Politics in the Rearview Mirror

Generative AI's Impact on Work: A Data-based Review of 2022-2026 and its Implications for Higher Education

Are we headed for a total white-collar wipeout, or is generative AI just a "stochastic parrot" prone to producing unreliable slop? Drawing on systematic data from 2022 to 2026—including job postings, software uploads to GitHub and iOS Apps launched, and a dramatic rise in AI-generated legal filings in US courts —this episode explores why the predicted mass unemployment hasn't arrived, but a profound white-collar transformation has. Tune in to discover why the real revolution isn't about the jobs we're losing, but how the work we do is being fundamentally redefined. This is Prof. Patrick Kuhn's final episode as producer and host of the podcast, as he is leaving Durham. Dr. Chenchen Zhang is taking over the production. To learn more about Chenchen and her research, visit her website at https://chenchenzhang.net/. Music: The Good News by SHANTI from https://tunetank.com/track/263-the-good-news/

The Cost of Conscience: Why Effective Boycotts Must Hurt

In today’s world, our wallets are often our loudest megaphones, but when we choose to boycott a brand or a global event, what are we actually doing? Whether you are passionate about consumer activism or skeptical of "virtue signaling," this episode offers a deep, philosophical look at the challenges and opportunities of boycotts. Joining this episode to navigate the complex moral landscape of boycotting—from its historical roots in 1780s Ireland to modern-day protests against the Eurovision Song Contest and the FIFA World Cup - is Dr. Brian Carey, an Associate Professor in Political Theory at Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs. His research explores the intersections of political hypocrisy, collective action, and civil disobedience. Together, we tackle the difficult questions: Must a boycott have a "reasonable prospect of success" to be ethically justified? Is it possible to be an effective activist while still being labeled a "hypocrite" for shopping at Amazon? And when, exactly, is it time to stop? To learn more about Dr. Carey and his research, visit his website: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/brian-carey/ Bibliography: Carey, Brian 2024. Hypocrisy and Epistemic Injustice. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 27, 353–370 Collins, Stephanie 2019. Group Duties: Their Existence and Their Implications for Individuals. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Music: The Good News by SHANTI from https://tunetank.com/track/263-the-good-news/

Peeking Through the Fog of War: Your Watchlist for the War in Iran

On February 28th, 2026, Israel and the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury. While the headlines are filled with news of airstrikes on Tehran and the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the true trajectory of this war will be decided far from the front lines. In this episode, we peek through the "fog of war" to offer a watchlist for the coming weeks. We dive into why the Strait of Hormuz has become a primary battlefield of financial warfare and what implications the war has for China and Russia. We explore the precarious position of Arab Gulf states, the high-stakes leadership vacuum in Tehran, and the domestic political cracks forming in both Israel and the United States—including the rift within the MAGA movement. If you want to understand the news before it happens, this is the guide you need. Music: The Good News by SHANTI from https://tunetank.com/track/263-the-good-news/

Midnight Hammer, Protests and The Geneva Talks: US-Iranian Diplomacy Under the Shadow of War

**Recorded on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, before the start of the war on 28 February 2026 ** Is the Iranian regime facing a point of no return? Following the largest domestic uprising since 1979—which saw five million people take to the streets—and a brutal state crackdown resulting in an estimated 36,500 civilian deaths, the Islamic Republic finds itself in a desperate "survival mode". Despite recent US aerial bombardments of its nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer, the regime has made a startling pivot back to the negotiating table in Geneva. In this episode, we sit down with Professor Anoush Ehteshami, the Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in International Relations at Durham University and a world-renowned expert on Persian Gulf geopolitics. Prof. Ehteshami dissects the "narrow landing zone" for a new nuclear deal with the Trump administration, the devastating impact of a plummeting Rial, and the looming shadow of succession as the 86-year-old Supreme Leader faces internal power struggles and allegations of systemic corruption. Join us for a close look at the complex interstate relationships of the Middle East and the domestic fractures threatening to unseat one of the region's most enduring powers. To learn more about Durham's revised MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/school-government-international-affairs/postgraduate-study/taught-courses/ma-politics-and-international-relations-of-the-middle-east/ To learn more about Prof. Ehteshami research visit his website: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/a-ehteshami/ The BRI Dialogues can be accessed on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@bridialogues1185 Earlier Politics in the Rearview Mirror episodes related to this one are: - Season 5, Episode 1: From the Bazaar to the Barricades: What Makes the Current Protest in Iran Different (with Dr. Kouhi-Esfahani) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rppWheYmghvkHqVHYcHkn - Season 3, Episode 8: Israel Strikes Iran: Why Now, What Comes Next, and Consequences (with Prof. Ehteshami) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4waVMjEW1i1iMd4tVIR8L8 Music: The Good News by SHANTI from https://tunetank.com/track/263-the-good-news/

Partner, Competitor, Rival: Managing Permanent Tension in EU-China Relations

In recent years, Europe's China strategy "change through trade" has faced reality: China is simultaneously a partner, an economic competitor, and a systematic rival. As the EU struggles to find its footing between a rising China and an increasingly unreliable US, this episode explores the EU's struggles of "de-risking" its relationship with China and its quest for strategic autonomy. To navigate this complex maze, we are joined by two core members of the MA Politics and International Relations of East Asia: Dr. Gordon Cheung, an Associate Professor in International Relations of China, who looks at how the EU's integration history serves as both a blueprint and a warning for new trade blocs in East Asia and how it shaped EU-China relations in past decades, and Dr. Ferran Perez-Mena, an Assistant Professor of International Relations of East Asia, who pulls back the curtain on the internal political tug-of-war within the EU. From the high-voltage "EV war" to the influence of "national spoilers" like Hungary, we delve into the complex, often contradictory forces shaping the future of EU-China relations. To learn more about Durham's revised MA Politics and International Relations of East Asia, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/school-government-international-affairs/postgraduate-study/taught-courses/ma-politics-and-international-relations-of-east-asia/ To learn more about Drs. Cheung and Perez Mena's research visit their websites: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/g-c-k-cheung/ and https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/ferran-perez-mena/ Literature: Fix, L. (2026). Europe's Next Hegemon: The Perils of German Power. Foreign Affairs. Online at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/germany/europes-next-hegemon-liana-fix [Last accessed: 19 February 2026]. Lamour, C. (2024). Orbán Placed in Europe: Ukraine, Russia and the Radical-Right Populist Heartland. Geopolitics, 29(4), 1297–1323. Lavery S. and D. Schmid (2021). European Integration and the New Global Disorder. Journal of Common Market Studies 59(5), 1322-1338. Livermore, D. (2024). Orbán’s ‘Diplomacy’ reveals a vulnerable West. Europe’s Edge. Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Online at https://cepa.org/article/orbans-diplomacy-reveals-a-vulnerable-west/ [Last accessed: 19 February 2026]. Miró, J. (2023). Responding to the global disorder: the EU’s quest for open strategic autonomy. Global Society, 37(3), 315–335. Sanahuja, J. A., & López Burian, C. (2024). Variations in the geopolitics of the neo-patriotic far-right and the challenge to the international order. CEBRI-Journal, 3(11), 17–36. Segal, G. (1999). Does China Matter? Foreign Affairs. Online at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/1999-09-01/does-china-matter [Last accessed: 19 February 2026]. Music: The Good News by SHANTI from https://tunetank.com/track/263-the-good-news/