We welcomed the author of the new book "The Levelling", Mike O'Sullivan, who's spent 20 years thinking and writing on macro economy and politics. He also served as the Chief Investment Officer at Credit Suisse and is the CEO of Harvest Innovation Advisory. We cover the end of globalisation, the future of democracy, economics, finance, geopolitics, and nation-building in the post-globalisation era.

In the episode, we cover a range of topics:

-Assessment of Globalisation: Critical examination of the concept of globalisation, probing its evolution, successes, and shortcomings, particularly in light of mounting debt, economic dependencies, and democratic deficits.

-Geopolitical Realities: The shifting dynamics of global power & democracy, from the dominance of the West to the rise of multipolarity

-Rethinking Economic Paradigms: Importance of R&D, education, and a conducive regulatory environment for fostering organic economic growth and escaping debt trap

-Challenges of Development: Role of international institutions such as the IMF, leadership credibility, and effectiveness in managing financial crises (examples from Greece & Argentina)

-Navigating Technological Complexity: The profound impact of technology on every aspect of society, from AI and blockchain to the fragmentation of media and its implications for democracy and social cohesion.

Join us for this action-packed episode as we explore the growing backlash against globalisation and the future of global relations and economic growth potential.

Follow our host Waheed Nabeel (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Intro

(02:13) - Mike's background

(03:38) - How globalisation led to increased economic integration?

(06:54) - Why is the end of globalisation such a big issue?

(09:56) - What are the biggest challenges of the next 30 years?

(12:11) - Why is democracy under threat?

(14:02) - How can we revive democracies?

(17:18) - How can the effectiveness of governance in delivering tangible improvements to quality of life be assessed, particularly in contexts where traditional democratic norms may not be strictly followed, such as in Singapore or Rwanda?

(20:20) - Where did The UK went wrong?

(23:49) - How does Japan's economic performance challenge traditional notions of debt sustainability, especially in comparison to countries like the US and UK, and what implications does this have for the application of modern monetary theory (MMT) on a global scale?

(25:52) - Why are we obsessed with debt?

(28:31) - How do countries achieve organic economic growth?

(32:14) - What is the well-being economy?

(35:01) - How will this evolving digital landscape shape our societal values and political affiliations on a global scale?

(40:38) - How should nations think about development and economic growth?

(43:37) - Outro

In season 2, we kick-off with America's foremost foreign policy scholar, Dr. Joseph Nye, the former Assistant Secretary of Defense and former Dean of Harvard Kennedy School of Government, to talk about how the American Century has shaped our civilization and what lies ahead in the road.

Dr. Nye shares his profound insights on:

- His personal reflections from his latest released book

- The essence and impact of soft power, hard power and 'smart' power in shaping international relations, drawing from his extensive experience and academic work

- Analyzing the concept of the "American Century," its historical context, and its relevance in today's shifting global order

- Discussing the strategic challenges and opportunities presented by nuclear non-proliferation, with a focus on his contributions during the Carter administration

- Providing a forward-looking perspective on the rise of Asia, particularly China and India, and the implications for global economic and political dynamics

- Navigating through the complexities of U.S. foreign policy, from its triumphs to its missteps, and envisioning the path forward in an increasingly multipolar world

- His thoughts on contemporary wars: from Israel-Palestine to Ukraine-Russia

Accompanying Dr. Nye, we're privileged to have our very dear friend of the pod, Jon Cayzer who's a UK civil servant, adding depth to the conversation with his expertise and experience in public services and policy advising.

Join us as Dr. Joseph Nye artfully connects past influences with present challenges, offering a roadmap for understanding and navigating the future of international relations.

Follow our host Waheed Nabeel (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Introduction to Joseph Nye and his seminal contributions

(02:13) - Nye's background and defining moments in global politics

(07:04) - The American Century revisited: implications for global leadership

(12:50) - The evolution and significance of soft power in the modern era

(14:47) - Is the U.S.'s current foreign policy, particularly its support for Israel's actions in Gaza, leading to a decrease in its soft power, similar to the impact of the Iraq War?

(16:46) - Is the current perceived political polarization in the U.S. truly unprecedented, or is it a return to historical levels of division experienced in past eras like the FDR presidency?

(18:36) - Can the U.S. and China avoid the Thucydides Trap and prevent military conflict?

(23:56) - Should Ukraine join NATO?

(25:14) - Is China, despite its hard power, struggling to amplify its soft power on the global stage?

(28:05) - How can a small country effectively increase its soft power—is it through cultural promotion like the British Council and Confucius Institute, or are there other strategies?

(29:46) - In light of populism and Brexit, how can the UK rejuvenate its smart power and reestablish its international standing post-EU?

(32:16) - How do advancements in technology and AI affect a country's balance of soft and hard power?

(33:36) - Does the fragmentation of media through technologies like social media endanger the consensus-building essential to democracy in the 21st century?

(35:32) - How can America, known for its innovation, adapt its foundational principles and values for future generations to bridge to the next century, moving beyond the notion of American exceptionalism?

(37:35) - Discussing the shift in American values from 1998 to 2023, how has the perception of patriotism and other core values evolved over time?

(27:20) - Analyzing Asia's rise and its global ramifications

(33:35) - The interplay of technology, AI, and international relations

(36:50) - Envisioning the future of diplomacy and international cooperation

(39:07) - Outro

On this African development-focused episode, we're joined by Dr. Pádraig Carmody, a distinguished professor at Trinity College, University of Dublin, and the author of the book "The New Scramble for Africa."

Professor Carmody guides us through a thought-provoking discussion:

-Unpacking the historical context of African scrambles and their enduring impact on the continent

-Defining what a scramble is and how it shaped the socio-economic landscape of Africa

-Examining the parallels between historical scrambles and the contemporary challenges affecting Africa today

-Insightful analysis of the new scramble (e.g. with China) and its implications for the region's economic trajectory

-Exploring the potential future of African development and the key factors that will shape it

We were also joined by, Jon Cayzer, who is a British civil servant and has worked in Africa for several decades.

Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

You can follow us on our socials for the latest updates of the Innovation Civilization Podcast

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We're open to collaboration and want to hear your thoughts

Website: https://www.empasco.com

Email: info@empasco.com

Pod Host: waheed@empasco.com

Pod Manager: mahir@empasco.com

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Intro

(01:35) - What drove Professor Carmody into writing a book on the scramble for Africa?

(04:43) - In delving into the first scramble for Africa and the influential Berlin Conference, what were the key motivations driving European powers?

(10:58) - Is the scramble for Africa solely driven by asset stripping for the benefit of the global economy in what we now term the global north, or are their elements of a transformative vision aiming to uplift and shape the continent in a different way?

(19:09) - Did the historical division of Africa during the scramble leave lasting consequences on the persistence of poverty and the trajectory of economic development in the region?

(25:13) - How did the historical dynamics affect the current state of institutions in Africa?

(27:55) - How does Professor Carmody envision African states overcoming the challenges of comparative advantage and distance to become potent catalysts for innovation?

(32:57) - How does Rwanda's success, characterized by policy certainty, stand out as a potential model for other Sub-Saharan African countries grappling with similar issues?

(40:59) - How are technological advancements impacting job markets across the continent, and what strategies can African nations adopt to navigate the potential challenges posed by the rapid integration of AI technologies?

(43:42) - What are China's vision for Africa and the strategies they are employing to realize this vision, providing insight into their approach and objectives in the region?

(50:55) - The role of industrial policy in fostering economic diversification and specialization and lessons African nations could glean from these examples in shaping their economic strategies.

(52:16) - Is there a unique role that Africa can play in reimagining the global economy, offering solutions that transcend the limitations of the previous neoliberal frameworks?

(58:46) - Outro

From the technology used to build pyramids by Ancient Egyptians to blockchain & AI today, there's tremendous continuity in how technologies developed. We're joined by Dr. Christian de Vartavan, a distinguished Egyptologist whose contributions include 10 seminal works in Egyptology and an impressive tally of 40 scientific discoveries. Beyond his expertise in Egyptology, Christian is also recognized as a technologist and an accomplished authority in blockchain and artificial intelligence who regularly advises the UK government on the strategic integration of these emerging technologies.

We have also been joined by our Empasco director, Mohammad Syed. (@MohammadSyed159)

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that spans across epochs, connecting the wisdom of ancient civilizations with the forefront of modern technological innovation.

In this episode, we delve into:

-Christian's journey from the realms of Egyptology to the forefront of blockchain and AI

-The parallels and intersections between ancient civilizations and cutting-edge technology

-Insights into his ground-breaking scientific discoveries and their implications for the modern world

-The role of blockchain and AI in shaping the future of media, society, and beyond

-A reflection on his family's legacy of advisory roles in royal, presidential, and governmental spheres, influencing trade, business, economics, and science.

Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Intro

(03:15) - Christian's background in Egyptology

(04:50) - About Christian's technological advisory role for the UK government

(06:41) - Technologies in Ancient Egypt

(10:20) - Views on the Pyramid making process

(13:01) - Controversial perspectives related to the Pyramids

(19:06) - Have we forgotten how to build a Pyramid?

(21:32) - Are we facing a modern-day puzzle with artificial intelligence, much like the ancient mysteries that confounded civilizations?

(30:24) - Do AI and blockchain technologies pose a risk of widening societal disparities? Is there a global divergence in AI approaches among countries?

(35:27) - How are we planning to enforce standards in regulating AI?

(37:53) - Amidst growing distrust in giants like Google and Facebook and a rise in anti-globalism, how does society navigate diminishing faith in both private and global institutions?

(42:06) - Considering the unmet expectations, boom-and-bust cycles, and recent downturn, what is the current assessment of the state and future direction of crypto and blockchain technology?

(51:05) - What are the scopes of these technological development related to Christian's proprietary tech at Projectus that focuses on the classification of knowledge and the philosophy of the internet?

(54:29) - How does Christian envision the future of statecraft, shaped by the concept of network states on the internet?

(60:07) - Outro

In this episode, we sat down with Professor Dr. Salim Ayduz, a distinguished expert in Ottoman science and technology delving into the rich tapestry of technical innovations that helped create the Ottoman Empire's 600+ year tri-continental legacy.

In the episode, we cover:

-the forgotten pioneers of Ottoman science & technology

-the social, political, and economic dynamics that influenced Ottoman innovation

-comparative analysis of Ottoman and Western scientific and technological progress

-challenges the empire faced in keeping pace with the changing world

Tune in to this enlightening episode that reveals the hidden chapters of Ottoman innovation, while also shedding new light on the challenges the empire faced as it navigated the currents of change across the centuries.

Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Intro

(02:15) - Professor Salim's background

(04:10) - Origin of the Ottoman Empire and why there is a lack of information on the Ottoman innovation landscape?

(11:44) - What is the Professor's research methodology when it comes to consuming knowledge and researching Ottoman innovation and inventions?

(15:35) - Ottoman's contribution to astronomy and astrology

(26:35) - Ottoman's contribution to mathematics

(31:45) - The inception and mass adoption of gunpowder and cannons in the Ottoman era

(36:11) - Notable innovations and inventions during the Ottoman period

(43:59) - The socio-political dynamics that influenced the decline of Ottoman contribution to science and technology

(50:49) - Challenges the empire faced in keeping pace with the changing world

(57:20) - Classical books reading recommendation by Professor on Ottoman innovation

(59:00) - Outro

On this episode, we're joined by serial entrepreneur and CEO of Manna Bobby Healy (@realBobbyHealy) who runs one of the Top 5 drone delivery companies in the world. We also welcomed back a friend of the pod Pamir Sevincel, Partner at Blackbird.

Join us as we talk about the ins and outs of a fundamental technology that'll terraform the way we live: last-mile drone delivery.

In this episode, we cover:

-Bobby's entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned along the way

-The genesis of Manna and the vision for drone-powered deliveries

-The environmental impact of replacing traditional delivery vehicles with drones

- Business models and venture funding landscape: current, future and past.

- Advice to founders building hardware-heavy companies

-The challenges and opportunities in the emerging drone delivery industry

-The future of on-demand delivery and its potential to reshape urban living

Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

(00:00) - Intro

(02:25) - Bobby's journey to leading several successful startups

(03:16) - What is Manna Aero?

(07:50) - Use case of drone delivery for E-commerce businesses

(15:04) - Replacing traditional delivery vehicles with drones?

(20:00) - How feasible is drone delivery in rural/suburban areas?

(22:21) - Economic impact on suburban drone delivery

(26:01) - Challenges in the delivery drone industry

(33:12) - What factors make places like Texas particularly appealing for startups and investors in the consumer business sector? What should be the focus of startups in the drone delivery space: profitability or scalability?

(40:02) - Can AI-generated models help optimize drone delivery services?

(52:56) - Future of on-demand delivery and the impending challenges

(65:12) - Competitive Advantage and Unique Value Proposition of Manna

(67:48) - Quick Fire Round