international relations – Aufhebunga Bunga

/515/ State Capitalism Is Now ft. Ilias Alami

by Alex__1789October 13, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9cnte-1991c20 On the weakness of state and capital – and their fusion. Ilias Alami joins Alex and Lee to talk about his essential co-authored book, The Spectre of State Capitalism. Why is state capitalism not just a China story, but…

/503/ Effervescent Decadence in the Third Modernity

by Alex__1789July 31, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-kpfp2-191ef8a On the end of the end of history and what comes next. Phil is back on the pod, talking with George and Alex about the big themes of the podcast. In particular, we look at a recent essay in…

/496/ Insane-Washing the War (Which Did Not Take Place)

by Alex__1789June 30, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-psw7t-18f0815 On the war on Iran that wasn't (yet). Alex and George review the past month in the world and on Bungacast: The crazy will-they-won't-they of a potential US war on Iran The ex post facto justifications on all sides…

/494/ National Democracy or Globalist War ft. Wolfgang Streeck

by Alex__1789June 17, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s46r8-18dcd11 On the dual crisis of the world. Wolfgang Streeck, renowned economic sociologist, is back on to talk to us about the crisis of capitalist growth and of democracy. We focus on the solutions proposed in his brilliant new book,…

/479/ El Tarifazo: Trump’s Tariff Thwack ft. Lee Jones

by Alex__1789April 8, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7y94v-18756cb On Trump's 'liberation day' tariffs and the end of globalisation. [For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast] Contributing editor Lee Jones talks to Alex about the tariffs, as they try to reconstruct the Trump admin's thinking, and consider avenues and…

/477/ Talking Turkey in the Group Chat ft. Djene Bajalan

by Alex__1789March 28, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-x6fpv-1864bb3 On Erdogan's World and the revolt against it. [For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast] Historian Djene Bajalan joins George and Alex to review the past month – ceasefires in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, winning and losing…

/472/ Munich, MAGA, Musk, Malema ft. Will Shoki / Ryan Zickgraf

by Alex__1789February 27, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-8pky8-181f07b On Trumpworld: Vance in Munich; Musk in South Africa. [This contains only the interview on South Africa – for the full episode subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast] Alex, George and Ryan Zickgraf round up events in Germany: first the elections, then…

/470/ Political Reaction to System Failure ft. Tim Pendry

by Alex__1789February 18, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9nhhv-180869a On the world under Trump, and British responses. Tim Pendry, author of the Unstable Times substack, as well as an international affairs consultant, talks to Alex H and Lee Jones about the world under Trump II, the massive shifts underway,…

/467/ Mosques & Malls & Nation-States ft. Djene Bajalan

by Alex__1789February 4, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-zi55w-17e4d5f On Syria, the fall of Assad, and nationalism in the Middle-East. [Patreon Exclusive] Historian Djene Bajalan talks to Alex about a major rearrangement in the Levant. We discuss: Who are Syria's new rulers HTS, and what is their vision –…

/466/ Regime Change in the West?

by Alex__1789January 30, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-kccv2-17db095 On disinformation, NATO vs Russia, terrorism + more. [Full episode for subscribers only. Go to patreon.com/bungacast] We look back at a turbulent last month or so with the help of guest and "disinformation bot" Tara McCormac. We put it…