Chaos Theory explores the complexity of a fragmenting world through conversations between Hassan Damluji and Mike Martin. They look behind current events to examine the political calculations facing leaders as the international order shifts. Hassan is a former Gates Foundation executive who advises governments and international organizations on global challenges, while Mike is a former British Army officer, author on conflict, and elected British MP. Together they discuss war, peace, crisis, and development, aiming to expose the deeper forces shaping global affairs.
Episodes
Which Regime Is Next To Be Toppled? Corruption, Inflation and Gen-Z Revolution
Hassan and Mike return, in-person, to discuss the recent 'blue tsunami' in the US midterm elections through the lens of 'regime change', looking at shocking political repudiations across the world over the past few years.Is it simply 'anti-corruption' that ties electoral shocks and revolutions in South Asia (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, India) and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria,
Battle for the Red Sea: 3 Wars You've Never Heard Of
Hassan and Mike offer an insider perspective on the connected wars for control of the Bab El-Mandeb strait and access to the Red Sea. Following Houthi attacks on Riyadh and America's reluctance to ensure Saudi Arabia's security, can Europe fill the defence vacuum in the Gulf? If this is a cataclysmic moment for the Middle East's strategic geopolitics, what does that mean for China in i
Will Russia and America Break Europe Apart?
Hassan draws on his expertise in pandemic preparedness and prevention to assess the headlines about the plague in Russia. Mike, back from Parliamentary recess, considers the latest phase of Russia’s war on Ukraine and how Europe is being squeezed between the pincers of Putin and Trump.They discuss why we should not expect Russia to be open about what really happened, but why there is no need to pa
Can Democracy Survive AI Imperialism?
Welcome back to Chaos Theory! Hassan has just returned from the UN General Assembly, where winning the AI race was top of the agenda. Mike's party has just won a council by-election against a Reform campaign that was heavily backed by crypto billionaire money. AI is new, but we’ve seen this movie before. The last time a few countries pulled ahead in a technological race, the result was colonia
How Iran and Ukraine Became One War
Why has Iran's regime survived a war with Israel and the US - two of the world's most advanced militaries? Why can't Russia, with one of the most powerful armed forces, defeat Ukraine? And what do these two conflicts, thousands of miles apart, have to do with each other? In the first episode of Chaos Theory, Hassan Damluji and Mike Martin MP argue that Ukraine and Iran are merging into a sing
