Unintended Consequences Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:26:05 -0500 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375973 en-us © 2026 Unintended Consequences yes 5328b2bb-fc90-5947-b613-07ba1f12708b Hugo episodic false Geopolitical relations today through the lens of history. How western foreign policy has shaped the world. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Hugo https://storage.buzzsprout.com/yz206m9yw10fmlmr1nbgf2ju8ej9?.jpg Unintended Consequences Foreign Policy with William Clouston Foreign Policy with William Clouston In this episode, I’m joined by William Clouston, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). We dive into key foreign policy issues including the Russia-Ukraine war, the UK’s controversial Chagos Islands deal, Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States, and the legacy of the anti-war left in the UK. 


]]> In this episode, I’m joined by William Clouston, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). We dive into key foreign policy issues including the Russia-Ukraine war, the UK’s controversial Chagos Islands deal, Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States, and the legacy of the anti-war left in the UK. 


]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-17091962 Sat, 03 May 2025 15:00:00 +0100 2648 full false Syria, Assad & the Shiite Crescent Syria, Assad & the Shiite Crescent Why has Syria always been at the heart of western geopolitical struggles in the Middle East; how did the Syrian Civil War and the rise of Isis lead to a surprising coalition between the Americans and Assad; and what does the future hold for Syria in a increasingly unstable region.

Tune in to Middle Eastern expert Professor Joshua Landis to find out more…

]]> Why has Syria always been at the heart of western geopolitical struggles in the Middle East; how did the Syrian Civil War and the rise of Isis lead to a surprising coalition between the Americans and Assad; and what does the future hold for Syria in a increasingly unstable region.

Tune in to Middle Eastern expert Professor Joshua Landis to find out more…

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15643792 Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0100 3201 full false The Ratlines The Ratlines How did so many high-ranking Nazis evade justice after the war? Today, I’m joined by Danny Orbach to discuss his fantastic book Fugitives and how/why many of the countries, who helped defeat the Nazis, ended up providing them safe haven.

Fugitives: A History of Nazi Mercenaries During the Cold War

]]> How did so many high-ranking Nazis evade justice after the war? Today, I’m joined by Danny Orbach to discuss his fantastic book Fugitives and how/why many of the countries, who helped defeat the Nazis, ended up providing them safe haven.

Fugitives: A History of Nazi Mercenaries During the Cold War

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15403505 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0100 2651 full false Gaddafi, Libya & Humanitarian Intervention Gaddafi, Libya & Humanitarian Intervention How far can the west be blamed for the failed state that is Libya? Did the fall of Gaddafi lead to Europe’s refugee crisis? Are we living in a post humanitarian intervention world? Learn about all of this and more with author Rajan Menon. 


Book: The Conceit of Humanitarian Intervention, Rajan Menon


]]> How far can the west be blamed for the failed state that is Libya? Did the fall of Gaddafi lead to Europe’s refugee crisis? Are we living in a post humanitarian intervention world? Learn about all of this and more with author Rajan Menon. 


Book: The Conceit of Humanitarian Intervention, Rajan Menon


]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15404123 Fri, 09 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +0100 2565 full false Afghanistan, the Soviets & Ahmad Shah Massoud Afghanistan, the Soviets & Ahmad Shah Massoud As Afghanistan drifts into its third year under the Taliban, we dive into the life of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Known to many as the Lion of Panjshir, Massoud led the Afghan resistance against the Soviets and later the Taliban. Just two days before 9/11 Massoud was assassinated by Al-Qaeda. We talk to Carlotta Gall about her and her fathers book ‘Afghan Napoleon’, focusing on his life, his legacy and Afghanistan's fate under the Taliban.

Book: Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud by Sandy Gall

]]> As Afghanistan drifts into its third year under the Taliban, we dive into the life of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Known to many as the Lion of Panjshir, Massoud led the Afghan resistance against the Soviets and later the Taliban. Just two days before 9/11 Massoud was assassinated by Al-Qaeda. We talk to Carlotta Gall about her and her fathers book ‘Afghan Napoleon’, focusing on his life, his legacy and Afghanistan's fate under the Taliban.

Book: Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud by Sandy Gall

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15297208 Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:00:00 +0100 4107 full false The French & the First Indochina War The French & the First Indochina War Today we're discussing the lesser-known first Indochina war. How the world may have looked if only the Americans had learned from the mistakes made by the French just years before. To discuss France's disastrous war in Vietnam I'm joined by the author of the ‘Road to Vietnam’ Pablo De Orellana

]]> Today we're discussing the lesser-known first Indochina war. How the world may have looked if only the Americans had learned from the mistakes made by the French just years before. To discuss France's disastrous war in Vietnam I'm joined by the author of the ‘Road to Vietnam’ Pablo De Orellana

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15301894 Fri, 26 Jul 2024 08:00:00 +0100 2510 full false Nato, Russia and the Ukraine war Nato, Russia and the Ukraine war As the Ukrainian war rumbles on is it time to examine whether NATO and the influence of America in Europe has contributed to the escalation in Eastern Europe? To answer this question, I'm joined by Benjamin Abelow to discuss his book How the West Brought War to Ukraine. 

]]> As the Ukrainian war rumbles on is it time to examine whether NATO and the influence of America in Europe has contributed to the escalation in Eastern Europe? To answer this question, I'm joined by Benjamin Abelow to discuss his book How the West Brought War to Ukraine. 

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15249252 Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0100 3053 full false The Iranian 1953 Coup, the CIA and the British The Iranian 1953 Coup, the CIA and the British Ever wondered what was at the root of the breakdown in relations between the west and Iran. Historian and Author Ali Ansari on the Iranian 1953 Coup and its wider ramifications.   

]]> Ever wondered what was at the root of the breakdown in relations between the west and Iran. Historian and Author Ali Ansari on the Iranian 1953 Coup and its wider ramifications.   

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15249237 Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0100 2789 full false Saddam, Blair and the Chilcot Inquiry Saddam, Blair and the Chilcot Inquiry Did Blair knowingly mislead parliament? Was Saddam and Iraq really a threat to the West? All of these questions and more are answered in this latest podcast with Sir Lawrence Freedman, historian and co-author of the infamous Chilcot Report. 


Read more of Lawrence's work on his Substack: Lawrence Freedman

]]> Did Blair knowingly mislead parliament? Was Saddam and Iraq really a threat to the West? All of these questions and more are answered in this latest podcast with Sir Lawrence Freedman, historian and co-author of the infamous Chilcot Report. 


Read more of Lawrence's work on his Substack: Lawrence Freedman

]]> Hugo Buzzsprout-15249231 Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0100 2126 full false Introduction Introduction Hugo Buzzsprout-15297162 Sun, 23 Jun 2024 18:00:00 +0100 76 full false