THE WEIGHT OF CHAINS PODCAST

malagurski

Geopolitics from a local perspective.

Episodes

  1. AARON PALACIOS: I was threatened for supporting Serbs! | The Weight of Chains Podcast #008

    Apr 1

    AARON PALACIOS: I was threatened for supporting Serbs! | The Weight of Chains Podcast #008

    Tonight’s guest is geopolitical commentator Aaron Palacios — an American analyst who has drawn attention online for his commentary on global politics, Western foreign policy, and the Balkans. Aaron’s story is an unusual one. As an American who developed a strong interest in Serbia and the wider Balkan region, he began researching the history of the Yugoslav wars, the Dayton framework, and the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As he started speaking publicly about these topics — especially Republika Srpska and the way the region is portrayed in Western media — he also faced significant pushback and even the loss of social-media platforms, something he has discussed openly in Serbian interviews. Today the Balkans remain tied to larger geopolitical shifts — from tensions between global powers to debates about sovereignty, international intervention, and media narratives about the region. At the same time, the world is witnessing escalating crises elsewhere — from the growing confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran to political upheaval in places like Venezuela. Tonight we’ll talk about Aaron’s personal journey into Balkan politics, the controversies he encountered along the way, and how events in places like Bosnia, Republika Srpska, and Serbia fit into the broader geopolitical landscape. Host: Boris Malagurski Video, Editing & Design: Pavle Vasiljević - vpx Media

    1h 42m
  2. JAN OBERG: The Western Empire is going down! | The Weight of Chains Podcast #007

    Mar 25

    JAN OBERG: The Western Empire is going down! | The Weight of Chains Podcast #007

    Tonight’s guest is someone who has spent decades studying war, peace, and the dangerous space in between. Jan Øberg is a peace researcher, author, and co-founder of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research in Sweden — an independent think tank dedicated to conflict analysis, diplomacy, and alternatives to militarized foreign policy. At a moment when global tensions are escalating — from the dangerous confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran to rising military spending across Europe and the Middle East — voices calling for diplomacy are becoming increasingly rare. Øberg has long argued that the international system has moved away from preventing conflicts and instead focuses on managing them once they explode. Tonight we’ll look at what’s driving the current wave of geopolitical confrontation, the erosion of international law, and the growing role of military alliances in shaping global politics. But we’ll also bring the conversation closer to home — to the Balkans — where the legacy of intervention and international oversight still shapes politics today, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the authority of the High Representative continues to raise questions about sovereignty, democracy, and long-term stability. In a world that seems to be drifting further from diplomacy and closer to confrontation, we’ll ask whether peace thinking still has a place in international politics — or whether the world has already entered a new era of permanent geopolitical rivalry. Host: Boris Malagurski Video, Editing & Design: Pavle Vasiljević - vpx Media

    1h 3m
  3. MARCUS PAPADOPOULOS: Ancient European nations must unite! | The Weight of Chains Podcast #006

    12/17/2025

    MARCUS PAPADOPOULOS: Ancient European nations must unite! | The Weight of Chains Podcast #006

    Tonight’s guest is one of the most direct and informed voices on international affairs. Dr. Marcus Papadopoulos is a historian, author, and commentator specializing in Russia, the former Yugoslavia, and European politics. He’s the editor of Politics First magazine and a regular on international media outlets. With a PhD in Russian and Soviet history, he’s spent years exposing the deeper forces behind the headlines — from NATO’s expansion to the West’s selective use of international law. He’s also the author of Arise, Rossiya: The Return of Russia to World Politics, a deep dive into how Russia clawed its way back onto the world stage. Marcus is known for challenging the mainstream Western narrative — whether on Ukraine, Syria, or the Balkans — and backing it up with serious historical perspective. Tonight, we’re talking about the geopolitical storm surrounding Ukraine and Russia, America’s shifting role, and the EU’s growing contradictions. But we’re also zooming in on the Balkans — especially Bosnia, where the High Representative’s attempt to disrupt democracy has raised serious questions about sovereignty and foreign overreach. Is Western policy in the region evolving — or repeating old mistakes? And more importantly, what should the world brace for in the months ahead? Host: Boris Malagurski Video, Editing & Design: Pavle Vasiljevic

    1h 8m

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Geopolitics from a local perspective.