12 January 2026 · 97 min

How Europe is Becoming the Next Collapsed Empire - Razib Khan

With Razib Khan · Hosted by Julian Issa

What happens when economic decline, cultural identity, and technological acceleration all collide at once?

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How Europe is Becoming the Next Collapsed Empire - Razib Khan

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About this episode

What happens when economic decline, cultural identity, and technological acceleration all collide at once?

Julian sits down with Razib Khan to explore the forces reshaping the US, Europe, and the wider West. They unpack why tariffs, zero-sum thinking, and reactionary politics may be symptoms of deeper structural decline, while also examining why optimism, migration patterns, and cultural norms have historically fueled American dynamism. From Brexit and European stagnation to the rise of populism and questions around national identity, the discussion challenges easy narratives from all sides.

The conversation goes further, tackling some of today’s most sensitive and consequential questions: immigration and integration, multiculturalism, religion in pluralistic societies, and whether shared values still exist in the modern West. They also explore the role of personality, genetics, and culture in shaping ambition and innovation, before turning to the future—AI, automation, democracy, and what human flourishing could realistically look like in a rapidly changing world. Thought-provoking, nuanced, and deliberately uncomfortable at times, this episode invites listeners to think beyond headlines and engage with the deeper patterns shaping our collective future.