Uncover the fascinating complexities of global conflicts with our esteemed guest, Alex Deane.  As an experienced historian, Alex uses his deep knowledge of history as a lens to interpret the Israeli-Hamas conflict. We tackle the semantics around referring to Hamas as a 'militant' organization, and Alex shares why he finds this classification gravely misleading. 

Shifting from the Middle East, we cast our gaze towards Eastern Europe and the brewing political tensions. Together, we dissect Russia's actions against Ukraine, China's response to Taiwan's disavowal of the "real China" label, and the achievements of Taiwan's liberal democracy. Moving across the globe to the United States, we take on the sensitive issue of gun control, evoking painful memories of the Maine mass shooting and a look back at the American military's presence in Maine during WWII. 

However, our journey doesn't stop there. We dive into the turbulent waters of internal politics, examining the challenges facing the Conservative Party and drawing parallels with John Major's government in the 1990s. We also probe into the potential repercussions of tactical voting, by-elections, and recall petitions for MPs. Steering the conversation towards energy politics, we evaluate the implications of Crispin Blunt's resignation, the 'just stop oil' protests, and the Green Party's prospects in the upcoming elections. Finally, we delve into the London mayoral election, specifically scrutinizing the impact of Susan Hall's candidacy on issues such as policing and inequality in London. This is an episode brimming with dynamic discussions and profound insights - an absolute must-listen!

Commons Sense Podcast is a podcast produced by Lars Swann and Linda Duberley/

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