141 episodes

History helps us understand the cultures and conflicts of the changing multipolar world. But there is so much to read! Where to begin? Let Jeff Rich, writer historian, and ex-government official, be your guide to some quality world history. Appreciate world literature, discuss world crises and meet intriguing historians. Free weekly newsletter at jeffrich.substack.com

The Burning Archive Jeff Rich

    • History
    • 4.9 • 10 Ratings

History helps us understand the cultures and conflicts of the changing multipolar world. But there is so much to read! Where to begin? Let Jeff Rich, writer historian, and ex-government official, be your guide to some quality world history. Appreciate world literature, discuss world crises and meet intriguing historians. Free weekly newsletter at jeffrich.substack.com

    142. Sophie Loy-Wilson on the intertwined history of Australia and China

    142. Sophie Loy-Wilson on the intertwined history of Australia and China

    This Burning Archive interview tackles a critical question: Can Australia and China rewrite their shared Asian history? Delving into the subtleties of China-Australia history, the Burning Archive interviews a brilliant Australian historian who specializes in Australian Chinese communities, Sophie Loy-Wilson.

    Sophie shows how we all have a capacity for a more "generous approach to storytelling". We can rewrite history, without relying on political leaders. Discover how historical narratives have shaped international relations, and how a shift in perspective can unlock new ways to connect across borders. Learn about the historical factors shaping the relationship between these two nations and how a reframing of the past can pave the way for a more compassionate future.

    And as a special bonus Sophie Loy-Wilson (Senior Lecturer in History at Sydney University) offers her top three history book recommendations to learn about the history of China through the lives of individuals.

    The article "Ruptured Histories: Australia, China and Japan", co-authored by Sophie Loy-Wilson and Andrew Levidis in History Australia can be read for free here https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14490854.2024.2312210

    Sophie Loy-Wilson's book, Australians in Shanghai is available at good public and university libraries and here https://amzn.to/3JkFsOF.

    Be sure to like and subscribe to the Burning Archive. If you enjoy this content, you can support my work by contributing through the Thanks button.

    You can read more insights into world history, geopolitics and culture today by signing up to my free weekly newsletter on world history, culture and geopolitics, the Burning Archive, at https://jeffrich.substack.com.

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    • 1 hr 1 min
    141. History, Destruction and Sebald, The Rings of Saturn

    141. History, Destruction and Sebald, The Rings of Saturn

    W.G. Sebald, The Rings of Saturn is an unclassifiable book - essayistic semi-fiction that traces the history of destruction and is haunted by the horrors of war and the Holocaust. I reflect on Sebald's histories of destruction, based on my recent essay at jeffrich.substack.com, and read from the first chapter of The Rings of Saturn.

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    From the Burning Archive: Essays and Fragments 2015-2022 

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    Gathering Flowers of the Mind: Collected Poems 1996-2020

    https://amzn.to/3u2Yh56






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    • 1 hr 9 min
    140. How to mend Australia-China relationships: a conversation with Warwick Powell

    140. How to mend Australia-China relationships: a conversation with Warwick Powell

    Warwick Powell and I had a wide-ranging conversation about Australia-China relationships, and how history has shaped the tensions in the relationship today. But history can also show us how Australia, Asia and America can learn to live together at peace with a multipolar world. Please enjoy this wonderful, inspiring conversation with Australia-China expert, Warwick Powell.

    Warwick Powell is an adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology, author, chairman of Smart Trade Networks, former adviser to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and a frequent commentator on geopolitics and Australia-Asia relationships.

    You can follow Warwick Powell on X (Twitter) at: https://twitter.com/baoshaoshan

    Warwick recommended two YouTube sites towards the end of the interview that can help you see the reality of contemporary daily life in China more clearly, and away from the often polarising rhetoric of politics. These sites are
    Blondie in China ( @BlondieinChina ) - https://www.youtube.com/@BlondieinChina
    Katherine’s journey to the East ( @kats_journey_east ) - https://www.youtube.com/@kats_journey_east

    You can also watch my discussion with  @TheDuran  about AUKUS, China and Australia's role in a multipolar world here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VutieNNCkDc&t=1377s

    Jeff Rich (the Burning Archive) writes on world history and cultural affairs, and offers courses to help you see the world more clearly, and connect with the world more compassionately, with some quality world history.

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    World History Explorers Season I, Civilizations has started. Join now, and read with me a modern masterpiece of world history, Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Civilizations - https://amzn.to/3OaNr3T

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    From the Burning Archive: Essays and Fragments 2015-2022
    https://amzn.to/4b7cyyw
    Gathering Flowers of the Mind: Collected Poems 1996-2020
    https://amzn.to/3u2Yh56


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    • 1 hr 18 min
    139. A conversation with Sam Roggeveen on defence, diplomacy and Australia's role in a multipolar world

    139. A conversation with Sam Roggeveen on defence, diplomacy and Australia's role in a multipolar world

    How can smart defence strategies and multilateral diplomacy avoid a US-China war in Asia - for example over Taiwan? Have American and Australian advocates of war with China over Taiwan really thought about the realities of a war with China? How should middle powers - like Australia, Indonesia and the ASEAN nations - adapt their defence and foreign policies to the new realities of war, Asian strengths and US power today?

    My conversation with Sam Roggeveen about his book The Echidna Strategy: Australia's Search for Power and Peace asked these fundamental questions that concern everyone around the world. What would a war with China really be like, and how can defence - the echidna strategy - and some creative diplomacy avoid a US-China war in Asia.

    Our conversation covered Australian defence and foreign policy, AUKUS and nuclear submarines, the upcoming Australia-ASEAN meeting in Melbourne (March 2024), China, Indonesia, regional order in Asia and the West Pacific, lessons of the Ukraine war, & the USA.

    Is the USA becoming just a normal great power, and what does that mean for other countries all around the world?

    A big thank you to Sam Roggeveen, who is the Director, International Security at the Lowy Institute

    Links to Sam's book, The Echidna Strategy: Australia's Search for Power and Peace (2023)

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    • 56 min
    138. Civilizations of the Ocean - the Atlantic and the rise and fall of the West

    138. Civilizations of the Ocean - the Atlantic and the rise and fall of the West

    How did Western civilization rise up from the Atlantic Ocean? How did the idea of the West get confused with the military alliance of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation? And how do we tell the story of the West if we view civilisation as a process, and civilisations as always plural?

    You can explore the world history of civilizations, as discussed in this podcast, by joining me in reading in Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Civilizations. Join my ⁠⁠World History Explorers⁠⁠ world history book club, with Season 1 starting on March 1.


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    • 39 min
    137. Civilisations of the Sea - Sri Vijaya in the Indonesian 'Middle Ages'

    137. Civilisations of the Sea - Sri Vijaya in the Indonesian 'Middle Ages'

    There have been many civilizations of the sea - the Vikings, the Ancient Greeks, the great Polynesian navigators of the Pacific. But among the most intriguing is Sri Vijaya that thrived in what we think of as Indonesia, in the 'middle ages'.

    You can explore the world history of civilizations, as discussed in this podcast, by joining me in reading in Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Civilizations. Join my ⁠World History Explorers⁠ world history book club, with Season 1 starting on March 1.


    ▼ ▽ SEE THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY WITH MY COURSES

    World History Explorers and all my courses ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://courses.jeffrichwriter.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Join 200+ email subscribers who receive insights from world history and fragments of my reading weekly. 

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    • 20 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

bellaFreddie ,

Jeff Rich’s podcast

I found this guy’s podcast after reading his essay in Pearls and Irritations. Definitely worth a listen as he chats in a low keyed style about critical issues of our time.

DouggySpuggy ,

An engaging and fun listen

A staple for a long drive. Always a great listen.

superpicklema ,

Insightful!

A well researched and hosted podcast which does a great job of giving deep historical context to modern times and events!

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