America and China are trying to divide the world between them.
Whether it’s tariffs, rare earths, or Ukraine, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping seem to think big states can do what they like and smaller ones should suffer what they must…
Yet today’s guest – the former President of Armenia, Dr Armen Sarkissian – argues that there’s a lot they can learn from small states.
As well as discussing this, he and Aaron touch on:
They also talk about the importance of silence, Francis Fukuyama, why the Soviet Union still haunts us, and climate change.
If you would like to buy The Small States Club, visit the strategyaaron Bookshop page
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There is growing concern about a literacy crisis. Rather than reading a book, more and more people are choosing to play video games, listen to podcasts, or watch something on their phones. But is this “crisis” overblown?
We are actually producing and consuming written text more than ever before. What really matters, says Harry Ashbridge – former head of writing at Monzo and now Sunsave – is thinking about the words we use and their impact on others.
On the show today, he and Aaron discuss:
They also delve into the pitfalls of cliches and historical analogies, the ethics of using AI in writing, and the need to rethink the term "Net Zero"...
If you need any strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
Other links:
The strategyaaron Bookshop
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
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Modern Britain was born in the late 1600s and early 1700s.
The Bank of England was created, England and Scotland became a united kingdom, political parties as we know them were formed for the first time, and power was increasingly concentrated in the hands of the monarch’s chief minister.
Yet the politicians responsible – Sidney Godolphin, Robert Harley, and the Junto lords – are almost completely forgotten.
On the show today, Aaron talks to George Owers – author of The Rage of Party: How Whig Versus Tory Made Modern Britain – about these early masters of our politics.
They also touch on culture wars, polarisation, and Sydney Sweeney...
If you would like to buy The Rage of Party and support independent stores in the UK, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page.
If you need any strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
Joanna Lillis was one of the first guests on strategyaaron. In fact, she agreed to do the show before it'd even launched.
Today, she returns to talk about her new book 'Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan'.
Joanna and Aaron explore:
They also discuss reporting on dictators, and if those in Central Asia feel emboldened by Trump's return.
If you would like to pre-order Silk Mirage AND support independent stores in the UK, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page
Europe is economically powerful but geopolitically weak. Its leaders always seem to be on the backfoot if ever China, Russia, or America decide to pick a fight. But are things changing…?
Today, foreign policy expert Gesine Weber returns to the show and puts recent Euro-news in a bigger strategic context.
She and Aaron touch on:
* Why things seem better for Europe
* How its leaders have learnt to charm Trump
* Whether they can do this and lessen their dependence on the U.S.
Gesine and Aaron also discuss news exhaustion, the “axis of authoritarianism”, how Trump’s brain works – and Russia’s recent escalation of its hybrid war.
Links:
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
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In the election last year, Britain’s Conservatives suffered their worst ever defeat – and things have only gotten worse for them.
More and more of their voters are switching to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, as are more and more ambitious politicians on the Right. Today, a YouGov poll found that most people either want the Tories to disappear or don’t care if they do.
But should we be careful what we wish for…?
On the show today, Aaron talks to strategist and Tory thinker John Oxley (Joxley) about how to save usually one of the most successful political parties in the world.
They touch on:
* Why Brexit caused so many problems
* How the party lost touch with the middle class
* Whether a change of leadership is necessary
Aaron and John also discuss bureaucratic knifefighting, the importance of whimsy in British politics, competition reality shows, and the scourge of qualifying words.
Links:
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
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In the late ‘90s and 2000s, fed up with tired political establishments, voters across Latin America swung behind “populist” outsiders who promised to make their lives better.
Things started off well but leaders like Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, and Daniel Ortega were quickly accused of cronyism, corruption, and democratic backsliding. Countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua eventually became outright dictatorships.
On the show today, Aaron talks to Will Grant – Central America correspondent for the BBC and author of ¡Populista! The Rise of Latin America’s Strongmen. They touch on:
* Why these populists were so successful
* How their early promise soon broke down
* What lessons Britain and Europe can learn
They also discuss the importance of TV to populists, the epic life of Brazil’s Lula da Silva and his struggle against Jair Bolsonaro – as well as why Donald Trump is so obsessed with everywhere south of the US border.
If you would like to buy ¡Populista! AND support independent stores in the UK, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/strategyaaron
Other links:
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
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People keep asking Aaron: What actually is strategy? In the first of a new series – Aaron Answers – he tries to explain what he believes it is.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments. If you or your organization needs any strategy advice, get in touch. The email is me@strategyaaron.com
Excerpt from Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation | © BBC
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If there’s a character who Aaron likes to imagine himself being, it’s Homer’s famous hero. He is someone who – even thousands of years ago – was seen as a master of strategy.
On the show today, Aaron discusses Odysseus with Adam Nicolson – the acclaimed author of The Mighty Dead: Why Homer Matters.
They touch on:
* Why Adam prefers The Iliad
* The ethics of deceiving your enemy
* Whether you should ever “solidify” your identity
Adam and Aaron also talk about Stoicism, the danger of charm, the joys of drinking, and what they hope to see from Christopher Nolan’s film of The Odyssey.
If you would like to buy The Mighty Dead AND support independent stores in the UK, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/strategyaaron
Other links:
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
If you need any strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
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Vladimir Putin believes that he must make Russia great again in order to justify his rule over the country. This is why he invaded Ukraine – and it’s why he has no interest in ending the war anytime soon. Peace will come when Russians accept that it’s okay to just be normal…
On the show today, Aaron discusses this with Orysia Lutsevych – deputy director of the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House.
They also touch on:
* What’s happening on the ground in Ukraine
* Why there are two peace processes going on
* How China has put itself in a win-win situation
Mickey Mouse makes his first appearance on the pod, too…
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
If you need any strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
This week’s recommended read is Lawrence Freedman on the “energy war” going on between Russia and Ukraine.
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Britain has a way of fighting wars in Europe. Control the sea, focus on the economy, deny access to Belgium, and leave most of the fighting to allies on the continent. As the eminent historian Andrew Lambert explains in his new book No More Napoleons, this strategy worked for hundreds of years – before being disastrously abandoned in 1914.
On the show today, he and Aaron discuss:
* How this strategy defeated Napoleon
* Why abandoning it prolonged the First World War
* The ways in which this historic approach can deter Putin
They also touch on the tension between popular memory and actual history, why the Duke of Wellington should be seen as a politician rather than as a general, whether or not grand strategy really exists – as well as breaking up the “axis” between Russia and China.
If you would like to buy No More Napoleons AND support independent stores in the UK, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/strategyaaron
Other links:
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
If you need any strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
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On the morning of 24th February 2022, reporter Jen Stout was in deepest Russia. Like every journalist, however, she wanted to be in the middle of things – and made her way to Ukraine. In her book Night Train to Odesa, she explores the impact of Vladimir Putin’s war on its people.
On the show today, she and Aaron discuss:
* What it was like being in Moscow on the eve of the invasion
* Why worsening Russian aggression makes Ukrainians even more resilient
* How Putin uses and abuses the two countries’ histories to justify his actions
They also touch on pirates, the economics of being a freelance war reporter, what postwar Ukraine might look like – and if anyone is willing to sell her a cheap camper van…?
If you would like to buy Night Train to Odesa AND support independent stores in the UK, visit the strategyaaron Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/strategyaaron
Other links:
Jen’s Bluesky | Instagram | Site
The strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
If you need any strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
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Film scholar Paul Klein is back! On the show today, he and Aaron do a deep-dive into the films of Alfred Hitchcock.
They discuss:
* How the master of suspense made his movies
* What ways his heroes and heroines are “strategic”
* Why his depictions of authority and social anxiety are relevant today
Aaron and Paul also touch on French & Saunders, the acting strategies of Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant, how far advanced we’d be as a society if the Hays Code hadn’t existed – as well as all the ways in which Bond actors try to be f******e…
Links:
Paul’s Bluesky | Instagram | Site
The new strategyaaron Bluesky | Instagram
If you need some strategy consulting – or want to advertise on the show – email me@strategyaaron.com
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British politics is full of dead language and dead imagery. We use tortured phrases like “culturally right, economically left” to describe someone’s views rather than come up with new terms. We also try to understand today’s politicians by comparing whatever they do to something Tony Blair or Margaret Thatcher did decades ago. Is all this because British politics as we know it is dead – but something new has yet to be born?
On the show today, Aaron tries to answer this question with political analyst William Lane. They discuss:
* The enduring legacy of Thatcher and Blair
* The drag effect of both the end of the Cold War and the financial crisis
* The persistent belief that Britain is and has always been a two-party system
They also touch on why the Tories are no longer the “natural party of government”, how both Nigel Farage and the LibDems are taking away their remaining supporters – and if Labour still has the juice to get 40% of the vote in future elections.
Aaron also talks about his disastrous attempt to be a Tory councillor in 2016…
Links:
Aaron’s Bluesky
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Russia threatens Britain and her allies. But if people believe that democracies like ours can’t deliver a good life, then they won’t feel any need to defend them. The good life, says Labour MP Jeevun Sandher, is essential for prosperity at home and peace abroad.
On the show today, he and Aaron discuss:
* What the good life is for him
* How the Labour government can deliver it
* Why it is essential for Britain’s national security
They also touch on grand strategy, The Simpsons, if centre-left politicians should go on right-wing media channels, the future of NATO – and how Keir Starmer can avoid the mistakes of Joe Biden and the Democrats.
Links:
Jeevun’s Bluesky | Aaron’s Bluesky
This week’s recommended read is Sam Freedman’s piece on fixing Starmer’s operation in No.10
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Zbigniew Brzezinski was one of the great strategists of our time. When only 22, he came up with a theory to win the Cold War that ultimately brought down the Soviet Union decades later. As National Security Advisor to Jimmy Carter, he also helped negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt, as well as normalise the United States’ relations with China.
On the show today, Aaron talks to Edward Luce of the Financial Times about his brilliant new biography of Brzezinski. They discuss:
* His unique insights about the Soviet Union
* Why they brought him into conflict with Henry Kissinger
* How Brzezinski became a ruthless bureaucratic knifefighter
Aaron and Edward also touch on the Iran hostage crisis, Brzezinski’s prophecies about Russia and Ukraine, and if Donald Trump is the intellectual heir of Nixon and Kissinger.
We also find out what Edward has in common with Cate Blanchett…
If you would like to buy Zbig, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/strategyaaron
Other links:
Edward’s Bluesky | Aaron’s Bluesky
This week’s recommended read is Sam Freedman’s interview with John Ganz about the ‘90s origins of Trump’s politics
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In his new book Blood & Treasure, Duncan Weldon overturns long-held ideas about war and economics. On the show today, he and Aaron discuss:
* If paying protection money to the Vikings was a good thing
* Why discovering America was an economic disaster for Spain
* The connection between historic battles in India and its development today
They also touch on European rearmament, long unpronounceable German words, Keir Starmer’s growth strategy, and what a total war might look like for Britain’s digital and services economy.
If you would like to buy Blood & Treasure, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/strategyaaron
Other links:
Duncan’s Bluesky
If you’d like to read Dr. Jeevun Sandher MP’s article, check it out here
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Europe is entirely dependent on American tech. From chips and subsea cables to cloud services and social media, almost all are sourced from U.S.-based companies. This makes us incredibly vulnerable to their whims – or the whims of an insane White House…
On the show today, Aaron talks to famed economist Cristina Caffarra about her ambition to free Europe from this dependence. They discuss:
* Why the EU failed to regulate American tech
* What actions are necessary to build a “Eurostack”
* How to empower European tech companies without stifling competition
They also talk about the return of politics to economics, and why the antitrust movement in America is more sophisticated than its European counterpart.
If you enjoyed their conversation, please like/rate/comment.
Useful links:
Cristina’s Bluesky
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On Monday, Britain and the EU negotiated a much-needed upgrade to their relationship. Although maybe not as ambitious as it could’ve been, it was still important to each of their grand strategies. Whereas Britain eases some of the pains of Brexit, Europe binds a major military power into the defence of the continent.
Today, Aaron looks at this “big picture” with Gesine Weber of the German Marshall Fund.
As well as the EU-UK deal, they discuss:
* What grand strategy is and if it can really be done
* How European leaders are struggling to adapt to Trump’s return
* Why Ursula von der Leyen might be a transformational figure for the EU
They also touch on peacekeepers in Ukraine, creepy DM slides, whether French sirens are chic, and both of them being weird little kids into foreign policy.
If you would like to buy any books mentioned, visit the strategyaaron Bookshop
Other links:
If you want to read more about the EU-UK deal, check out this piece by Peter Beckett on the The French Dispatch
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British politics is in flux right now. Voters are abandoning both Labour and the Tories for smaller parties on the left and the right and their leaders don’t know what to do about it. In the recent local government elections, Nigel Farage’s Reform was the biggest winner – with the LibDems and the Greens also making significant gains.
On the show today, Aaron tries to make sense of it all with Adam Drummond – head of political and social research at Opinium. They discuss:
* Why Reform are leading in the polls
* How Keir Starmer’s strategy fell apart
* If the Tories are done as the main party of the right
* Whether the LibDems can continue bridging ideological divides
They also touch on the cross-party appeal of Net Zero, why MRP polls are seen as more trustworthy than voting intention ones – as well as the illusion of mental depth.
If you’d like to buy Sam Freedman’s Failed State, check out the strategyaaron Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/book-club-strategyaaron
Other links:
Adam’s Bluesky
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