The Globalist Podcast, Friday, August 25: After the suspected death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, we look at the history of Russia’s relationship to its dissidents with Charles Hecker and the knock-on effect for African nations with Mark Galeotti.
We also discuss Donald Trump’s surrender to authorities in Atlanta, Georgia and examine the rise of country music in the US. Plus: the newspapers from Zürich and the latest fashion and TV news.
An increasingly autocratic government is making bad decisions
Whatever has gone wrong? After China rejoined the world economy in 1978, it became the most spectacular growth story in history. Farm reform, industrialisation and rising incomes lifted nearly 800m people out of extreme poverty. Having produced just a tenth as much as America in 1980, China’s economy is now about three-quarters the size. Yet instead of roaring back after the government abandoned its “zero-covid” policy at the end of 2022, it is lurching from one ditch to the next.
A healthy country uses justice to restore order. Mr Putin uses violence instead
As we published this editorial, it was not certain that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private jet was shot down by Russian air-defences, or that the mutineer and mercenary boss was on board. But everyone believes that it was and that his death was a punishment of spectacular ruthlessness ordered by Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. And that is the way Mr Putin likes it.
The Globalist Podcast, Thursday, August 24: Republican presidential candidates have their first debate in Milwaukee without Donald Trump, the latest from the BRICS summit in South Africa, after Putin addresses the bloc leaders virtually.
Plus: the Zimbabwe elections, a literary celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day and a Scandinavian shortage in Brussels.
Video timeline: 0:00 India lands on the south pole of the moon 0:53 Why the south pole? 2:37 Why Russia and India want to be first 4:32 New space race
Both countries launched rockets in recent weeks, hoping to be the first to successfully complete the mission. Why were they racing to reach the lunar south pole? WSJ explains the significance of both missions for Moscow and New Delhi.
Why America and China Will Be Enduring Rivals
With U.S.-Chinese relations worse than they have been in over 50 years, an old fairy tale has resurfaced: if only the United States would talk more to China and accommodate its rise, the two countries could live in peace. The story goes that with ample summitry, Washington could recognize Beijing’s redlines and restore crisis hotlines and cultural exchanges. Over time and through myriad points of face-to-face contact—in other words, reengagement—the two countries could settle into peaceful, if still competitive, coexistence.
What It Will Take to Break Putinism’s Grip
In June 17, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin staged a special ceremony on the St. Petersburg waterfront to mark the anniversary of three flags: the flag of the Russian Federation, otherwise known as Peter the Great’s tricolor, formally unfurled in 1693; the imperial Russian flag, introduced by Tsar Alexander II in 1858; and the Red Banner, the Soviet Union’s hammer and sickle, adopted by the Soviet state 100 years ago and later used by Joseph Stalin. Putin watched the event from a boat as the National Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg State Choir performed the national anthem, which, thanks to a law Putin enacted in 2000, has the same melody as its Stalin-era counterpart.
The Globalist Podcast, Tuesday, August 22: We discuss the Brics summit in Johannesburg, the US sale of Tomahawk missiles to Australia and why Georgians are frustrated with Russian business owners.
Also, the latest developments in technology, a round-up of the news from Zürich and the backlog of ships in the Panama Canal.
Video timeline: 0:00 Tanks being destroyed with mines 0:46 Mined territory 1:36 How Russia mines the territory 2:32 How Ukraine adapts
How is the Ukrainian military adapting to account for these mines? WSJ explains how Moscow created one of the largest minefields in the world in the occupied regions and what it means for Kyiv’s counteroffensive.
The Globalist Podcast, Monday, August 21: The latest from Niger, as Ecowas again threatens military action, a crackdown on journalists ahead of elections in Zimbabwe and Russia weaponizing Ukrainian passports.
Plus: the latest from the Balkans and how the World Cup Final has changed women’s football.
Monocle on Saturday, August 19, 2023: A look at the week’s news and culture, with Georgina Godwin.
Also, Charles Hecker flicks through the morning’s papers and Monocle’s Washington correspondent, Christopher Cermak, examines the conspiracy theories perpetuated by Donald Trump media supporters.
Boomers Daily 