Best Clausewitz Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 120 - On Inside GHQ at Gallipoli | The Dead Prussian 39:22

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8d ago39:22

39:22

Mick chats with academic, official war historian and author Dr Rhys Crawley about the experiences of Captain Orlo Williams as a staff officer in General Headqarters during the Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War. They discuss Rhys' new book, Inside GHQ: The Gallipoli diary of Captain Orlo Williams. Mick and Rhys also discuss common experience…

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Episode 119 - On Orchestrating Power | The Dead Prussian 31:17

10d ago31:17

31:17

Mick chats with scholar, military officer, and writer Colonel Nathan K. Finney, PHD about mobilisation and how nations generate and deploy military power. They discuss Nathan's new book on the subject, Orchestrating Power, published by Cornell University Press. Mick and Nate also discuss how the speed with which the United States of America mobilis…

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Clarence Streit and International Federalism 1:41:28

28d ago1:41:28

1:41:28

We discuss Streit's 1939 proposal for a international federation of democracies to avoid a new world war. We explore the limits of argumentation and the difference between making an argument and doing politics.By Political Theory 101

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Friedrich List and the National System 1:26:50

4M ago1:26:50

1:26:50

We discuss Friedrich List's many careers, his struggle for a German customs union, his belief that nationalism would lead to the "uniting of all nations under a common law of right", what happened instead, and why.By Political Theory 101

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Vico and the Concept of the Natural 1:22:16

6M ago1:22:16

1:22:16

We discuss Vico's theory of nature, his unorthodox mix of stereotypically ancient and modern approaches, and how his "new science" seems to be going so far.By Political Theory 101

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Hobbes' Behemoth 1:40:45

7M ago1:40:45

1:40:45

A whole episode of Political Theory 101 devoted to Thomas Hobbes' Behemoth. We discuss Hobbes' historical narrative and his theory of education, both of which receive little attention in Leviathan.By Political Theory 101

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Nick Land & the Politics of Acceleration (w/Michael Downs) 1:47:41

8M ago1:47:41

1:47:41

Michael Downs joins Benjamin to discuss the political thought of Nick Land, its relationship to the work of Deleuze and Guattari, and the degree to which it has influenced the contemporary left and right.By Political Theory 101

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The Politics of Plato's Parmenides 1:36:32

9M ago1:36:32

1:36:32

We discuss how Plato used dialectical thinking to deal with objections to the theory of the forms. Then we discuss how this kind of thinking enriches our ability to make use of all sorts of political concepts and abstractions.By Political Theory 101

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John Morley & the Politics of Compromise 1:27:03

10M ago1:27:03

1:27:03

We discuss the work of John Morley, a British viscount heavily involved in the government of Ireland and India during the late 19th and early 20th century. Morley was a liberal, but he was often in situations in which his liberalism was pushed to its limit. We discuss how he thought about liberty as a young man, and how he worked to put his beliefs…

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The Politics of Plato's Philebus 1:57:41

1y ago1:57:41

1:57:41

Daniel joins Benjamin to discuss Plato's Philebus. We traverse the dialectic of limit and unlimit and discuss the difference between memory and recollection, connecting all of this to Plato's political thought.By Political Theory 101

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Clausewitz (w/Elizabeth Dearden-Williams) 58:09

1y ago58:09

58:09

Elizabeth Dearden-Williams, a former student of mine from Cambridge who is currently pursuing a masters, comes on to discuss the work of the Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz.By Political Theory 101

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Cutrone and the Party (w/Chris Cutrone) 1:40:07

1y ago1:40:07

1:40:07

Chris Cutrone joins Benjamin for a discussion of political parties, focusing on the role pluralism plays in Chris' thinking about party structure.By Political Theory 101

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Episode 118 - On Beyond Storytelling in Military Strategy | The Dead Prussian 34:40

1+ y ago34:40

34:40

Mick chats with scholar, military officer, and writer Lieutenant Colonel Sean 'Nick' Blas, PhD, about strategic narratives. They discuss Jonathan's article on Beyond Storytelling: Strategic Narratives in Military Strategy. Mick and Nick also discuss how modern militaries can ensure integration between military actions and strategic narratives. Nick…

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Episode 117 - On the Theory of Irregular War | The Dead Prussian 27:55

1+ y ago27:55

27:55

Mick chats with military theorist, USMC veteran, and author Jonathan Hackett about irregular war. They discuss Jonathan's book on this concept, The Theory of Irregular War. Mick and Jonathan also discuss how modern militaries can address the challenges of preparing for irregular war. Jonathan provides an answer to the final question. You can also g…

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Episode 116 - On Mission Injury | The Dead Prussian 44:23

1+ y ago44:23

44:23

Mick chats with political scientist, veteran, and Air Force officer Dr Kelly Atkinson about Mission Injury. They discuss Kelly's article on this concept, Mission Injury: The Force After Afghanistan. Mick and Kelly also discuss the impact of the outcomes of the wars on terror on the veterans and institutions who served in them. Kelly provides an ans…

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John Milton as a Political Theorist (w/Raeffe Gibson) 1:08:04

1+ y ago1:08:04

1:08:04

John Milton isn't just the author of Paradise Lost! Raeffe Gibson makes a guest appearance to discuss his role in the English Civil War.By Political Theory 101

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Michael Pettis as a Political Theorist 1:06:05

1+ y ago1:06:05

1:06:05

Alex and Benjamin discuss the work of Michael Pettis, putting him in conversation with older theorists of imperialism like J.A. Hobson and Vladimir Lenin.By Political Theory 101

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Samuel Huntington 1:18:38

1+ y ago1:18:38

1:18:38

Alex and Benjamin discuss Huntington's early emphasis on centralization and institutions, his turn toward civilizational thinking, and the position of religion - and particularly Catholicism - in his account.By Political Theory 101

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Episode 115 - On Something Rotten | The Dead Prussian 27:49

1+ y ago27:49

27:49

Mick chats with the defence analyst, author, and soldier-scholar Dr Jim Storr about command structures and operational planning. They discuss Jim's book, Something Rotten: Land Command in the 21st Century. Mick and Jim also discuss the history of the growth of land command headquarters and the prevalence of process in current military operations. J…

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Frédéric Bastiat 1:06:13

1+ y ago1:06:13

1:06:13

Alex and Benjamin explore the history of political thought from the point of view of Bastiat - who threw many ancient and enlightenment thinkers together into the basket of plunderers. If we think we come from God whole and complete, the need for civic education falls away...By Political Theory 101

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Terry Eagleton 1:04:12

1+ y ago1:04:12

1:04:12

Alex and Benjamin discuss Terry Eagleton's work, focusing on interactions between religion and Marxism in the context of the "end of history" - the 1990s and beyond.By Political Theory 101

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Tertullian 1:17:33

2y ago1:17:33

1:17:33

Alex and Benjamin discuss the Roman persecution of the Christians - why the Romans did it, how the Christians responded to it, and the ways the experience shaped Christian political thought going forward.By Political Theory 101

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Pocock & History in Political Theory 1:10:40

2y ago1:10:40

1:10:40

We explore the methodological contributions of the late historian of political thought, John Pocock. We talk about the role of language and context in interpreting texts, distinctions between "history" and "philosophy," and the implications of these methodological shifts for the political economy of the university.…

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Murakami and Political Despair 1:02:52

2y ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Alex and Benjamin explore post-political themes in Haruki Murakami's rat tetralogy.By Political Theory 101

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Habermas 1:14:18

2y ago1:14:18

1:14:18

Alex and Benjamin delve into Habermas' notions of the public sphere, legitimacy, and communication. They also discuss postmetaphysical thinking.By Political Theory 101

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Christian Wolff 1:12:04

2y ago1:12:04

1:12:04

Alex and Benjamin talk about 18th century German philosopher Christian Wolff. Wolff suggested that there are reasons behind our motivations. Even a soldier who deserts his post is motivated to desert for a reason. Does that mean that rebels are motivated to rebel for reasons? And when two states are motivated to war with one another, does that mean…

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Preview of our 2024 Season! 6:26

2y ago6:26

6:26

Over the past few weeks, we have recorded interviews with guests for the 2024 seasons The Dead Prussian and On Rome podcasts. We have also been recording episodes for our host-read narrative shows Battles and Enemies of Rome, which are currently premium-only shows that will be open-access in 2024. Below are some of the initial topics for you on our…

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Monks in the City 1:13:38

2y ago1:13:38

1:13:38

Alex and Benjamin talk about the explosion of monasteries in late antiquity. As it turns out, withdrawing from politics can be yet another way of trying to do politics.By Political Theory 101

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G.K. Chesterton & G.B. Shaw as Political Theorists 1:09:29

2y ago1:09:29

1:09:29

Alex and Benjamin explore a debate G.K. Chesterton and George Bernard Shaw had a century ago concerning political economy, then we dive into their political writings.By Political Theory 101

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Laclau 1:06:50

2y ago1:06:50

1:06:50

Alex and Benjamin discuss Laclau's socialist strategy, populism, empty signifiers, and the relationship between Laclau's socialism and Marxism.By Political Theory 101

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Lyotard 1:18:10

2y ago1:18:10

1:18:10

Alex and Benjamin discuss Jean-François Lyotard's critique of Marxism, his "evil book," intersections between politics, art, and science, and how Lyotard answered the charge of relativism.By Political Theory 101

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Deleuze & Guattari 1:07:15

2+ y ago1:07:15

1:07:15

Alex and Benjamin explore the agonistic political thought of Deleuze and Guattari, focusing especially on their ideas about territory, change, and flow.By Political Theory 101

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Althusser & Foucault, Ideology & Power 1:18:46

2+ y ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Alex and Benjamin kick off a series on French political thought in the second half of the 20th century with an episode on ideology and power.By Political Theory 101

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Announcing On Rome Season 1 12:34

2+ y ago12:34

12:34

Announcing On Rome Season 1 Kickstarter Campaign! Step into the captivating world of ancient Rome with the On Rome podcast. Over 12 episodes, we will delve into the hidden stories of renowned Roman personalities, battles, literature and landmarks across the empire, unveiling histories often concealed from view. It's more than a travel guide; it's a…