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Anthony Kaldellis – 1453

    The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople

    Conflicted | 22 September 2026 | 1h 24m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

    Interview with Anthony Kaldellis about his book 1453: The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople. Challenges prevailing misconceptions, asserting that the ‘Byzantines’ were Romans – a genuine political nation, not a ‘universal sacred empire’. Debunks romanticised narratives, demonstrating the Eastern Roman state was a sophisticated, bounded entity. Highlights the pragmatic defence of Constantinople, not a tragic last stand, and analyses the Ottoman victory as a strategic consolidation for their expanding empire. The city’s fall – a devastating event involving enslavement – also marked a pivotal step in the Ottoman Empire’s ascent. Critiques the tendency to view medieval societies as solely religious, advocating for a nuanced historical understanding.

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    Rana Dasgupta – After Nations

      The Making and Unmaking of a World Order

      Conflicted | 09 September 2026 | 1h 34m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

      Interview with Rana Dasgupta about his book After Nations: The Making and Unmaking of a World Order. Traces the nation-state’s origins as a recent, anomalous invention, arguing its 200-year supremacy is now ending. Discusses how sacred empires gave way to bounded states, secular liberalism emerged as a displaced theology, and industrialisation weaponised democracy and welfare. Argues international law was designed less to prevent war than to secure property and global capitalism. Posits a return to an 18th-century norm of diverse political forms, where tech firms resemble new East India Companies, and climate change and mass migration challenge the sedentary order. Explores the modern state’s theological underpinnings, showing how God’s displacement by the state created new forms of control and identity, with current geopolitical shifts mirroring 1914 but without a clear successor.

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      Anand Gopal – Days of Love and Rage

        A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution

        Conflicted | 02 April 2026 | 1h 6m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

        Interview with Anand Gopal about his book Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution. Uses personal stories from the town of Manbij to challenge simplistic narratives about the Syrian Revolution. Demonstrates that core needs like bread, order, and justice often outweighed liberal aspirations when confronted by war and socio-economic divisions, paving the way for groups like ISIS. Explores the complex interplay of human experience and political change, examining what truly enables a successful political community beyond mere freedom.

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