The Series “Where do I start?” is an attempt at self-education for contemporary issues, history and radical theory.
Every time with a selection of 3 videos, 3 podcasts, 3 articles.
(Send us a pm if you would like to cover a specific topic).

Episode 3: World War III

Genocide in Gaza, near war between Iran and Israel, the involvement of Lebanon, the Houthis, etc.

What is happening in the Middle East?

Meanwhile, war in Ukraine, militarism, and intensified war preparations in Europe.

Are we heading towards World War III? Has it already started? Or are we just witnessing sporadic conflicts?

Below is some material that helps us understand the geopolitical tensions in our world today. Disclaimer: We understand that almost all sources are the products of western perspectives and oftentimes of bourgeoisie media. We consider these resources useful for our understanding of each topic, but we do not necessarily support everything that is stated in these sources. Please do send us any more suggestions you might have, especially if they are produced by alternative and independent media. 

👇All the links are on the titles.

3 Articles:

1. The end of the UN’s world order? (Le Monde Diplomatique  2018)
   “The current chaos began in the 1990s, when the 1945 UN charter was overridden by a new interventionist ideology.”
    
2. The global South defies the West on Ukraine (Le Monde Diplomatique 2022)
   “The US and the West claim Russia’s war on Ukraine is a clash between democracy and autocracy. Elsewhere, past US military interventions, and self-serving failures to act, produce different conclusions.”
   
3. BRICS seek to rebalance the present global order (Le Monde Diplomatique 2023)
   The BRICS group began as an economist’s catchy acronym for four emerging economies. It’s now a growing international organisation that many states are eager to join. What’s its agenda?

3 videos:

1. Middle East & North Africa Explained | World101 (Council on Foreign Relations)
   Geopolitical analysis of the reasons that make the Middle East the epicenter of conflicts. Does not take role of US and other great powers into account. (2020, 9’)
   
2. Russia, China, Iran: Front against the West (Arte)
   For German/French speakers, a long and detailed documentary on the alliance between Russia, China, Iran, from a EU perspective (2024, 94’)
   
3. How to stop World War III (Jacobin)
   “For Episode 6 of “The International,” journalist Abby Martin examines NATO’s global footprint and explains why this “defensive alliance” might end up causing World War III.

3 podcasts:

1. What do current conflicts tell us about the world today and our prospects for peace? (King’s College War Studies)
   “Dr Marina Miron, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of War Studies, explores whether we are in a time of increased conflicts, what lies behind the current wars, NATO’s role and what we need to do differently if we want a more peaceful future” (2024, 44’)
   
2. Is China intent on remaking the world order? (Le Monde diplomatique)
   A deconstruction of the dominant narrative of China pursuing a  master plan to remake the world in its own image.
   
3. Are we in a New Cold War? (Novara Media)
   An interview with Varoufakis about China, Gaza and the new ‘cold war in the cloud’.