbrenes.substack.com</a>
Books published by Michael – 
<ul>
<li>And, as mentioned in the podcast - The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy, and TO BE published by Yale University Press in January 2025.</li>
<li>Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic Histories of U.S. Foreign Relations, published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2024.</li>
<li>For Might and Right: Cold War Defense Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy, published by University of Massachusetts Press in 2020.</li>
</ul>

A Harris Doctrine? Exploring Kamala's Foreign Policy

In our latest episode of The Focus, renowned demographerDr. Paul Morland unpacks one of the most controversial and alarming issues of our time: global depopulation. What happens when the world's population shrinks? How does this shift impact economies, geopolitics, and future generations? Are we truly facing a "population crisis," or is there more to the story? Tune in as we dive into shocking data and explore the hidden truths behind declining birth rates, aging societies, and the consequences no one is talking about. This is an episode you can’t afford to miss!

Show Notes

Paul’s website can be seen here: https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/

You can contact Paul on X at - @MorlandDemog

If you are interested in reading his works, including his latest, published this year, No One Left, please check out a list of his recent books below:
No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children, 2024
Tomorrow's People: The Future of Humanity in Ten Numbers, 2022
The Human Tide: How Population Shaped the Modern World, 2019
Demographic Engineering: Population Strategies in Ethnic Conflict, 2018 

Recent OpEds by Paul can be found here:
https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/articles-paul-morland

And check out this from The New Statesman – 
Is there a progressive argument for pro-natalism? The New Statesman, 10/07/2024
https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/07/paul-morland-interview-is-there-progressive-argument-for-pro-natalism

In our latest episode of The Focus, renowned demographer Dr. Paul Morland unpacks one of the most controversial and alarming issues of our time: global depopulation. What happens when the world's population shrinks? How does this shift impact economies, geopolitics, and future generations? Are we truly facing a "population crisis," or is there more to the story? Tune in as we dive into shocking data and explore the hidden truths behind declining birth rates, aging societies, and the consequences no one is talking about. This is an episode you can’t afford to miss!
Show Notes
Paul’s website can be seen here: <a href="https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/">https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/</a>
You can contact Paul on X at - @MorlandDemog
If you are interested in reading his works, including his latest, published this year, No One Left, please check out a list of his recent books below:
<ul>
<li>No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children, 2024</li>
<li>Tomorrow's People: The Future of Humanity in Ten Numbers, 2022</li>
<li>The Human Tide: How Population Shaped the Modern World, 2019</li>
<li>Demographic Engineering: Population Strategies in Ethnic Conflict, 2018 </li>
</ul>
Recent OpEds by Paul can be found here:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/articles-paul-morland">https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/articles-paul-morland</a></li>
</ul>
And check out this from The New Statesman – 
<ul>
<li>Is there a progressive argument for pro-natalism? The New Statesman, 10/07/2024</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/07/paul-morland-interview-is-there-progressive-argument-for-pro-natalism">https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2024/07/paul-morland-interview-is-there-progressive-argument-for-pro-natalism</a></li>
</ul>

Depopulation Crisis | Point of No Return?

In this gripping episode of The Focus, we delve into the aftermath of the Wagner Group’s fall from grace and the emergence of a new era in Russian paramilitary operations. Join us as Dr. Ladd Serwat unpacks the intricate power shifts, the rise of the 'Africa Corps', and the lasting impact of Prigozhin's legacy on Russia's global strategy.

Show Notes:

You can contact Dr. Ladd Serwat directly on his X account – here: @LaddSerwat

Or the ACLED X account – here: @ACLEDINFO

If you would like to track down the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) site directly and look deeper into their work – click on the following link to its website - https://acleddata.com/

Glossary of terms used in this episode – 

PMC – Private Military Company otherwise known by the old term, ‘mercenaries.’

Kidal (Tuareg Berber: ⴾⴸⵍ, KDL, Kidal) is a town and commune in the desert region of northern Mali. The town lies 285 km (177 mi) northeast of Gao and is the capital of the Kidal Cercle and the Kidal Region. The commune has an area of about 9,910 km2 (3,830 sq mi) and includes the town of Kidal and 31 other settlements. (Wikipedia).

RSF – Rapid Support Forces, are a paramilitary force that sprang out of the Janjaweed militias in Sudan and are now fighting the government of Sudan for control of the country.

In this gripping episode of The Focus, we delve into the aftermath of the Wagner Group’s fall from grace and the emergence of a new era in Russian paramilitary operations. Join us as Dr. Ladd Serwat unpacks the intricate power shifts, the rise of the 'Africa Corps', and the lasting impact of Prigozhin's legacy on Russia's global strategy.
Show Notes:
You can contact Dr. Ladd Serwat directly on his X account – here: @LaddSerwat
Or the ACLED X account – here: @ACLEDINFO
If you would like to track down the Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project (ACLED) site directly and look deeper into their work – click on the following link to its website - <a href="https://acleddata.com/">https://acleddata.com/</a>
Glossary of terms used in this episode – 
PMC – Private Military Company otherwise known by the old term, ‘mercenaries.’
Kidal (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg_language">Tuareg Berber</a>: ⴾⴸⵍ, KDL, Kidal) is a town and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communes_of_Mali">commune</a> in the desert region of northern <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali">Mali</a>. The town lies 285 km (177 mi) northeast of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gao">Gao</a> and is the capital of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidal_Cercle">Kidal Cercle</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidal_Region">Kidal Region</a>. The commune has an area of about 9,910 km2 (3,830 sq mi) and includes the town of Kidal and 31 other settlements. (Wikipedia).
RSF – Rapid Support Forces, are a paramilitary force that sprang out of the Janjaweed militias in Sudan and are now fighting the government of Sudan for control of the country.

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