9 Oct 2026 · 23 min
A Little History Is a Dangerous Thing | Anatol Lieven, Sofia Babkina
Why do policymakers so often reach for historical analogies — and so often get them wrong? How do nationalism, collective memory and the legacies of empire continue to shape international conflicts? And can foreign policy be guided by realism, prudence and an understanding of the limits of power? We open the sixth season of Foreign Policy, a podcast by the MGIMO Institute for International Studies, with British historian and political analyst Anatol Lieven. Our conversation explores the uses and misuses of history, post-imperial conflicts, American nationalism and ethical realism, Donald…






