Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s eleventh appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the ongoing war in Iran, as well as the war in Russia and Ukraine, our cold war with China, and the future possibilities of World War III. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024).

Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalism

Richard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.com

Economic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate

OUTLINE

00:00 China, Iran, and the Implosion of the West

13:00 The Irreconcilable Gulf Between Russia and the West

16:01 Europe’s Hard World War II Lesson

21:20 Europe’s Final Collapse Is Coming

28:42 How China Is Methodically Conquering the World

35:44 Russia’s Siberian Advantage

39:15 Marx, War, and Economic Decline

52:39 Why Iran Will Always Control the Strait of Hormuz