Here are the main takeaways: 1. Empire is good. Global empire crushing any dissent is better. Talks about JFK's determination in Cuba, but conveniently dismisses how he recognized Khrushchev's concerns and withdrew missiles from Turkey in return, and while pushing for more Western involvement in Ukraine, conveniently dismisses while US tried to contain USSR, it stayed away from its immediate backyard. 2. Laments that long gone are the days of media self-censorship as the only gatekeepers of news. 3. Left is bad, because the same sensitivity it showed to what happened in October 7th also compelled it to take an anti-Israeli stance when Israel wiped Gaza off the map along with probably hundreds of thousands of Gazans (but hey, at least half of them are terrorists) 4. TikTok is pro-Palestinian not because of the countless footage of Palestinian suffering and the cascade of videos posted by IDF soldiers themselves, practically documenting their own war crimes, but because it is Chinese owned. 5. Praises Netanyahu, I'm sorry, "Bibi" as Bismarck and a brilliant, skilled statesman unparalleled in his Machiavellianism today. Believes Israelis today will get rid of him eventually, but he will be admired (as NF does) by future historians. 6. Deplores the horrible human toll in Ukraine, but argues that in Gaza, Israelis minimized the civilian casualties pretty impressively. The very large proportion of casualties were Hamas. Civilians are also killed in Lebanon with pager attacks, but that's because terrorist carried their pagers on them in public. 7. October 7th was an attempt of a second Holocaust, but concept of genocide does not apply to what's happening to Palestinians, because it would not be appropriate to do so as Israel was founded by genocided people. It's still important to listen to him for as a mouthpiece, he helps the viewer familiarize themselves with the general talking points of a certain group in power and the world they wish to bring about.
@@talesofcanterbury42 You can only see how many comments they’ve left ON THIS CHANNEL, not the comments they’ve left elsewhere. Read it again, this is their first comment on Robinson’s channel only.
This self proclaimed Scot historian is NO intellectual! His ability to learn from the effects of nuclear bombs explosions like those in Hiroshima and Nakasaki Japan, was like him being a white back guerilla walking on his four legs watching and thinking that it was his female mate on-heat stiring up a wild bond fire. He's literally ape-shxt in his logic about war and the use of a Mutually Assured Distraction weapons. This guy is simply a MAD agent- a total disgrace! to true historians out there.
Raised by the West. So minimal intuitive scepticism of the Western Imperialist values. He seems to have a good grasp of the power play, but from the very standard ideology of the current Hegemon.
Ferguson’s arguement about Russias invasion of Ukraine is diametrically opposed to the argument by Jeffrey Sachs who convincingly says that the US invited the invasion by inducing Ukraine to join NATO, a policy that goes back a decade and rooted in the continuing desire for empire by the military-industrial complex. Well, which is it? And where is the boundary between deterrence and military aggression, dominance, colonization and exploitation?
US politics is far from being perfect, but this is not the first time when Russia introduced a brutal anti-ukrainian politics. Current oppression of Ukrainians can't be separated from the oppression of Ukrainians that existed during the times of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Russian nationalism is the main cause of the war.
It looks like you oppose Ukraine deciding to join NATO even after you see clearly see why they wanted to. You make no sense. They felt threatened and wanted to be independent from Russia, who interfered in their elections and infiltrated their country militarily, then invaded in 2014. That's why they have tried to be in NATO for decades.
@@MrCarlGW Yes, there was a little incident that Cuba is still paying for, to have allies on the border of a competing world power. Who knew the Russians, who warned us about red lines and non-proliferation, yet here we are, with American weapons manned by Americans, striking Russians in Russia. You warmongers will drag us back to the stone age.
The revisionism on the Palestinian conflict is off the charts. Also sounds like he wants to double down on defense spending and probably wouldn’t mind austerity measures.
I haven’t heard such bald faced lying for as long as I remember. We all know the CIA was created my the British, and continue to lie to make the US do it’s multi-generational lies.
After reading comments I say THANKFULLY we now have social media allowing us to get closer to the truth & be less influenced by the many fools introduced as 'great thinkers'.
I'm sure I am missing some important historical details, since I am not a historian, but the things Ferguson managed to refrain from discussing were painfully obvious. There was lots of talk of economics and military struggle, but very little talk of how the average citizen is affected by large-scale policies. It is much like takling about the economy in terms of how the stock market is doing; the stock market does not tell you how many average people are working three jobs to pay bills and support a family. People sometimes talk about how Trump's economy was "better," but all I recall was co-workers working two full time jobs and using food stamps to make ends meet. Ferguson's take on Palestine was also conveniently (for him) simplistic, bordering on equating being pro-Palestine with being pro-hamas. No one protesting Israel's actions is condoning the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on Oct 7th. I appreciate that Robinson gets a wide variety of opnions and guests on the podcast, and I appreciate that he takes a pretty un-biased approach to conducting the interviews. Thtat said, it would be nice to see other interviewers call people like this out. I understand why Robinson doesn't, due to his academic position. I would like to see other interviewers stop people like Ferguson and ask things like, "what about Israel bombing all the Palestinian universities, buring their agricultural land, etc?" Or simply, "how do you think Trump's economic policies will affect the working class, people who work multiple jobs, etc? How will his policies affect the cost of healthcare for the average US citizen?" All in all, I am glad Robinson had this guest, because it's important to know how other people interpret things....even though I disagree with Ferguson's take on things.
I cant see how his point changes in anyway, whether you focus on plight of avg citizen or not. His basic point is when people like Putin (Kim/Ayatollah/Xi or whoever) start doing whatever they feel like there needs to be a cost. To them. If not we get a more and more unstable world that effects everyone. US being the biggest fish in the sea, still has capacity to deliver very deadly stand down signals. And its not doing it so far, encouraging retarded behavior from immature regimes all across the map.
Thank you Niall for bringing a depth of intelligence and insight to our current world...Amazing reading (some) of the comments below how ignorant so many are of history and geo-politics!
Always expect proof after someone makes a statement...and I admit it is difficult to break from 'what you want to hear'.... Nail lacks substantive proof. He brushes past it. Also depends upon YOUR AGENDA
This is not a serious interview, it is low quality. He just lectured you, like watching a dog throw up and eat it again. Instead of asking about non-predigested food for the dog you ask "what about this vomit you made over here?" The sententious geopolitical views are cowardly and out of touch. As a philosophy minded person I would have hoped you could have done a better job questioning the framework of these half-baked positions. The claim that he is non-partisan did make me laugh, I'm surprised you kept a straight face. Someone craving a "General Theory of Disaster" has no interest in the material conditions of disaster. There were no genocides before the Holocaust?! There are genocides in the old testament, there are a few tribes (most were you know...genocide....) in the americas that would also disagree. The definition of a reactionary. Let him spread that misinformation, true super spreader style, its what the elite academic institutions pay him for. Let's skip the three hour interview and dig up Kissinger, get it in the chair next.
@@samstewart9089 I guess it's useful sometimes to let the fools rumbling on without interrupting them so that their stupidity or corruption is in full view, no need to question them, also with this guy where do you even start???
I believe he is misreading Trump. Trump is happy to engage in war if it benefits him but a war with Russia does not benefit him. This guy says we can’t negotiate because we aren’t in a position of power. Yes we can, and should, just because we aren’t going to get the biggest pile of marbles doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stop the killing of Ukraine people
Ahhhh - I guess you need to learn som history - death tolls in WW2/WW1 - they were not televised so the deaths were not quite as dramatic in real time - but yes- Niall knows hi history and knows the scope of wars...
This guy is a hawk, happy to watch the continual drain of this empire’s resources to continue toward realism geo politics which is world domination not just regional
The Western alliance has a deep history of colonization, resource exploitation, cultural erosion, and violent interventions across much of the world. Today, this Western axis shows signs of decline-not only intellectually but also in military, economic, and cultural realms. Niall Ferguson is a staunch advocate for this Western bloc, dedicated to defending and preserving it, though he is clearly aware of its vulnerabilities and is actively working to address and rectify them.
@@radwanabu-issa4350 Well at least the Arabs or Turks never had an Empire! *Record Screech* The Arabs building of empire involved enslavement and massacres, or do you not know your own history. Salafists still claim Spain as the lands of Islam. That being said you did invent the zero, for a zero sum game.
@@talesofcanterbury42 You can only see how many comments they’ve left ON THIS CHANNEL, not the comments they’ve left elsewhere. Read it again, this is their first comment on Robinson’s channel only.
@@talesofcanterbury42 They're clearly a person who learned how to ask the right questions, whereas your skepticism lies in those who question alleged authority...
This is a propagandist. Why is it that all big propagandists get the title of "Renowned historian". These are the so called plastic historians who master the art of distorting reality.
One of the most deranged hour 20 mins of my life. The scary part is how many ppl view the world in this way, especially the political and economic elite.
Really hard to take a historian seriously when they do not include so much as the Nakba when discussing the genocide in Gaza. I wonder how much money he gets from AIPAC?
There were more Jews who were ethnically cleansed in the Middle East in 1948 than Arabs, how does that work as a context for you? Where are the Jews of Yeman? Iraq? Syria? Lebanon? Egypt? Tunisia? The "disaster" was termed by a Syrian professor in 1948 describing the failure of the arab countries to eradicate the Jewish state, let me express how happy I am they failed, their disaster is the survival of the Jewish people.
He lost me at "Israel had to fight this alone". MoFo, Israel got a few billions in military aid from USA just in 2024, do you need American boots in the desert after you wiped out entire cities?
Calls out Russia for war crimes in Ukraine, then ignores Israel’s 1000x crimes in Palestine while blaming the victims for it. Good luck trying to be seen as a rational thinker after that.
Truly one of the great humiliations in history by a court historian. I hope this interview isn't erased so that this this immense (and possibly unmatched) humiliation can last through the ages so this Nazi apologist can be seen in comparison to Hitler and others of his kin.
@@johnthepalm 100% true. 20 years from now people are going to pull out videos like this and teach kids in school how you manufacture consent for some of the most unspeakable acts humans can do.
I'm really surprised about many things Mr Ferguson says. This is not an objective view of a historian but cold cut right wing propaganda. He wrote a biography of Henry Kissinger but his "we are the good guys and they are the bad guys" view couldn't be further away from Kissingers diplomatic balance of power approach. Very disappointing. He sold his soul to the Hoover Institution.
Always thought this guy oversimplified things and glossed over the things that were bad as mere aberrations, but he has gone to a whole new level of stupidity suggesting that somehow electing Trump is going to be better for the world. What an idiot!
This guy has a totally biased establishment view just the language lost me .."Russian Grunts" "Israel fighting alone" recalls Cuba but totally ignores the analogy with the Ukraine War. He has the same hypocritical selective Rules Based Order thesis.
Robinson, you did a good job. It is clear you know who you have in front of you. It is a privilege to interview Naill Ferguson as well as Victor Davis Hanson. Thanks.
Are you perhaps confusing this Professor Niall Ferguson with the Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London?? Definitely not the same person.
Not only do they come from two very different academic disciplines, but if I recall correctly they took polar opposite views as to how we should respond to the pandemic.
Ferguson is a 19th century thinker in the 21st century. Yes historically a great power could ward off challengers with counter threats, but nuclear is different because we could all die in 72 minutes. So he’s a big talker, and not to be taken seriously as someone who does much more than coloring in the lines of the past. To be sure, he’s so tough that he won’t commit to his presidential choice because some scary person is gonna threaten his family. Or he might get some inconvenient professional backlash. But he’s not scared of gambling with all life on Earth. Tough talker ! Robinson - you’ve done the world a service by letting this guy expose himself.
Wow, this man is very impressive! I like his views and perspective on things. Great interview. Well done, we need more of these calm, rational viewpoints. Makes one think....😊
Robinson , always the best 💥 , facilitating Incisive discussions from multitudinous viewpoints, with sometimes diametrically opposed viewpoints. Keeping us at the knife’s edge of USA politics, local and international, whilst retaining a breadth of vision, focusing on diversity of international opinion and power politics.
Niall Ferguson fancies himself a grand historian, yet his work often reads like colonial nostalgia wrapped in pseudo-intellectual drivel. His “insights” seem less like scholarship and more like ego trips dressed as serious analysis. Don’t listen to this fool..
I appreciate that this podcast respects it's audience's intelligence enough to allow controversial perspectives to be aired. If you're offended by someone you disagree with getting a chance to speak, maybe it's an opportunity for you think more about how you can effectively rebut their argument rather than hoping for them to get shut down.
I read the resume in the description and was hesitant (he has all the imprimaturi of the dominant trans-Atlantic-NATO-national-security-blob intelligentsia) - but hoped for the best because Robinson has interviewed a lot of really smart people before. I suppose I was hoping for conservative but with nuance. 16 minutes in and we get 1) a nostalgic tone about the British Empire; 2) not only an apology, but a jubilant welcoming of American foreign projects - I'm afraid I don't have the patience. Also, his analysis of the American psyche, the American constitutional system, and American politics makes me think he should be made to retake his citizenship test.
I think lonsdale pays his salary so of course this guy prostitutes himself . Whatever your politics , Gaza has exposed all these “thinkers” as hypocrites and frauds
PHd Stanford Professor and he is one delusional. Go look in the mirror my friend...see delusional in person! I must be delusional too...made sense to me
@@m.horvath4739 Ferguson is obviously biased and heavily slanted inn many of his so called "conclusions". For example, his "conclusions" on the subject of Trump vs. Biden are way off base. The 2024 Presidential historians survey which is based on something like 20 performance criterion rated Chump as the WORST president in US history and rated Biden as well above average. So obviously Ferguson is diametrically opposite to his peers, all of whom are at least his equals as historians. Does not give you much confidence in his "conclusions" on that subject, now does it? In addition his brief discussion on the Afghanistan withdrawal hardly touched on the gross incompetence of the Chump administration and their role (zero plans or preparation, etc) in that situation. On the other hand, Ferguson did make some reasonable comments and observations about the US debt situation and the incompetence of all US administrations in dealing with the US welfare state. The bigger question is how Ferguson can rationalize and try to justify his apparent support of a: 78 year old mental midget, serial liar, lifelong con man, charity fraudster, convicted sexual predator, convicted fraudster felon, thief of government documents, Russian stooge, obvious national security risk, etc. Liz Cheney had it 100% correct ... this is an election about CHARACTER, policies issues can be sorted out later.
Can we have this interview translated, please? It’s necessary that people who don’t speak inglés understand this jeopardy situation that we can live if we don’t vote correctly.
i came here for a historian's perspective, but it looks like i should've just tuned into matt miller's latest press conference instead and saved myself some time
What's the point of being a historian if you take all your opinions from right-wing/neocon think tanks? Reminds me of how those who convert to a religion as an adult tend to be the most zealous believers. Niall is a convert to the American Empire and he is in complete rapture.
@@petermcgrath5215 Im bottom of this class as it took me 19mins and I thought to myself, did CERN just super smash impossibly exotic elements together and shove me in the upside down Mandela universe. I have one his books, its getting cold here, maybe I should burn it.
As a true Britt, Neil keeps the silence about Britain continuing to be the Empire. We all been told multiple times that British monarchy only has a nominal power and has no power over the colonies like Canada, Australia, or others. Not many people know that Canada, Australia , and New Zealand are constitutional monarchies with the head of state being the British king or queen . The king/queen appoints governor-generals of Canada and Australia , who in turn can fire the parliament. These powers were periodically exercised. The true Power stays in the shade and rules quitely. Britain today, does a lot of groundwork now to get back to Power and take it back from the American Empire. Engaging the United States in multiple wars and stretching its power very thin is one of the examples 😊of how it is done. This is why Neal will be talking and talking about Russian and Chinese empires but will keep quiet about the Britts
Furgusson has decided that mainstream academia is hopelessly woke and has gone off to co-found his own university in Texas. Unfortunately as his views on history seem opinionated but rather lightweight I'm unable to take his views on academia seriously either although I don't doubt that politicised postmodern theory has had its day. His views on Ukraine are hardly rocket science but seemed quite sensible. It's when he gets onto Israel he completely loses the plot... Just doesn't seem to be able to think straight...
I'm a Conservative but if I had to choose between cutting entitlements and cutting defense spending (wars for Israel and the American "Empire" Niall is so fond of) I'd opt for the latter. If my government is going to throw money at people, it should be MY people, the American people, not foreigners. Americans deserve a government that looks out for them first, second, and third, and foreign nations somewhere further down the line.
I'd heard Mr. Niall Ferguson mentioned as being someone worth listening to. I'm afraid he sounds aas pompous and ill-informed as Douglas Murray in lacking context and nuance.
Looks like what Ferguson has to say really threatens an awful lots of the people who have commented her. That is one of the more interesting things in this entire exceedingly informative presentation.
Thank you a great interview. Lot’s of people criticising Ferguson, but he’s excellent at identifying the problems. I may not agree with his solutions, but you should have some answers. America has the best political system in the World, corrupted by money since Citizens United. Removing that would be a good start, then how about electing the President by the popular vote?
@talesofcanterbury42 Ask yourself WHY ARE SO MANY CRITICISING FERGUSON? If its NOT IRANIAN TROLLING as you suggest.... Perhaps there's things you don't realize... look around. You live in a bubble. With respect.
A two party system with an aristocratic electoral college, one party representing oligarchic capital, the other representing corporate capital, no party representing The People. “Best in the world” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🍻
If you want a grossly misrepresented, neoliberal interpretation of Ukraine, then that’s a perfect choice. I’m personally not a fan of people who distort the facts of World War II in service of apologizing for and glorifying Waffen SS members and Nazi collaborators.
The problem with what he is saying about Trump and Ukraine is that he is relying on what some of Trump's advisors think. What Trump himself would actually do regards Ukraine is anyone's guess. No doubt Trump will talk tough, but Putin will see through that immediately...
Fantastic interview. On a side note, don't you just love seeing youtube commenters who have "studied" history by watching random grifters on youtube go on and criticize one of the preeminent historians of our time? This interview is much too high level for these people. They should probably go back to watching various failed comedians and celebrities give their moronic takes on geopolitics.
It's not Israel vs Hamas. It's Israel vs Palestinian people. This is why 80% of the victims are Palestinian children and women. The other 18% are non combatant Palestinian men. It's a colonial extention with full support of the colonial centre vs colonized and oppressed people.
@@KV-kt9tm There are plenty of people there who knows exactly what is happening with evidences. Evidence which are recorded and data stored away from the hands of the colonizers. You can forever play this game. Nothing is clear, nothing is known .. so on. Soon this will be over and the whole world will see the destruction, the missing/dead, the mutilated. I cant understand how you live like there is no tomorrow and past will be forgotten. Today we know precisely what happen during the Holocaust. In this covered by data world will be even better known what the cousins of (European) Nazi are doing in Palestine.
I think we have to make a distinction among empire in the imperial age and empire in the imperialist phase, that is developed capitalism. So, yes, the US is an empire; it is an imperialist country. Based on the leninist theory of imperialism, the US and NATO are the imperialists with some subimperialists countries. Russia and China are not imperialists, but they are known as big imperial civilizations. Some marxist perspective might help to understand why the US is considered the most harmful country in the world, based on a third world perspective.
@@robinsonerhardt I make a comment it's because I like these interviews. Even more when you interview an intellectual as Wolff and Fergunson. I like the dynamic of this.
@@-tom-8720 I am talking about imperialism. After John Hobson's theory, Marxists have thought about this concept. It is real and you cannot debunk marxism without demonstrating that there is not something like imperialism.
I listen to his world analysis and I wonder what world he's living on.
Bloody idiotic warmonger. Dangerous.
Yeah, he is always so lazy. Go read Anne Applebaums book for contrast. She actually does research. Ferguson reads headlines.
Here are the main takeaways:
1. Empire is good. Global empire crushing any dissent is better. Talks about JFK's determination in Cuba, but conveniently dismisses how he recognized Khrushchev's concerns and withdrew missiles from Turkey in return, and while pushing for more Western involvement in Ukraine, conveniently dismisses while US tried to contain USSR, it stayed away from its immediate backyard.
2. Laments that long gone are the days of media self-censorship as the only gatekeepers of news.
3. Left is bad, because the same sensitivity it showed to what happened in October 7th also compelled it to take an anti-Israeli stance when Israel wiped Gaza off the map along with probably hundreds of thousands of Gazans (but hey, at least half of them are terrorists)
4. TikTok is pro-Palestinian not because of the countless footage of Palestinian suffering and the cascade of videos posted by IDF soldiers themselves, practically documenting their own war crimes, but because it is Chinese owned.
5. Praises Netanyahu, I'm sorry, "Bibi" as Bismarck and a brilliant, skilled statesman unparalleled in his Machiavellianism today. Believes Israelis today will get rid of him eventually, but he will be admired (as NF does) by future historians.
6. Deplores the horrible human toll in Ukraine, but argues that in Gaza, Israelis minimized the civilian casualties pretty impressively. The very large proportion of casualties were Hamas. Civilians are also killed in Lebanon with pager attacks, but that's because terrorist carried their pagers on them in public.
7. October 7th was an attempt of a second Holocaust, but concept of genocide does not apply to what's happening to Palestinians, because it would not be appropriate to do so as Israel was founded by genocided people.
It's still important to listen to him for as a mouthpiece, he helps the viewer familiarize themselves with the general talking points of a certain group in power and the world they wish to bring about.
Very well said.
That's it not wasting my time listening to this guy, what kind of historian is this? IIf he is an historian I am a spaceman!!
Absolutely, he sounds like a three (3) letter agency properganda record. See ya later.
@@DRpokeme 18 years 5 subscribers 1 comment. What could you be?
@@talesofcanterbury42 You can only see how many comments they’ve left ON THIS CHANNEL, not the comments they’ve left elsewhere. Read it again, this is their first comment on Robinson’s channel only.
@talesofcanterbury42 Not an Iranian troll if thats what your thinking... would be less than 1yr old if troll... not 18yrs
@@DRpokeme I agree with you.
A nineteenth century intellectual for the twenty first century world.
Dangerous fool.
@@neirinski you mean the time of "Idiocracy" have you watched the film?! 😄
This self proclaimed Scot historian is NO intellectual!
His ability to learn from the effects of nuclear bombs explosions like those in Hiroshima and Nakasaki Japan, was like him being a white back guerilla walking on his four legs watching and thinking that it was his female mate on-heat stiring up a wild bond fire.
He's literally ape-shxt in his logic about war and the use of a Mutually Assured Distraction weapons.
This guy is simply a MAD agent- a total disgrace! to true historians out there.
Look who pays this man and you understand his opinions
@@JED254 I think it’s mostly the books he sells
@@talesofcanterbury42 Like the authorized biography of the Rothschilds he wrote?
Raised by the West. So minimal intuitive scepticism of the Western Imperialist values.
He seems to have a good grasp of the power play, but from the very standard ideology of the current Hegemon.
Blaming Afghanistan's withdrawal on Biden is flat-out incorrect. Trump made and folded on the timeline as the great negotiator.
This is what he going around the world feeding poliction if care support war
Ferguson’s arguement about Russias invasion of Ukraine is diametrically opposed to the argument by Jeffrey Sachs who convincingly says that the US invited the invasion by inducing Ukraine to join NATO, a policy that goes back a decade and rooted in the continuing desire for empire by the military-industrial complex. Well, which is it? And where is the boundary between deterrence and military aggression, dominance, colonization and exploitation?
Yes, he CONVENIENTLY leaves out many facts
💯
US politics is far from being perfect, but this is not the first time when Russia introduced a brutal anti-ukrainian politics. Current oppression of Ukrainians can't be separated from the oppression of Ukrainians that existed during the times of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Russian nationalism is the main cause of the war.
It looks like you oppose Ukraine deciding to join NATO even after you see clearly see why they wanted to. You make no sense. They felt threatened and wanted to be independent from Russia, who interfered in their elections and infiltrated their country militarily, then invaded in 2014. That's why they have tried to be in NATO for decades.
@@MrCarlGW Yes, there was a little incident that Cuba is still paying for, to have allies on the border of a competing world power. Who knew the Russians, who warned us about red lines and non-proliferation, yet here we are, with American weapons manned by Americans, striking Russians in Russia.
You warmongers will drag us back to the stone age.
The revisionism on the Palestinian conflict is off the charts. Also sounds like he wants to double down on defense spending and probably wouldn’t mind austerity measures.
I haven’t heard such bald faced lying for as long as I remember. We all know the CIA was created my the British, and continue to lie to make the US do it’s multi-generational lies.
Its what he leaves out that negates his points, His true ideas are between the lines.
Grifter 😢
He's not revisionist, he just has a perspective which colours his analysis and solutions.
Can you point out the revisionism?
After reading comments I say THANKFULLY we now have social media allowing us to get closer to the truth & be less influenced by the many fools introduced as 'great thinkers'.
This man cannot be an historian and spew such complete dribble and propaganda!
Honestly 😂😂😂😂😂😂 thank for that 😅😅😅😅
Listen to Colonel Douglas McGregor instead of corrupt fools paid for their “expertise”!
Well put!
Indeed. Thank god we have high school drop outs, failed comedians, and grifter celebrities to give us the truth. Down with the intelligencia!
I don’t know whether this man is a neocon or a neoliberal, but he is clearly one of the two. Sounds like a neocon
@@sambrucevids he’s paid by Zionist to be a propagandist
Or MI-6
Looks like a case of transitioning or maybe a superposition, which is clearly collapsing while we are observing.
what exactly is the difference at this point?
A relic of an earlier time.
Can you get John Mearsheimer on?
This guy need to define what an empire is.
he does
I'm sure I am missing some important historical details, since I am not a historian, but the things Ferguson managed to refrain from discussing were painfully obvious. There was lots of talk of economics and military struggle, but very little talk of how the average citizen is affected by large-scale policies. It is much like takling about the economy in terms of how the stock market is doing; the stock market does not tell you how many average people are working three jobs to pay bills and support a family. People sometimes talk about how Trump's economy was "better," but all I recall was co-workers working two full time jobs and using food stamps to make ends meet.
Ferguson's take on Palestine was also conveniently (for him) simplistic, bordering on equating being pro-Palestine with being pro-hamas. No one protesting Israel's actions is condoning the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on Oct 7th.
I appreciate that Robinson gets a wide variety of opnions and guests on the podcast, and I appreciate that he takes a pretty un-biased approach to conducting the interviews. Thtat said, it would be nice to see other interviewers call people like this out. I understand why Robinson doesn't, due to his academic position.
I would like to see other interviewers stop people like Ferguson and ask things like, "what about Israel bombing all the Palestinian universities, buring their agricultural land, etc?" Or simply, "how do you think Trump's economic policies will affect the working class, people who work multiple jobs, etc? How will his policies affect the cost of healthcare for the average US citizen?"
All in all, I am glad Robinson had this guest, because it's important to know how other people interpret things....even though I disagree with Ferguson's take on things.
Well said.
I cant see how his point changes in anyway, whether you focus on plight of avg citizen or not. His basic point is when people like Putin (Kim/Ayatollah/Xi or whoever) start doing whatever they feel like there needs to be a cost. To them. If not we get a more and more unstable world that effects everyone. US being the biggest fish in the sea, still has capacity to deliver very deadly stand down signals. And its not doing it so far, encouraging retarded behavior from immature regimes all across the map.
@@gunslinger_burrito9531 sociopathy and power have been symbiotic these last few hundred years.
Thank you Niall for bringing a depth of intelligence and insight to our current world...Amazing reading (some) of the comments below how ignorant so many are of history and geo-politics!
Always expect proof after someone makes a statement...and I admit it is difficult to break from 'what you want to hear'.... Nail lacks substantive proof. He brushes past it.
Also depends upon YOUR AGENDA
Robinson's on the neocon world tour! A whole lot of false info here, but I understand it isn't your mission to push back on individual 'facts'
Again. No context.
Maybe *inside the states* this is confusing, but from 12000 km away it's crystal clear.
@@ReadChuckarconsider an alternate truth that being an outsider causes you to miss some of the nuance
This guy thinks the US needs to spends *even more* on its military 😮
Take it out of his fat salary!
that's what empires have to do
Maybe in his next interview, Mr. Ferguson will appear in full military regalia.
Maybe a nazis uniform Leftist!!!!!
This is not a serious interview, it is low quality. He just lectured you, like watching a dog throw up and eat it again. Instead of asking about non-predigested food for the dog you ask "what about this vomit you made over here?" The sententious geopolitical views are cowardly and out of touch. As a philosophy minded person I would have hoped you could have done a better job questioning the framework of these half-baked positions. The claim that he is non-partisan did make me laugh, I'm surprised you kept a straight face. Someone craving a "General Theory of Disaster" has no interest in the material conditions of disaster. There were no genocides before the Holocaust?! There are genocides in the old testament, there are a few tribes (most were you know...genocide....) in the americas that would also disagree. The definition of a reactionary. Let him spread that misinformation, true super spreader style, its what the elite academic institutions pay him for. Let's skip the three hour interview and dig up Kissinger, get it in the chair next.
@@samstewart9089 9 years on RUclips, 1st Comment and no followers. Where you live Sam does it have cold winters but great cabbage?
@@talesofcanterbury42 You really don't get the whole "number of comments on this channel" thing, huh?
@@samstewart9089 I guess it's useful sometimes to let the fools rumbling on without interrupting them so that their stupidity or corruption is in full view, no need to question them, also with this guy where do you even start???
All of his interviews go that way.
I believe he is misreading Trump. Trump is happy to engage in war if it benefits him but a war with Russia does not benefit him.
This guy says we can’t negotiate because we aren’t in a position of power.
Yes we can, and should, just because we aren’t going to get the biggest pile of marbles doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stop the killing of Ukraine people
WTF Casualty of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Gaza is small? Now I know what madness looks like.
Ahhhh - I guess you need to learn som history - death tolls in WW2/WW1 - they were not televised so the deaths were not quite as dramatic in real time - but yes- Niall knows hi history and knows the scope of wars...
This guy is a hawk, happy to watch the continual drain of this empire’s resources to continue toward realism geo politics which is world domination not just regional
The Western alliance has a deep history of colonization, resource exploitation, cultural erosion, and violent interventions across much of the world. Today, this Western axis shows signs of decline-not only intellectually but also in military, economic, and cultural realms. Niall Ferguson is a staunch advocate for this Western bloc, dedicated to defending and preserving it, though he is clearly aware of its vulnerabilities and is actively working to address and rectify them.
You don't preserve the western bloc with more hawkish policies. You don't preserve ANYTHING with threats of nuclear escalation
@@radwanabu-issa4350 Well at least the Arabs or Turks never had an Empire! *Record Screech* The Arabs building of empire involved enslavement and massacres, or do you not know your own history. Salafists still claim Spain as the lands of Islam. That being said you did invent the zero, for a zero sum game.
It is like a nightmare listening to Ferguson speak.
Yes, total agreement!
He is very factual.
@@vicp7124 no
Historian who doesn’t include full historical context should be viewed as a movie director not historian :)
@@naznar189 11 years one subscriber one comment. What could you be?
@@talesofcanterbury42 You can only see how many comments they’ve left ON THIS CHANNEL, not the comments they’ve left elsewhere. Read it again, this is their first comment on Robinson’s channel only.
@@talesofcanterbury42 They're clearly a person who learned how to ask the right questions, whereas your skepticism lies in those who question alleged authority...
😢
This is a propagandist. Why is it that all big propagandists get the title of "Renowned historian". These are the so called plastic historians who master the art of distorting reality.
One of the most deranged hour 20 mins of my life. The scary part is how many ppl view the world in this way, especially the political and economic elite.
Iran did not tell Hamas to attack
Nonsense.
Jfc lol what’s with military historians being fucking sinister.
They think it's a boardgame
Really hard to take a historian seriously when they do not include so much as the Nakba when discussing the genocide in Gaza. I wonder how much money he gets from AIPAC?
There were more Jews who were ethnically cleansed in the Middle East in 1948 than Arabs, how does that work as a context for you? Where are the Jews of Yeman? Iraq? Syria? Lebanon? Egypt? Tunisia? The "disaster" was termed by a Syrian professor in 1948 describing the failure of the arab countries to eradicate the Jewish state, let me express how happy I am they failed, their disaster is the survival of the Jewish people.
This MI-6 propagandist really grinds my gourd.
He lost me at "Israel had to fight this alone". MoFo, Israel got a few billions in military aid from USA just in 2024, do you need American boots in the desert after you wiped out entire cities?
Love you, Robinson!
Calls out Russia for war crimes in Ukraine, then ignores Israel’s 1000x crimes in Palestine while blaming the victims for it.
Good luck trying to be seen as a rational thinker after that.
Truly one of the great humiliations in history by a court historian. I hope this interview isn't erased so that this this immense (and possibly unmatched) humiliation can last through the ages so this Nazi apologist can be seen in comparison to Hitler and others of his kin.
@@johnthepalm 100% true.
20 years from now people are going to pull out videos like this and teach kids in school how you manufacture consent for some of the most unspeakable acts humans can do.
he is just well paid unethical, immoral propagandist, skilled in verbal and mental masturbation.
Hopefully, they'll learn not to be terrorists so that they can survive and have a future. If not, oh well.
@@williamdavis9562 hopefully it takes 20 minutes, not 20 years.
I'm really surprised about many things Mr Ferguson says. This is not an objective view of a historian but cold cut right wing propaganda. He wrote a biography of Henry Kissinger but his "we are the good guys and they are the bad guys" view couldn't be further away from Kissingers diplomatic balance of power approach. Very disappointing. He sold his soul to the Hoover Institution.
Always thought this guy oversimplified things and glossed over the things that were bad as mere aberrations, but he has gone to a whole new level of stupidity suggesting that somehow electing Trump is going to be better for the world. What an idiot!
Increase military spending and austertity measures. Mr. Ferguson must of been the only scot to love thatcher
What the hell is this guy saying?!
Any stupid BS argument sounds intelligent if said in english accent. And he is scottish.
Thanks for the comments. I almost wasted my time listening
Ferguson says he is not partisan but he is about as far right as it is possible to go.
He's just establishment right, if you think he's far right you have no idea how deep that shit goes
@@-tom-8720 l know. What l think is far right is actually mild by present day standards
Ferguson is incredibly ignorant of US politics.
What a treat to listen to Niall. Brilliant guy. Unmatched among his peers.
Good talk. Wise guy!!!!
I do appreciate this interview. It really goes to show how centric western thinking shapes history.
Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. Niall Ferguson is very intelligent and articulate.
Congratulations on 70k!
Thanks!
This guy has a totally biased establishment view just the language lost me .."Russian Grunts" "Israel fighting alone" recalls Cuba but totally ignores the analogy with the Ukraine War. He has the same hypocritical selective Rules Based Order thesis.
Pseudointellectualism
Robinson, you did a good job. It is clear you know who you have in front of you. It is a privilege to interview Naill Ferguson as well as Victor Davis Hanson. Thanks.
With regard to foreign policy, Mr Ferguson makes a much better case for Trump than Mr Davis Hansen.
Are we not going to talk about how badly this man bungled the pandemic?
Are you perhaps confusing this Professor Niall Ferguson with the Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London?? Definitely not the same person.
Not only do they come from two very different academic disciplines, but if I recall correctly they took polar opposite views as to how we should respond to the pandemic.
Everyone did.
revolting
Ferguson is a 19th century thinker in the 21st century. Yes historically a great power could ward off challengers with counter threats, but nuclear is different because we could all die in 72 minutes. So he’s a big talker, and not to be taken seriously as someone who does much more than coloring in the lines of the past. To be sure, he’s so tough that he won’t commit to his presidential choice because some scary person is gonna threaten his family. Or he might get some inconvenient professional backlash. But he’s not scared of gambling with all life on Earth. Tough talker !
Robinson - you’ve done the world a service by letting this guy expose himself.
Niall Ferguson is a gem that the wokes hate
Neill is a brilliant historian with a very good economic knowledge … best geo political analysis I have ever heard …
Do Jordan Peterson and Niall Ferguson use the same stylist?
I can’t finish listening to this torturing interview of this falsely educated professor of imperialism
Wow, this man is very impressive! I like his views and perspective on things. Great interview. Well done, we need more of these calm, rational viewpoints. Makes one think....😊
Robinson , always the best 💥 , facilitating Incisive discussions from multitudinous viewpoints, with sometimes diametrically opposed viewpoints. Keeping us at the knife’s edge of USA politics, local and international, whilst retaining a breadth of vision, focusing on diversity of international opinion and power politics.
80 minutes of bright light exposes who Sir Niall Ferguson really is, “IT WILL BE HARD TO BELIEVE WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN ON HIS SO CALLED BOOKS”
Niall Ferguson fancies himself a grand historian, yet his work often reads like colonial nostalgia wrapped in pseudo-intellectual drivel. His “insights” seem less like scholarship and more like ego trips dressed as serious analysis.
Don’t listen to this fool..
😅😅😅😅😅 absolutely 💯 😅
Come across as opinionated rather than researched. A politician rather than a historian
I gave up, i made it half way, but "living above our means" revealed his allegiance. No war but class war 😂
Brilliant debate!!wow I liked that Historian ❤
I appreciate that this podcast respects it's audience's intelligence enough to allow controversial perspectives to be aired.
If you're offended by someone you disagree with getting a chance to speak, maybe it's an opportunity for you think more about how you can effectively rebut their argument rather than hoping for them to get shut down.
I read the resume in the description and was hesitant (he has all the imprimaturi of the dominant trans-Atlantic-NATO-national-security-blob intelligentsia) - but hoped for the best because Robinson has interviewed a lot of really smart people before. I suppose I was hoping for conservative but with nuance. 16 minutes in and we get 1) a nostalgic tone about the British Empire; 2) not only an apology, but a jubilant welcoming of American foreign projects - I'm afraid I don't have the patience. Also, his analysis of the American psyche, the American constitutional system, and American politics makes me think he should be made to retake his citizenship test.
Ferguson is delusional
I think lonsdale pays his salary so of course this guy prostitutes himself . Whatever your politics , Gaza has exposed all these “thinkers” as hypocrites and frauds
PHd Stanford Professor and he is one delusional. Go look in the mirror my friend...see delusional in person! I must be delusional too...made sense to me
@ you’re probably a nut job Zionist . Ferguson is being paid to be a propagandist. He should go back to his own country . We don’t want him here
Appeal the authority, your PhD is fully paid up by the USA government via NGOs
@@m.horvath4739 Ferguson is obviously biased and heavily slanted inn many of his so called "conclusions". For example, his "conclusions" on the subject of Trump vs. Biden are way off base. The 2024 Presidential historians survey which is based on something like 20 performance criterion rated Chump as the WORST president in US history and rated Biden as well above average. So obviously Ferguson is diametrically opposite to his peers, all of whom are at least his equals as historians. Does not give you much confidence in his "conclusions" on that subject, now does it? In addition his brief discussion on the Afghanistan withdrawal hardly touched on the gross incompetence of the Chump administration and their role (zero plans or preparation, etc) in that situation.
On the other hand, Ferguson did make some reasonable comments and observations about the US debt situation and the incompetence of all US administrations in dealing with the US welfare state.
The bigger question is how Ferguson can rationalize and try to justify his apparent support of a: 78 year old mental midget, serial liar, lifelong con man, charity fraudster, convicted sexual predator, convicted fraudster felon, thief of government documents, Russian stooge, obvious national security risk, etc. Liz Cheney had it 100% correct ... this is an election about CHARACTER, policies issues can be sorted out later.
Moving from studying history to the prediction of the future , how is that possible.
Can we have this interview translated, please? It’s necessary that people who don’t speak inglés understand this jeopardy situation that we can live if we don’t vote correctly.
Niall, do you have any idea of the Taiwan's semiconductor position ?
A court historian talking apparently
Wow, a fantastic interview. Should be watched by 40 million people.
This sounds Ike a lecture from an opinionated politician with an agenda rather than a balanced interview with a historian. Shame.
Bull
Brilliant interview
i came here for a historian's perspective, but it looks like i should've just tuned into matt miller's latest press conference instead and saved myself some time
The 40% the US is putting into Ukrane is the proper fair share. Its time for the other 31 nations to up their fair share.
A brit championing an empire, okay lol
It is sad to see this guy got bought out by the plutocrats
Wonderful
I wish Domenico Losurdo was alive so you could invite him and talk about Niall Ferguson.
This guy can't be a serious historian if he comes only mention Puerto Rico as American colony. What about the Northern Marianas??
They are an airfield with a boat dock.
What's the point of being a historian if you take all your opinions from right-wing/neocon think tanks? Reminds me of how those who convert to a religion as an adult tend to be the most zealous believers. Niall is a convert to the American Empire and he is in complete rapture.
Lmao. I'm only 15 minutes in, and almost everything Ferguson has said is utter bullshit. I knew he was bad but didn't know just how bad.
Same here.. I got 18mins in.. lol
@@petermcgrath5215 Im bottom of this class as it took me 19mins and I thought to myself, did CERN just super smash impossibly exotic elements together and shove me in the upside down Mandela universe. I have one his books, its getting cold here, maybe I should burn it.
@@petermcgrath5215 I’m at 17.10 and appalled. He teaches at Stanford? Glad I went to UC!
Keep the English empirical opinion out of American politics and you will move forward. I only got to 4 min...sorry !!
He is a disgrace.
I heard Mr Ferguson before I knew who he was. I can always listen to him.
As a true Britt, Neil keeps the silence about Britain continuing to be the Empire. We all been told multiple times that British monarchy only has a nominal power and has no power over the colonies like Canada, Australia, or others.
Not many people know that Canada, Australia , and New Zealand are constitutional monarchies with the head of state being the British king or queen . The king/queen appoints governor-generals of Canada and Australia , who in turn can fire the parliament. These powers were periodically exercised.
The true Power stays in the shade and rules quitely. Britain today, does a lot of groundwork now to get back to Power and take it back from the American Empire. Engaging the United States in multiple wars and stretching its power very thin is one of the examples 😊of how it is done.
This is why Neal will be talking and talking about Russian and Chinese empires but will keep quiet about the Britts
What a waste of time I rather re-watch Silly Symphony over & over than listening to this bs 🤮
Furgusson has decided that mainstream academia is hopelessly woke and has gone off to co-found his own university in Texas. Unfortunately as his views on history seem opinionated but rather lightweight I'm unable to take his views on academia seriously either although I don't doubt that politicised postmodern theory has had its day. His views on Ukraine are hardly rocket science but seemed quite sensible. It's when he gets onto Israel he completely loses the plot... Just doesn't seem to be able to think straight...
I'm a Conservative but if I had to choose between cutting entitlements and cutting defense spending (wars for Israel and the American "Empire" Niall is so fond of) I'd opt for the latter. If my government is going to throw money at people, it should be MY people, the American people, not foreigners. Americans deserve a government that looks out for them first, second, and third, and foreign nations somewhere further down the line.
I'd heard Mr. Niall Ferguson mentioned as being someone worth listening to. I'm afraid he sounds aas pompous and ill-informed as Douglas Murray in lacking context and nuance.
Looks like what Ferguson has to say really threatens an awful lots of the people who have commented her. That is one of the more interesting things in this entire exceedingly informative presentation.
@@Annabelleese1 it was just outdated, threatening not so much. No serious person would take it as having any currency or relevance in 2024.
Hmm. Glad that others are thinking what I am thinking. Since when did Putin want to expand and reestablish the Russian empire?
Thank you a great interview. Lot’s of people criticising Ferguson, but he’s excellent at identifying the problems. I may not agree with his solutions, but you should have some answers. America has the best political system in the World, corrupted by money since Citizens United. Removing that would be a good start, then how about electing the President by the popular vote?
so how is that still the best political system, when you yourself already identify two things that are wrong with it? 😂😂
@talesofcanterbury42 Ask yourself WHY ARE SO MANY CRITICISING FERGUSON? If its NOT IRANIAN TROLLING as you suggest.... Perhaps there's things you don't realize... look around. You live in a bubble. With respect.
A two party system with an aristocratic electoral college, one party representing oligarchic capital, the other representing corporate capital, no party representing The People. “Best in the world” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🍻
This man embarrassed himself. His analysis and conclusions are detached from reality. I detached from his nonsense after 10 minutes.
Please interview Timothy Snyder
If you want a grossly misrepresented, neoliberal interpretation of Ukraine, then that’s a perfect choice. I’m personally not a fan of people who distort the facts of World War II in service of apologizing for and glorifying Waffen SS members and Nazi collaborators.
When empires over reach they fall
He really thinks that Putin will allow Trump to put more pressure against the Russian military. What a joke
The problem with what he is saying about Trump and Ukraine is that he is relying on what some of Trump's advisors think. What Trump himself would actually do regards Ukraine is anyone's guess. No doubt Trump will talk tough, but Putin will see through that immediately...
This guy is an idiot. Pro war. Let him suit up and go fight for Israel and Ukraine.
Fantastic interview. On a side note, don't you just love seeing youtube commenters who have "studied" history by watching random grifters on youtube go on and criticize one of the preeminent historians of our time? This interview is much too high level for these people. They should probably go back to watching various failed comedians and celebrities give their moronic takes on geopolitics.
@@yourgooseiscooked 🤣🤣🤣
It's not Israel vs Hamas. It's Israel vs Palestinian people. This is why 80% of the victims are Palestinian children and women. The other 18% are non combatant Palestinian men. It's a colonial extention with full support of the colonial centre vs colonized and oppressed people.
Bc you were in Gaza, counted them one by one, so you know that the exact percentage of the victims is 80%. Or maybe you weren't, were you?
@@KV-kt9tm There are plenty of people there who knows exactly what is happening with evidences. Evidence which are recorded and data stored away from the hands of the colonizers. You can forever play this game. Nothing is clear, nothing is known .. so on. Soon this will be over and the whole world will see the destruction, the missing/dead, the mutilated. I cant understand how you live like there is no tomorrow and past will be forgotten. Today we know precisely what happen during the Holocaust. In this covered by data world will be even better known what the cousins of (European) Nazi are doing in Palestine.
@@KV-kt9tmthat’s a good point. How about letting independent Western journalists enter Gaza to verify these numbers or dismiss it?
I think we have to make a distinction among empire in the imperial age and empire in the imperialist phase, that is developed capitalism. So, yes, the US is an empire; it is an imperialist country. Based on the leninist theory of imperialism, the US and NATO are the imperialists with some subimperialists countries. Russia and China are not imperialists, but they are known as big imperial civilizations. Some marxist perspective might help to understand why the US is considered the most harmful country in the world, based on a third world perspective.
stay tuned...
@@robinsonerhardt I make a comment it's because I like these interviews. Even more when you interview an intellectual as Wolff and Fergunson. I like the dynamic of this.
The moment you use the word marxist, is the point you should quick politics and rethink your life
@@-tom-8720 I am talking about imperialism. After John Hobson's theory, Marxists have thought about this concept. It is real and you cannot debunk marxism without demonstrating that there is not something like imperialism.
@@-tom-8720 Really? Ever read any of his work? Something tells me you haven’t…
Yes, please include some balance with Snyder and Kotin.
Thanks!
I never miss a Ferguson , most of what he says is BS but the diction is GREAT!