As the world fractures into competing blocs and narratives, the so-called "rules-based international order" is under growing strain. From Gaza to Ukraine, accusations of hypocrisy, selective enforcement, and double standards are eroding trust in the West’s claim to moral and legal authority.

In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined by Dr. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and one of the most prominent voices calling for a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward restraint and diplomacy.

Together, we unpack the contradictions at the heart of the West’s global strategy, the shifting balance of power in the Middle East, and why the next war between Israel and Iran may be closer than many realise.

🔍 What We Discuss:

• 🌍 Why the “rules-based order” is breaking down

• ⚖️ How Western double standards weaken international law

• 🛑 What “snapback sanctions” reveal about Europe’s strategy

• 🇮🇷 Why Iran missed its chance to become a regional middle power

• 🇮🇱 The real objectives behind Israel’s war with Iran—and why they failed

• ⚔️ The risks of escalation and U.S. involvement in a wider conflict

• 🧠 Whether external pressure will liberalise or harden Iran’s regime

• 🧭 How China and Russia are shaping a multi-order world

• 🤯 Why Europe is sacrificing its own principles—for Israel

📚 About the Guest:

Dr. Trita Parsi is Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, founder of the National Iranian American Council, and author of several acclaimed books on U.S.–Iran relations and Middle East geopolitics. He has advised diplomats, policymakers, and civil society leaders on diplomacy, multilateralism, and regional conflict resolution.

📎 Resources Mentioned:

• 📖 Trita's Books

• 🔗 Better Order Project

• 🔗 Quincy Institute

• 🔗 Trita Parsi on Twitter/X

🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 🌐 Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📬 Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Dr Samir Puri—former British diplomat, Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing—to explore the seismic global shift away from Western dominance.

We unpack the concept of “Westlessness”, which Dr Puri defines as the psychological and strategic unravelling of the West’s central role in global affairs. As traditional Western powers lose their edge—militarily, economically, and morally—new global actors like China, India, and coalitions like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are stepping in to reshape the international system.

But this isn’t a story of collapse. Instead, it’s about rebalancing—and the West’s growing crisis of identity, cohesion, and moral authority. We discuss the rise of soft power from non-Western states, the consequences of Western hypocrisy in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, and how hybrid identities, populism, and cultural fragmentation are transforming politics at home.

Dr Puri also reflects on whether a multipolar world could be fairer—and what risks it might bring.

Resources:

• Dr Puri’s website: https://twitter.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://instagram.com/thevoicesofwar LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left hospitals in ruins, humanitarian corridors blocked, and millions of civilians struggling to survive. In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Ashley Killeen, Director of Engagement at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia & New Zealand, about what it means to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza while upholding neutrality in the face of accusations of genocide and systematic violence.

With MSF doctors and nurses forced to work in decimated hospitals, perform amputations without anaesthetic, and place five babies in a single incubator, Gaza’s collapse is exposing the limits of neutrality in modern conflict. Ashley explains why MSF calls Gaza a “systematic genocide”, the ethical red lines Israel wants humanitarian organisations to cross, and why silence can make humanitarians complicit.

This episode dives deep into the medical ethics of war, the weaponisation of aid, and the toll on humanitarian staff who bear witness in one of the most politically charged conflicts of our time. It asks the hardest question: when does neutrality protect, and when does it kill?

• This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing. – Read the report: https://msf.org.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/msf_gazareport_thisisnotaid.pdf

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia – Support their work: https://msf.org.au/donate

• The Voices of War Podcast Website – Full episodes and extras: https://thevoicesofwar.com

• Newsletter – Join for deeper analysis and updates: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com