Kishore Mahbubani is a distinguished Singaporean diplomat, academic, and author, renowned for his incisive commentary on global geopolitics and the rise of Asia. He served in the Singapore Foreign Service as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Singapore’s Ambassador to the UN, where he was President of the UN Security Council in 2001 and 2002. He was also the Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy from 2004 to 2017 and his bestselling books include The Great Convergence and Has China Won? Currently a Distinguished Fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Asia Research Institute, Mahbubani is celebrated as a leading voice on Asia’s growing influence, earning accolades like inclusion in Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers.(01:24) The US-China rivalry

(13:44) The Taiwan issue

(17:10) Global hegemony vs. domestic stability

(22:42) Will China ever democratize?

(24:35) Why poverty is a lack of freedom

(25:14) China's political evolution

(26:38) Pros & cons of democracy

(29:34) The future of US-China relations

(32:07) Evaluating Xi Jinping's Leadership

(34:44) The importance of diplomacy

(41:05) Lessons from Lee Kuan Yew

(46:15) Paths to peace & cooperation

(47:36) Advice for American citizens

This is a "book club" solo episode where I summarize & comment on a nonfiction book as part of the Due Diligence Book Club (Patreon available here). This episode is on All The Shah's Men by Stephen Kinzer published in 2003 about Operation Ajax, the CIA overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, the prime minister of Iran.

In this episode, I invite social & peace activist and former IDF soldier Adar Weinreb onto the show. Adar shares his thoughtful perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the importance of humanization in creating the possibility of reconciliation. He reflects on his experiences as an IDF soldier and his evolution towards understanding the common humanity shared by both sides. We discuss the role of systemic change, his lessons from hosting debates on Israel/Palestine, and the potential of AI in facilitating civil discourse through his startup, Head On. Adar's insights offer a thoughtful approach to bridge-building based on the fundamental conviction in our ultimate oneness, a perspective we need more than ever.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to a Nuanced Perspective

02:19 The Role of Psychedelics in Perspective Shift

04:57 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Conflict

07:25 The Complexity of Humanizing the Other

09:56 Exploring Solutions to the Conflict

15:02 The Role of Institutions in Peace Building

19:54 Grassroots Movements and External Influences

25:10 Navigating the Narrative and Building Bridges

30:05 Criticism and Humanization in Conflict Resolution

37:40 Courageous Voices Against Terrorism

38:31 The Complexity of Criticism and Identity

39:27 Understanding Human Dignity Amidst Conflict

40:21 Rights to Critique and Human Rights Abuses

41:10 The Role of Collective Psychology in Conflict

42:47 Mastering Peace Over War

45:43 Introducing Head On: A Platform for Civil Discourse

48:01 AI as a Facilitator for Understanding

51:35 Lessons from Moderating Debates

55:10 Evolving Perspectives Through Dialogue

01:00:11 Misunderstandings Between Palestinians and Israelis

01:06:10 Understanding the Palestinian Experience

01:07:59 Finding Hope in Change

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