5 Questions for Stephen Kotkin

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  • čas přidán 3. 02. 2022
  • Recorded on January 14, 2022
    Stephen Kotkin is a professor of history at Princeton and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He is the author of nine works of history, including the first two volumes of his planned three-volume history of Russian power and Joseph Stalin, Paradoxes of Power, 1878-1928 and Waiting for Hitler, 1929-1941. The premise of this show is simple: Peter Robinson poses five questions to Dr. Kotkin: what Xi Jinping, the president of China believes; what Vladimir Putin believes; whether nuclear weapons are a deterrent in the 21st century; the chances of another American renewal; and Kotkin’s rational basis for loving the United States. It’s a fascinating conversation that delves deep into one of the country’s brightest minds.
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Komentáře • 350

  • @JDAbelRN
    @JDAbelRN Před rokem +86

    I cannot express how much I admire Peter Robinson and all the extremely qualified and articulate guests he interviews. I especially appreciate the Hoover Institution at Stanford for increasing my knowledge of world politics, cultural aspects of the world's nations, and the historical aspects of the world in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Century. The generosity of presenting these lectures on CZcams to the public is a phenomenal legacy of the Hoover Institution. Thank you, so sincerely.

  • @praneetsinghbutran9477
    @praneetsinghbutran9477 Před 2 lety +727

    Uncommon Knowledge is probably the only place left online where sane discussions still take place.
    And Peter Robinson excels with every guest!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

  • @GameFap
    @GameFap Před 2 lety +99

    I'm a simple man. I see a Kotkin video, I click.

  • @ryanfitzpatrick6557
    @ryanfitzpatrick6557 Před 2 lety +634

    Stephen Kotkin is a national treasure, and a phenomenal historian. He should be renowned more than he already is

  • @JXY2019
    @JXY2019 Před 2 lety +42

    Peter Robinson should be the one who questions presidential candidates

  • @andreaspahler1132
    @andreaspahler1132 Před 2 lety +109

    Mr Robinson, please bring Stephen Kotkin back again soon - he is so good!

  • @kurtilein3
    @kurtilein3 Před 2 lety +90

    I like the format. A format i like even more is when two people just meet and talk about a series of topics but let each other take all the time needed to make their points properly. No time control, no time pressure, no interrupting. And the very best interviewers manage to do that in an interview format.

  • @CrossedSabresCOD
    @CrossedSabresCOD Před 2 lety +323

    This man is a gem. Every time he speaks, he lays out the context and then asks rhetorical questions, which makes his conclusions so much more powerful. You almost forget that he's also one of the greatest historians of Stalin and political power.

  • @minz4X
    @minz4X Před 2 lety +98

    My first time hearing Dr Stephen Kotkin and I'm so glad I found another great mind to learn from. Hope millions more people will get to watch/hear this. Thank you, Peter for such a wonderful interview!

  • @SW-lw6mt
    @SW-lw6mt Před 2 lety +128

    How awesome it must be to have him as a teacher. Cogent, rational and calm, we need more of this in these turbulent times.

  • @thomashorn5829
    @thomashorn5829 Před 2 lety +343

    Bravo to Kotkin on his optimism on the future of America. He raised my hope that we can actually get through the problems of division we face today.

  • @joannamoore4477
    @joannamoore4477 Před 2 lety +85

    I have rewatched so much Kotkin . Finally so new stuff ❤️😍🥰

  • @piercepetree7989
    @piercepetree7989 Před 2 lety +71

    Kotkin is the man!!! Can't get enough of him

  • @Rasectos
    @Rasectos Před 2 lety +337

    Finally Prof. Joe Pesci is back on the program.

    • @GameFap
      @GameFap Před 2 lety +6

      He needs to do a reading of the "funny like a clown" scene one day

    • @baryntn41
      @baryntn41 Před 2 lety +3

      You're not wrong.

    • @goldbrick2563
      @goldbrick2563 Před 2 lety +1

      Lmao

    • @qrious786
      @qrious786 Před 2 lety +3

      Quite similar sound if not the looks though similar stature.

    • @wstevenson4913
      @wstevenson4913 Před 2 lety +3

      You think I'm here to amuse you ?

  • @karenabel6218
    @karenabel6218 Před 2 lety +101

    Excellent interview. Thanks to Peter Robinson for the engaging program. Grateful that there still exists thoughtful, intelligent programming like this one.

  • @Tadicuslegion78
    @Tadicuslegion78 Před 2 lety +125

    Just sitting here patiently waiting for Stalin Volume 3

  • @douglascampbell66
    @douglascampbell66 Před 2 lety +78

    Thanks for the episode. I can listen to Stephen Kotkin for hours and hours.

  • @miguelbaca8086
    @miguelbaca8086 Před 2 lety +14

    Usually I find videos like this one or two years after they’ve been posted, but you’re telling me I’m here one hour after it was posted? That’s crazy!

  • @fondofsauce
    @fondofsauce Před 2 lety +88

    Peter is the best interviewer, in the history of such an endeavor.

  • @prommann1234
    @prommann1234 Před 2 lety +54

    8:50 I cannot help but notice, that I have kind of a similar feeling about CCP commisars at large private Chinese companies as I have about their American counterpart, the Chief Diversity,Equity and Inclusion Officer, a position with a similar function: a political commisar tasked to uphold ideological orthodoxy.

  • @chrishaidinyak4621
    @chrishaidinyak4621 Před 2 lety +5

    Thank God our country has men like Stephen Kotkin.

  • @dipdipgoose5399
    @dipdipgoose5399 Před 2 lety +29

    Stephen Kotkin - What a brilliant, brilliant man! Could listen to him everyday and twice on a Sunday.

  • @dralghuroba
    @dralghuroba Před 2 lety +38

    So I guess my Stephen Kotkin’s youtube loop that I get myself into every month or so just got one video longer.
    Amazing content.
    Keep it up Prof
    Peter you’re still the best interviewer

  • @mark91345
    @mark91345 Před 2 lety +38

    Boy, is it nice to have a person-to-person interview. And what a pleasure to have Stephen Kotkin!

  • @yvanguez2077
    @yvanguez2077 Před 2 lety +46

    Happy of your coming back Peter. You bring a refreshing source of wisdom in our new MAD environment .

  • @scienceisgod1
    @scienceisgod1 Před 2 lety +35

    Wow! There really are a few smart and reasonable people still left in this world. Glad I found them.

  • @yuxinshen7740
    @yuxinshen7740 Před 2 lety +7

    His answers to Qs 1 and 2 are very insightful. The rest is just American exceptionalism.

  • @akp167
    @akp167 Před 2 lety +11

    I have been waiting for Joe Pesci to comment on all of this for months

  • @philipford6183
    @philipford6183 Před 2 lety +27

    Just wanted to to say thank you for this. Stephen Kotkin is such an interesting speaker.

  • @narkelnaru2710
    @narkelnaru2710 Před 2 lety +6

    Thank God for Stephen Kotkin. He's the only person I can listen to on the Hoover Institution's CZcams channel.

  • @meinking22
    @meinking22 Před 2 lety +21

    Fantastic interview! Dr. Kotkin's statements about fourth generational warfare were especially pertinent and his national pride is inspirational. Thank you for sharing

  • @surenderbhutani3470
    @surenderbhutani3470 Před 2 lety +10

    An excellent dialogue. Prof Kotkin is an outstanding scholar on Russia. Prof Surender Bhutani Warsaw (Poland)

  • @davidbowick7830
    @davidbowick7830 Před 2 lety +36

    "Stephen, you're the best show in town." You guys are good together. Great information too!

  • @yessir8089
    @yessir8089 Před 2 lety +48

    So happy to see a new video with prof. Kotkin ! Thank you Uncommon knowledge.

  • @isabellaliu8409
    @isabellaliu8409 Před 2 lety +38

    I love uncommon knowledge podcast!

    • @isabellaliu8409
      @isabellaliu8409 Před 2 lety +5

      I agreed that’s why these evil countries look for political agents destroying not only the system, trying to change the constitution, being arrogant to rule of law, but also divide you from i within by provoking racism and spreading extreme far left ideology and deepening race conflicts. American as one should not vote for this kind of politicians!

  • @eoinoconnell185
    @eoinoconnell185 Před 2 lety +8

    Third time watching this (in full) and always catch words of wisdom from Kotkin that I missed previously.

  • @defective6811
    @defective6811 Před 2 lety +11

    Ive loved all of the material I've seen from the Hoover Institution thus far, but this conversation inspires me to feel responsible for the future of freedom and democracy. It inspires me to put in the work to empower myself and those within my reach to actuate a difference, rather than dream of one.

  • @EddierThanThou
    @EddierThanThou Před 2 lety +21

    I always enjoy a sit down with Kotkin. Thanks to you both.

  • @drewjackson9723
    @drewjackson9723 Před 2 lety +57

    I just now found out that this is the Peter Robinson that wrote the speech for Reagan. I’m so much more impressed with this guy now.

    • @gc2696
      @gc2696 Před 2 lety +2

      Check out his own account of how he got to write the Berlin Wall speech.
      👏🏻👏🏻✌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

    • @fretnottrustingod5053
      @fretnottrustingod5053 Před 2 lety +2

      He wrote the "tear down this wall" speech.

    • @blimolhm2790
      @blimolhm2790 Před 2 lety +1

      this show has so many great episodes to watch

    • @angieatwork1053
      @angieatwork1053 Před 2 lety

      Really?! Which speech of Reagon was written by Robinson? Would love to find out. Thanks in advance!

  • @armenalexanian
    @armenalexanian Před rokem +2

    If I were elected President I would immediately recruit Professor Kotkin to be my most senior advisor. Failure to employ his wisdom is a matter of national security.

  • @lukecockburn1140
    @lukecockburn1140 Před 2 lety +65

    Amazin! To hear from Stephen kotkin been waiting & checking regularly for a while

  • @craigharryman4500
    @craigharryman4500 Před 2 lety +12

    An hour well spent. Bravo.

  • @joethegeographer
    @joethegeographer Před 2 lety +5

    Dr. Kotkin's 1st volume of his Stalin biography is excellent! I'm working through the 2nd volume, equally good so far; both demonstrate that Dr. Kotkin is very well read in the appropriate topics.

  • @stavrosvenizelos610
    @stavrosvenizelos610 Před 2 lety +39

    Watching this extremely interesting interview after February 24th, one has to admit that no one, not even Mr. Kotkin, could guess that Russia would eventually invade Ukraine

  • @randomcommenteronyoutube1055

    Stephen Kotkin, you are an American legend. Thank you for everything you do.

  • @valleyairsolutions3026
    @valleyairsolutions3026 Před 2 lety +16

    Fucking guy is brilliantly simple we need 1000 more just like him right now

  • @TobyFan321
    @TobyFan321 Před 2 lety +9

    9:32 Insert laugh track

  • @danielstavroff1535
    @danielstavroff1535 Před 2 lety +8

    I couldn't wait to click my notification message to watch this.
    Thank you Hoover Institution!

  • @loreyao1515
    @loreyao1515 Před 2 lety +23

    Absolutely fascinating. I learned so much!

  • @looklao
    @looklao Před 2 lety +6

    I would like to see the debate between Mr. Stephen Kotkin and Mr. kishore Muhabani on the world’s views. Specially on the west and China.

  • @MrEnjoyBeats
    @MrEnjoyBeats Před 2 lety +2

    The table interview setting is great. For some reason I just can't listen to an online interview, the voices aren't as clear, it feels distant, you name it. It's great to have Peter Robinson sitting again at the table with the guest.

  • @osraneslipy
    @osraneslipy Před 2 lety +11

    This is the best analysis of what we are dealing with today that I have ever seen. Many thanks for making this discussion possible and publicly available.

  • @plankro8
    @plankro8 Před 2 lety +22

    This was great, as usual Steven is captivating and deliciously well informed, thanks guys I love youse young punks!

  • @janemackenzie6061
    @janemackenzie6061 Před 2 lety +89

    Another excellent, intriguing, rational, illuminating conversation, Peter and Stephen! I could only wish the people who need to heed the relevance of what you discussed could absorb and act upon the truths revealed. There was so much to digest that demands attention at this intersection of ideologies, policies and agendas, but most of all personalities and contrasts, moods and methodologies! The challenge is in the how to go about steering the great ship, America, away from the shoals and into the deep clear channel of nonobstructive positive thinking and effective collaborative action. Perhaps the natural attrition that appears to be taking place around the corner and the fallout/benefits from replacements will offer a satisfactory degree of compromise in principles, morals and values better aligned to steer the ship(s) of State. Steer onward, Patriots!! Thank you for enlightening us with your wisdom, knowledge, and excellent reflections this day!!🌍🌎🌏🚜🚛🚚🛻🚙🚘🇨🇦🇺🇲🏆🏆🏅🏅

  • @markhamburger5587
    @markhamburger5587 Před 2 lety +3

    "It was foreseeable. It happened before..." Kotkin is so right!

  • @friendlyfire7861
    @friendlyfire7861 Před 2 lety +6

    Yup, 5 questions over the course of an hour is about right for Peter.

  • @michaelkalinski5061
    @michaelkalinski5061 Před 2 lety +7

    I have the same opinion as prof. Kotkin of wether Putin prefer destruction of Ukraine by hybrid war, rather then direct full scale war. He once proved that by occupaying Crimea without a single shot. I am a retired Ukrainian-American professor and am watching carefully how he is preparing the same scenario to achieve the same again this time around. Hopefully, America and Europe have learned the lessons.

  • @mikelezcurra810
    @mikelezcurra810 Před 2 lety +11

    Shouldn't Mr Kotkin be at home finishing his third Stalin volume??

  • @simongraham2516
    @simongraham2516 Před 2 lety +8

    Finally, this conversation was overdue. Been searching for Stephen Kotkin interviews and podcasts for months but nothing new.

  • @DPMConnacht
    @DPMConnacht Před rokem +3

    Great discussion. I'd have loved to have had a teacher like Professor Kotkin.
    He kind of missed out on the Russian invasion of Ukraine though. As of now Russia run into a lot of trouble. Putin's partial conscription/mobilization isn't going well in Russia and his military is retreating in eastern Ukraine.

  • @jamaaldaynitelong8367
    @jamaaldaynitelong8367 Před 2 lety +34

    We need more people like him in Washington.

  • @dylanreece7991
    @dylanreece7991 Před 2 lety +6

    Tell Latin America the The United States aren't imperialist. Lol.

  • @temijinkahn511
    @temijinkahn511 Před rokem +3

    would be interesting to have a follow up interview to talk about the current state of Russia with the war in Ukraine.

  • @namehimhuman5500
    @namehimhuman5500 Před 2 lety +12

    Greetings from Russia! I watch every Kotkin video I see, his insights are incredible.

  • @tvintx9741
    @tvintx9741 Před 2 lety +13

    Absolutely phenomenal interview!

  • @yuanhaochue2889
    @yuanhaochue2889 Před 2 lety +1

    I must agree that this Guest is a realistic historian with apt historical n modern geopolitical perspectives.. ... even more he us so patient n polite to narrate his logics with such confidence n stature..
    Thank u for bringing him in ...

  • @ouimetco
    @ouimetco Před 2 lety +3

    Really appreciate Peter Robinson.

  • @wolkenpower
    @wolkenpower Před 2 lety +5

    Dr. Kotkin, please work faster and finish the 3rd volume, some of us have been waiting anxiously for years. This is emotional abuse.

  •  Před 2 lety +11

    I was expecting for Professor Kotkin views of the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Wisdom, as always.

  • @granttao7504
    @granttao7504 Před 2 lety +9

    Dear Professor Kothin: but actually, It is not that China fears US but the opposite now.

  • @veliatorrez6523
    @veliatorrez6523 Před 2 lety +8

    This was great wish I could get the written word of this interview on paper so I could read it. Never know if u tube will keep it. Very educational for me.

  • @PresterMike
    @PresterMike Před 2 lety +4

    Love to see you back Mr Robinson! Thank you for all that you do. Great talk as always

  • @Daveposting
    @Daveposting Před 2 lety +7

    I love kotkin am very excited for his next book

  • @alexball7407
    @alexball7407 Před 2 lety +7

    absolutely superb dialogue, let us hope these people are making, or advising in, foreign policy decisions

  • @--Dani
    @--Dani Před 2 lety +2

    Always enjoy Peter Robinson, great interviews, put him and Dr. Stephen Kotkin together and amazing insights come, not to mention his unparalleled books. Thanks Hoover, cant believe things like this are free, have to also give a mention to VD Hanson as well.👍

  • @jameslippincott7440
    @jameslippincott7440 Před 2 lety +4

    Thank you for uploading!

  • @Fahdalrabeayah
    @Fahdalrabeayah Před 2 lety +10

    I watched it three times
    What an amazing interview
    Thanxxxxx

  • @Cartersvillain
    @Cartersvillain Před 2 lety +6

    Waiting to see Peter on JRE already

  • @garymoffatt8292
    @garymoffatt8292 Před 2 lety +10

    riding a tiger famously has a main drawback

  • @sustsugua
    @sustsugua Před 2 lety +4

    If only I'd known that Joe Pesci was such an astute, measured, gracious, incisive commentator on world affairs...

  • @felipecortez1042
    @felipecortez1042 Před 2 lety +6

    I loved every single minute of this interview, specially the end, kotkin is such an intelligent entertaining historian

  • @frankgentile7750
    @frankgentile7750 Před 2 lety +1

    That was an amazing interview
    Thank you so much for interviewing Stephen Kotkin .

  • @cato451
    @cato451 Před 2 lety +40

    Great interview. Very insightful. Communism always fails.

  • @falldog9
    @falldog9 Před 2 lety +8

    Thank you for making this content. Two incredible minds.

  • @Blake-Urizen
    @Blake-Urizen Před 2 lety +17

    58:08 Exactly! Ironically, professional anti-elitists do not decry athletic programs, music programs, etc, but they do, for some unfathomable reason, denigrate the principle of building systems of educational opportunity that unearth and polish gems.

  • @dongaetano3687
    @dongaetano3687 Před rokem +1

    Finished the interview. Brilliant from start to finish. thanks much.

  • @janiekcarney5482
    @janiekcarney5482 Před rokem +1

    These conversations are wonderful.

  • @TheLewisLegend
    @TheLewisLegend Před 2 lety +4

    I have been waiting for a new Stephen looking update!

  • @xDooksx
    @xDooksx Před 2 lety

    We are blessed to have this information available to us. Thanks Hoover institute.

  • @hogusantos8511
    @hogusantos8511 Před 2 lety +4

    Thank you for your analysis, sir.

  • @jonikelly3905
    @jonikelly3905 Před 2 lety +1

    Brilliant conversation, thank you!!

  • @markhamburger5587
    @markhamburger5587 Před 2 lety +6

    "The Russians don't want a war in Ukraine" Wrong again.Ever since the Krim annexation it didn't matter what the Russians were thinking. Kotkin should talk to Kasparov more. The former world champion in chess is pretty much the only one who got it right.

  • @wujasmarecki
    @wujasmarecki Před 2 lety +3

    Briliant. Thank you very much!

  • @tomshea8229
    @tomshea8229 Před 2 lety +2

    Thank you so much. Education, knowledge is power.

  • @jimgregory6185
    @jimgregory6185 Před 2 lety +3

    Great discussion. Thank you. 😊

  • @jacklucas7265
    @jacklucas7265 Před 2 lety +7

    Brilliant!

  • @mathieuguillet4036
    @mathieuguillet4036 Před 2 lety +1

    Great conversation! Thank you.

  • @davidhansen1811
    @davidhansen1811 Před 2 lety +29

    Enlightening and interesting as always. Professor Kotkin is light-years ahead of this professor in his knowledge of the history of 'communism'. There is, however, and aspect that never seems to get enough 'air time' amongst commentators in general. Within what I will call 'theoretical communism' is contained what is often referred to as the 'withering away of the state'. Stalin was a die-hard dyed-in-the-wool communist? He conveniently left out of his mind and his psyche the withering away of the state part that Marx wrote about. The same is true of all such totalitarian leaders, they don't have any interest in that part of the theory of communism. And who is surprised? No one (should be). Men love many things, pleasure, money, fancy possessions, exerting some influence within their tiny spheres, admiration, they love many things. Men love POWER and enjoy exercising their will over others, the more people the better; some men enjoy it more than the sum of all other pleasures that you could ever name. I am of the opinion (highly non-expert opinion) that men like Stalin are still men, and they are capable of many 'head-games' while they are just having great fun controlling people and even killing people, on their power+ego trips (that can indeed last decades, because of the great fear of the person on the trip). To me, it is 'I and we have an ideology that serves our purposes, while we do what we do' (great evil). This handy ideology (communism, but there are lot's of choices) means that we don't have to reflect very deeply on the true morality of what we are doing. Communism is axiomatically assumed to be moral. How convenient. This kind of self-serving behaviour and psychology is very old and very human. Read what Jesus of Nazareth had to say about the self-serving self-defined righteousness of men called Pharisees in Matthew 23, the religious leaders who enjoyed defining morality and imposing it on others, without examining themselves. As is the general case, their moral high ground was nothing of the sort, but was delicious for them, just as it was for Stalin and Mao and others like them. Such leaders don't seem to mind the sycophants and perks either. Xi-Jin Ping is more toward the recovery of national pride (as Hitler was) in XJP's case, very thoroughly turning the idea of 'the sick man of Asia' on its head. The ideology his party keeps trying to sell is grade school drivel, now broadly realized as being pretty poor fare. However, the Chinese people don't really mind having drivel thrown at them as long as they eat well.

  • @thomasmazzola4760
    @thomasmazzola4760 Před 2 lety

    Brilliant discussion. Thank you!!

  • @selocan469
    @selocan469 Před rokem

    I love Uncommon Knowledge and Peter Robinson, he is doing a great job. I watched multiple session with very fine guests. Peter Robinson is a great host, he read material about or event written by the quest, knows the guest, askes fine questions and most importantly listens. Though it was a delight to watch those until now, this one took the cake. It was exquisite to watch this interview with Stephen Kotkin. I believe it was so for Peter Robinson as well since I did not see him that silent and listening to such extent before