Is the UK really on the brink of collapse - or are we victims of our own narratives?

In this revealing conversation, Dr. Mike Martin, former British Army officer, author of Why We Fight, and now Member of Parliament, breaks down what’s really driving Britain’s political, social, and moral crisis.

From the rise of authoritarian narratives to the weaponization of social media, Mike reveals why our biggest enemy isn’t immigration or the economy, it’s misinformation. Drawing from his experience on the battlefield and now in Parliament, Mike explains:

⬛ Why migration isn’t the crisis we think it is

⬛ How social media and foreign influence are polarizing the West

⬛ Why “the House of Commons is just theatre”

⬛ How the real work of politics happens behind the scenes

⬛ The connection between Ukraine, Gaza, and the global information war

⬛ What gives him hope about Britain’s future

A candid, no-nonsense conversation that cuts through political noise to uncover the psychology of modern conflict, the truth about migration, and what leadership really looks like. If you want to understand how narratives shape nations, and how to fix a broken system from within, this is a must-listen.

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📘 About Dr. Mike Martin Author of Why We Fight and How to Fight a War Website: https://mike-martin.co.uk/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/threshedthought

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What if the real story of Gaza isn’t about sides but about people?

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian writer and policy analyst from Gaza, breaks through decades of noise, propaganda, and polarization to share what life in Gaza really means.

From surviving war to speaking truth in the West, Ahmed reveals the human reality behind the headlines, the pain, hope, and determination of ordinary Palestinians caught between Hamas, occupation, and a collapsing system. Now living in the U.S., Ahmed has become one of the most courageous Palestinian voices of his generation, challenging both Israeli and Palestinian narratives while calling for something radical: pragmatism, empathy, and moral courage.

He explains:

⬛ Why Hamas’ rule has failed Gaza and its people

⬛ How Palestinians can reclaim agency and rewrite their future

⬛ Why peace requires rejecting victimhood and embracing complexity

⬛ The truth about how Gazans really feel about Hamas and Israel

⬛ Why he still believes in hope after losing everything

This isn’t a political debate, it’s a masterclass in humanity, nuance, and resilience. If you want to understand Gaza beyond the headlines, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

🌐 Follow Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: https://www.instagram.com/afalkhatib

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Why does nationalism look less like a mistake and more like a structural feature of modern capitalism? In this provocative and deeply researched episode, Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić explains why nationalism often functions as the social glue that stabilizes capitalism’s contradictions and why the current phase of hyper-capitalism risks producing more authoritarian nationalisms over the next decades. Using Bosnia (the Lisbon maps and Dayton aftermath), the Balkans, and contemporary flashpoints as case studies, Zlatko connects theory to concrete history: how imperial legacies, external power strategies, and the logic of the military-industrial complex help produce recurring conflict. He also shows how consumer tech, information flows, and media narratives help pacify populations while power consolidates.

He explains:

⬛ Why nationalism can be a structural necessity for capitalism

⬛ How “hyper-capitalism” creates conditions for authoritarian nationalism

⬛ The Lisbon maps & Bosnia case study — why partition was engineered and what it means today

⬛ How information, phones and consumer culture shape political consent

⬛ Why great-power strategies sometimes manufacture zones of instability

⬛ What citizens and leaders can do to cultivate nuance, media literacy, and democratic resilience

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction: Capitalism, Nationhood & the Big Question

03:10 - Thesis: “No Capitalism Without Nationalism” — the argument explained

08:45 - The Lisbon maps & Bosnia: how partition was made possible

13:30 - From Yugoslavia to the Balkans: external influence and local politics

18:20 - Imperial legacies, Mackinder & geopolitical strategy

22:45 - Hyper-capitalism defined: inequality, pacification, and authoritarian pressures

27:50 - Phones, streaming & control: the tech-consumer pact

32:40 - Gaza, Ukraine & manufactured instability — strategic utility of conflict

37:55 - Predictions: the next 20–30 years of nationalism and power

42:10 - Practical takeaways: media literacy, nuance, and democratic repair

46:00 - Closing reflections & recommended reading

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in political economy, history, geopolitics, and media, especially listeners who want frameworks that connect the dots between capitalism, nationalism, and contemporary conflict.

🎧 Listen now to understand the hidden structures shaping modern conflict, from imperial maps to smartphone screens, from Bosnia to the broader global order.

🔗 Resources & Links

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About Zlatko Hadžidedić Professor, author and analyst focused on nationalism, political economy and Balkan history. (Check episode for recommended reading and sources.)

🎙️ Related Episodes & Reading Look for prior episodes and sources on Bosnia, the Lisbon conference, and imperial legacies in our archives at thevoicesofwar.com.

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