Caspian Report (excellent Geo Stratetgic analysis by Shirvan who lives in Azerbaijan) has regular Q&A videos spanning many topics.

YouTube title references Brexit, but that’s not my topic here.

This bit at the 5:05 time mark is worth sharing.

Book reference: “The Road to Somewhere”

“Anywhere vs Somewhere” analysis of the rise of Nationalist sentiments across the world. “Why the Left and Liberal Order is steadily losing power”

Anywheres: College educated progressive individuals, who hold non traditional beliefs to National Identity and have largely enjoyed higher education. Identity derived from Jobs and Qualifications.

Somewheres: Did not have the means to go to University, and ascribe their identity from where they live and who they are.

For the past 3 decades, the political elite have ignored the concerns of the “Somewheres” regarding immigration, family policy, etc. “Now they are hitting back”

Proposed counter to rising Nationalist / Populist Forces: Instead of telling people what to believe or what is good for them. Politicians need to learn to work with the expectations of the Public, even if those expectations are distorted by misinformation or fear mongering. More attention must be paid to how National Identity is constructed, maintained and threatened.

(Missing insight: Can’t Political Elites just use rising Nationalism / Populism for their own Nefarious purposes, even encouraging Nationalism / Populism as they have done in the past?)

Caspian Report normally adopts a “Realist” perspective of Grand Strategy (e.g. Morality doesn’t matter, Nations must take actions to secure their position in the world based on their individual circumstances, etc.)