World BEYOND War Ireland

China has avoided alliances, but what the United States is doing to Iran and Palestine leaves Beijing little choice. The Dengists are losing internally and this is giving way to a whole new wave of Maoists inside the Chinese political system. They are young, (fashionable,) and they are done with trying to appease US imperialism. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters" Presentation 8: Sheng Zhang Sheng Zhang examines the competing traditions shaping China’s Middle East policy, contrasting Maoist solidarity with Dengist economic priorities. Using Palestine and Iran, he explores Beijing’s political commitments, trade relationships, public opinion and diplomatic constraints. He argues that regional conflict is challenging China’s balancing strategy and strengthening Iran’s strategic importance. The discussion considers boycotts, Gulf investment, energy security, generational differences and strategic patience, asking what might push Beijing toward a clearer position as regional power shifts and tensions with Washington deepen. Sheng's Links: Sheng's Article on China-Iran Relations: muse.jhu.edu/article/991335 Association for Global Political Thought profile: globalpoliticalthought.hsite… Neutrality Studies Links: Neutrality Studies Substack: pascallottaz.substack.com Support Neutrality Studies: neutralitystudies.com/donate Neutrality Studies shop: neutralitystudies.com/shop Time Stamps 00:00 China’s competing foreign-policy traditions 04:43 Xi Jinping and the Middle East 06:37 Gaza and Chinese public opinion 13:43 Trade with Israel and the Haifa dilemma 15:48 Iran, Gulf trade and diplomatic tensions 18:54 War and China’s reassessment of Iran 28:57 Discussion: boycotts, Gaza and Gulf investment 44:11 Energy, younger generations and strategic patience #China #Geopolitics #Iran #Imperialism #Neutrality

Europe and North America are clearly on a declining trajectory, but that does not mean that have given up on their designs for World Domination. Something far more dangerous is going on. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters" Presentation 4: Nel Bonilla Nel Bonilla challenges the assumption that Western decline necessarily leads to collapse or a peaceful multipolar order. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci, she examines how weakened legitimacy can coexist with coercion, institutional survival and the obstruction of alternatives. Her account of the bunker state connects austerity, militarization and elite power. The Kyoto Symposium discussion considers European dependence, competing interests and the fragmented forces opposing the existing order, asking what shared political language, organization and institutions might make meaningful systemic change possible. Nel's Links: Worldlines: worldlinesletter.substack.co… Neutrality Studies Links: Neutrality Studies Substack: pascallottaz.substack.com Support Neutrality Studies: neutralitystudies.com/donate Neutrality Studies shop: neutralitystudies.com/shop Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Gramsci’s time of monsters 03:20 Authority, consent and coercion 08:42 Why the Cold War was an exception 15:09 Different crises and the assumption of collapse 22:40 Why a new order cannot be born 27:50 The bunker state 33:08 Q&A: state power and European dependence 50:30 Democracy, capital and political organization #Imperialism #Geopolitics #Neutrality #Hegemony #Europe

Ukrainian Democracy at work. Look hard at what the future of EU looks like.