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Rear Vision

251 EpisodesProduced by ABC RadioWebsite

We tease out the complex history behind those baffling events in the news.

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Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

How did it come to this — the energy crisis we had to have?

July 3rd, 2022

29:05


Australia has everything it needs to produce electricity - coal, gas, sun, and wind. Yet we've wound up with energy shortages and huge price hikes. How did we get here - why is our energy system in …

United States Supreme Court

June 28th, 2022

29:40


The selection of a new justice to the United States Supreme Court is frequently controversial and almost always political. It’s a …

The economics of Inflation—Science, Craft, or Snake Oil

June 26th, 2022

29:07


None of us need to be told that prices are going up or that interest rates are following. We are clearly now in a period of …

Not Quite Australian - What’s Australia’s problem with New Zealanders?

June 19th, 2022

29:06


Despite being the closest of neighbours, for the last decade there’s been a worsening Trans-Tasman spat as New Zealanders in Australia are refused basic services and often deported. The new Albanese …

The NRA—Its history and its influence on the gun debate in America

June 12th, 2022

29:05


It’s hard-to-understand America’s relationship with guns. Gun deaths and school shooting are commonplace in American communities …

Predicting the weather—a history of the forecast

June 5th, 2022

29:06


We take for granted the accuracy of predictions and warnings put out by our weather forecasters. Once, weather predictions were …

Zero-COVID in China—the social economic and political cost

May 29th, 2022

29:03


While the rest of the world is learning to live with COVID-19, China is still following its zero-COVID policy with citywide …

Sri Lanka—failed state

May 22nd, 2022

29:08


Street protests and violence have accompanied Sri Lanka’s worst economic downturn since independence in 1948. What is behind the …

Trouble in the ‘family’—Australia’s relationship with its Pacific neighbours

May 15th, 2022

29:06


The recent signing of the security pact between China and the Solomon Island has sent shock waves through the Federal election …

The Marcos revival—from pariahs to the presidency in the Philippines

May 8th, 2022

29:05


If Ferdinand Marcos Junior wins this week’s presidential election as expected, it will cap off a most remarkable come-back for a family exiled in the 1980s after stripping the country of billions and …

Roe v Wade

May 4th, 2022

29:32


A draft ruling leaked to the press suggests the US Supreme Court is preparing to overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark ruling …

Germany’s Ruhr—from coal mines to culture

May 1st, 2022

29:08


For over one hundred years, the Ruhr region was the grimy, polluted heart of Germany’s coal and steel. Today it has no coal …

The Greens—politics and the environment

April 23rd, 2022

29:06


In this year’s election campaign, well-funded independents are arguing for a better approach to managing climate change. What …

Chocolate—the world’s most seductive treat and its dark shadow

April 17th, 2022

29:09


Chocolate is one of our most popular indulgences but there is a darker side to the industry – one connected with colonialism, the …

President Emmanuel Macron—his brilliant career

April 10th, 2022

29:06


Five years ago, Emmanuel Macron became France’s youngest-ever president at the age of thirty-nine. It was a stunning victory, the …

The history of international criminal law

April 7th, 2022

25:29


Human history is littered with atrocities and genocides committed during war and for centuries civilised nations have struggled …

The far-right in France—where does it come from and why is it so popular?

April 3rd, 2022

29:07


The two far-right candidates, Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour, are expected to do well in the forthcoming French presidential election. Why is the Right so strong in France and what is its connection …

Brisbane—city of floods

March 27th, 2022

28:57


Brisbane is a city all too familiar with floods, despite decades of dredging, straightening and dam building. Although each flood is remembered for the community spirit and resilience shown by the …

Cyclone Tracy—one of Australia’s worst natural disasters and what the government did

March 20th, 2022

29:06


Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin early on Christmas morning in 1974. Within hours, a coordinated national response was underway and within three years the city had been rebuilt - better than before. How did …

Gabriel Borich and Chile’s rebirth

March 13th, 2022

29:05


At thirty-six, Chile’s new president is only just old enough to hold the job. Does he have what it takes to help Chile finally …

Russia and China—a special relationship or a new world order?

March 6th, 2022

29:06


China and Russia have what they describe as a very special relationship, one that some analysts claim is establishing a new world …

Barbados farewells the Queen—any lessons for Australia?

February 27th, 2022

29:05


In November, Barbados, a tiny Caribbean island, replaced the Queen as its head of state with a Barbadian president. How did Barbados succeed where Australia failed and what does it mean to be a …

Conflict in Ukraine—Putin’s fear of NATO

February 20th, 2022

29:07


For weeks, Russian troops have massed on the Ukrainian border. It’s still unclear if Europe will be plunged into war or if a …

Passports, borders and identity—the story of the essential travel item

February 13th, 2022

29:05


As Fortress Australia crumbles, Rear Vision dusts off the history of the passport.

The power of the purse—the battle between the states and the commonwealth

February 6th, 2022

29:05


Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, state and territory leaders have emerged as key players in dealing with the crisis. They have also increasing taken the lead on issues like climate change, gay …

Big Pharma and the Covid windfall

January 30th, 2022

29:06


Most of the drug companies that developed Covid vaccines have made massive profits. But where does the money and scientific research for these medical breakthroughs come from and who shares in the …

The week that changed the world—President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 and his meeting with Chairman Mao

January 23rd, 2022

29:06


China is one of the key diplomatic and economic power on the planet today. Yet just 50 years ago it was one of the poorest and …

Psychedelics—the curious journey from medical lab to party drug and back again

January 16th, 2022

29:06


Around the world there is a rapidly growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that psychedelic drugs are safe and highly effective when used under medical supervision. Why did promising …

Tax cuts for the rich—do we all benefit?

January 9th, 2022

29:06


For fifty years, governments have cut taxes for corporations and the wealthiest people, arguing that this will stimulate the …

Politics in the bush—the story of the Nats

January 2nd, 2022

29:03


Barnaby Joyce’s return to the leadership of the National Party is bound to stir things up in Australian politics. Where does he …

The Suez Canal—ambition, colonial greed, revolution and the ditch that reshaped global trade.

December 26th, 2021

29:06


The Suez Canal is one of the world’s most vital trade routes. It’s the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe and about 12% of global trade passes through it each year. But the Canal is situated …

Edward and Harry—the men who left the royal family

December 19th, 2021

29:06


Prince Harry’s decision to renounce his royal role was not the first time a member of the British monarchy decided to opt out. …

False accounting—why calories don’t add up

December 12th, 2021

29:07


What are calories and can you lose weight by eating fewer of them? The story of the calorie shadows the Western struggle with diet and obesity.

Bangladesh—the creation of a nation

December 5th, 2021

29:07


Fifty years ago, a genocidal crackdown, a war of liberation, an overwhelming flood of refugees and finally, military conflict between India and Pakistan, gave birth to a new nation.

Medical conspiracy theories through the ages

November 28th, 2021

28:57


Despite popular belief, medical conspiracy theories aren’t new. What can we learn from their ancient history and about the people …

A history of pharmacy—from apothecaries to Australia’s protected industry

November 21st, 2021

29:10


Pharmacists stopped making their own medicines and began selling ready-made drugs almost a century ago. In Australia, it led to an unusual arrangement that has put chemists at odds with doctors and …

Superpower rivalry or a new Cold War?

November 14th, 2021

29:07


Commentators are talking about a new Cold War between the world’s two great powers but are there any similarities between the …

Anti-corruption commissions—‘star chambers’ or the best way to ensure integrity in public life?

November 7th, 2021

29:06


What role do these agencies play in ensuring that politicians and the rest of our public sector behave the right way?

Samoa—a bumpy ride for the first female prime minister

October 31st, 2021

29:11


Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, elected earlier this year, is taking a strong stand on climate change, challenging the Australian government to do more to cut carbon emissions.

E-books—winners and losers

October 24th, 2021

29:06


The e-book has turned the book industry upside down affecting bookshops, publishers, authors, libraries and readers.

Taiwan—isolated but not alone

October 17th, 2021

29:09


Taiwan is one of the world’s key economies, yet it belongs to no international organisations and isn’t a member of the UN. Why is …

Out of the office—from telecommuting to working from home

October 10th, 2021

29:05


While working from home during the pandemic has been a novel and sometimes difficult experience for office workers, companies and …

Cybercrime

October 3rd, 2021

28:57


While cybercrime and cybersurveillance are commonplace today, how many of us understand their effect our everyday lives? What’s revealed in the history of cybercrime, from its rudimentary beginnings …

Germany after Merkel

September 26th, 2021

29:05


Many Germans have only ever known one chancellor – Angela Merkel. Voters are about to choose a new leader for the first time in sixteen years and the election is being described as the most open and …

Rural health care—from bush medicine to the pandemic

September 19th, 2021

28:57


The spread of the delta variant of Covid from the cities to rural and regional Australia has exposed weaknesses in the health system. Rear Vision traces the story of rural health care from bush …

The September 11 attacks—rumours, conspiracy theories and the day that changed aviation forever

September 12th, 2021

29:04


Almost three thousand people died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. All planes were grounded and rumours and conspiracy theories swept the internet as a shocked nation tried to make …

Carbon capture and storage—an expensive distraction or the answer to global warming?

September 5th, 2021

29:10


The federal government believes the way to lower Australia’s carbon emissions is through technology and one of the technologies …

Politics in the bush—the story of the Nats

August 29th, 2021

29:03


Barnaby Joyce’s return to the leadership of the National Party is bound to stir things up in Australian politics. Where does he …

Afghanistan—the land of failed invasion

August 22nd, 2021

29:06


Afghanistan has been invaded by foreign armies five times in less than 200 years. Every occupation ultimately failed. What can we …

Who are the Taliban?

August 15th, 2021

29:06


The Taliban emerged from the rubble of the Soviet-Afghan war and in turn were ousted by the US led War on Terror. Twenty years on, the Americans and their allies gone and the Taliban are once again …

Violence and inequality — how the end of apartheid failed black South Africa

August 9th, 2021

29:06


In the early 1990s, Nelson Mandela and his political party, the ANC, ended apartheid peacefully but the leaders of the new …

The Cold War Games

August 1st, 2021

29:07


The Tokyo Olympics have gone ahead despite the global pandemic, but it’s the not the first-time world events have conspired …

Haiti — the background to an assassination

July 25th, 2021

28:52


The Caribbean nation of Haiti, whose president was recently assassinated, is the world’s poorest and most unstable country. Yet this was not always the case. For over a century it was France’s …

The Trump of the Tropics—Jair Bolsonaro

July 18th, 2021

29:06


Bolsonaro's right-wing politics, boorish comments and mishandling of the Covid pandemic have invited comparisons with Donald …

Hopes dashed—Ethiopia ripped by ethnic violence

July 11th, 2021

28:52


In 2018, Ethiopia had a new, reformist prime minister and was opening up politically and socially while forging a peace deal to …

Who are the Orangemen and why do they march?

July 4th, 2021

29:06


Orangemen—with their distinctive bowler hats, white gloves, and orange collarettes—are a Protestant Irish organisation. For …

Tax cuts for the rich—do we all benefit?

June 27th, 2021

28:52


For fifty years, governments have cut taxes for corporations and the wealthiest people, arguing that this will stimulate the …

Forced landing—Ryan Air Flight 4978

June 20th, 2021

29:06


A scheduled Ryan Air flight from Athens to Vilnius was diverted as it flew over Belarus and told to land at Minsk because of a …

How to carve up the riches of the sea—Australia, Indonesia, and the sea boundaries

June 13th, 2021

29:06


In 2018 Australia signed a Treaty with Timor-Leste establishing sea boundaries based on a line equidistance from each other’s coasts. Yet Australia’s seabed boundaries with Indonesia, established in …

Psychedelics—the curious journey from medical lab to party drug and back again

June 6th, 2021

29:06


Around the world there is a rapidly growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that psychedelic drugs are safe and highly effective when used under medical supervision. Why did promising …

Pentecostalism—the fastest growing religion on earth

May 30th, 2021

29:07


Pentecostalism is a Christian religious movement with over seven hundred denominations world-wide and Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is a believer. What do Pentecostalists believe and …

The American military abroad and the Australia US alliance

May 23rd, 2021

29:06


The US operates a global network of overseas military facilities that dwarfs that of any other country. How does Australia fit into this picture and what are the risks and benefits?

Palestinian politics under occupation

May 16th, 2021

29:06


This week Palestinians should have been voting in their first election for 15 years, but the election was cancelled and now they …

Space junk—how did orbital debris become such a huge headache?

May 9th, 2021

29:06


It’s unlikely that any of us will be hit by space junk here on earth but collisions in space are a real threat to the satellite …

Edward and Harry—the men who left the royal family

May 2nd, 2021

28:52


Prince Harry’s decision to renounce his royal role was not the first time a member of the British monarchy decided to opt out. …

The Suez Canal—ambition, colonial greed, revolution and the ditch that reshaped global trade.

April 25th, 2021

29:06


The Suez Canal is one of the world’s most vital trade routes. It’s the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe and about 12% of global trade passes through it each year. But the Canal is situated …

The Irish border—why is it there and what's it actually like?

April 18th, 2021

29:05


The Irish border—running along five hundred kilometres of rural land—is a paradox. Both visible and invisible, it’s vital to peace in Ireland.

Myanmar’s military—why are they killing their own people?

April 11th, 2021

29:09


One of the most secretive organisations on the planet, Myanmar’s military has ruled the country with an iron fist for over 50 …

The political swamp—poisonous for women

April 4th, 2021

29:04


The recent accounts of bullying, sexual harassment and worse from women who work in federal politics would come as no surprise to …

How the death of local news is destroying democracy.

March 28th, 2021

29:07


For a couple of hundred years rural and urban communities relied on their local paper for the news that mattered to them. Now those papers are shutting down readers are turning to sites like Facebook …

The struggle for work—why are the unemployed expected to live below the poverty line?

March 21st, 2021

29:06


At the end of the month the COVID supplement to the dole ends, leaving thousands of Australians facing bleak choices: …

Could the farmers blockade defeat India's powerful Prime Minister Modi?

March 14th, 2021

29:09


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set out to deregulate the county's traditional agricultural markets. But he faced an …

The world's first vaccine and the disease it eradicated

March 7th, 2021

29:07


It was the only human infectious disease we've ever managed to wipe out. Smallpox, a disease of fluid-filled blisters, was frequently fatal. It was defeated by the world's first vaccine. Are there …

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first 100 days

February 28th, 2021

28:52


The first 100 days of any US presidency are critical, so what can President Biden learn from Franklin Delano Roosevelt? FDR led the United States through the depression and in his first 100 days he …

China—the economic miracle

February 21st, 2021

29:05


When Mao died in 1976, China was unable to feed its people, cut off from the rest of the world. How did it become today's economic giant?

The week that changed the world—President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 and his meeting with Chairman Mao

February 14th, 2021

28:52


Since the rise to power of Xi Jinping in 2013, governments across the globe are having to learn how deal with an assertive and …

Nancy Pelosi: The most powerful woman in US politics

February 6th, 2021

29:05


Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House of Representative and third in line to the President of the United States. For over ten …

Joe Biden's history of presidential nomination

January 30th, 2021

29:05


Joe Biden has just become the 46 President of the United States. Twice before he ran for the Democrat presidential nomination twice and both times been defeated soundly. 

Born in 1942 he has spent …

Yoga in the West

January 23rd, 2021

37:30


Yoga goes back thousands of years in India but as its popularity spread around the world, its practice diversified to incorporate …

The humble bicycle

January 17th, 2021

29:06


As the coronavirus sweeps across the globe, people everywhere are turning to cycling. In cities like London, Milan, Paris, and …

The evolution of cruising, from luxury trips to today's troubled waters

January 10th, 2021

29:06


Cruise holidays were once only for the wealthy. In recent decades they've found a mass market, but how and at what cost?

The story of fire in the Australian landscape

January 3rd, 2021

29:06


This time last year fires raged from Queensland, down the NSW coast to Victoria, and across parts of Western Australia and South Australia. But fires are not new - we live in a country that has been …

What happened to the NBN, Australia's 'information superhighway'?

December 27th, 2020

29:04


The NBN was supposed to provide all Australian homes with reliable, super-fast internet connections. As many of us adjust to living and working from home, connected with our jobs, friends and family …

How epidemics and pandemics have changed history

December 20th, 2020

29:07


Human history is usually understood through wars, economic changes, technological development or great leaders. What’s frequently …

Cults and new religious movements

December 13th, 2020

29:09


What light can those who study cults - most of which can be more properly described as new religious movements - shed on their …

Centrelink and the Robodebt recovery system

December 6th, 2020

29:10


Centrelink’s 'automated debt recovery system' - or Robodebt - sparked two Senate inquiries, an Ombudsman inquiry, numerous court cases and caused enormous stress to thousands of Australians. The …

Renewable energy in Australia — a phenomenal success story

November 29th, 2020

29:19


Although Australia is not doing particularly well when it comes to addressing climate change, there is one bright spot — the …

How renewable energy has become so cheap in the past 20 years

November 22nd, 2020

29:05


Today electricity produced by wind and solar is as cheap if not cheaper than any other form of energy. But 20 years ago, it was a …

EU and Brexit—the view from the Continent

November 15th, 2020

29:06


In a few weeks, six hundred million people will bid a political adieu to their troublesome neighbour. How has the EU handled …

The Nauru Agreement—tuna and the power of the collective

November 8th, 2020

29:06


Since 1982, a group eight small island nations in the Western and Central Pacific have collectively taken control of their major …

Fill 'er up—the history of the Australian servo

November 1st, 2020

28:52


What’s to become of petrol stations when electric vehicles take over? How did today's servo evolve from the garages of the …

Mass tourism—how everyone became a traveller

October 25th, 2020

29:07


Once travel was only for the elite but as trains, cars and planes eventually opened the door for almost everyone to take a trip, mass tourism really took off.

United States Supreme Court

October 18th, 2020

29:06


The selection of a new justice to the United States Supreme Court is frequently controversial and almost always political. It’s a …

The Universal Postal Union

October 11th, 2020

29:08


The Universal Postal Union created the global postal territory that has allowed letters and parcels to travel around the world for almost 150 years.

Now challenged by email and private couriers as …

Arab states normalise political relations with Israel

October 4th, 2020

29:09


The deal brings to four the number of Arab nations who have normalised diplomatic relations with Israel. It was a triumph for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for US President Donald …

The story of Tesla—a computer on wheels

September 27th, 2020

29:38


Tesla is now the world’s most successful car company, although it might be more accurate to call it a tech company that makes …

Voting technology and democracy in America

September 20th, 2020

29:24


In the upcoming US presidential election voters will cast their ballots in myriad ways, from mail-in-voting to computerised voting machines. And if it’s a close election, there will be court …

Logging Australia's native forests

September 13th, 2020

29:37


Regional Forest Agreements were supposed to settle what could be logged and where, but recent court challenges and protests show …

Australian universities in crisis

September 6th, 2020

29:24


Australian universities are confronting a firestorm, the loss of foreign students, the layoff of academics, the underpayment of staff and radical changes to domestic university fees.

Why is our …

The failure of aged care in Australia

August 30th, 2020

29:07


The COVID pandemic has put the spotlight on aged care homes, already under scrutiny after evidence of neglect and abuse was laid bare in the Royal Commission. Who is responsible and how did it happen?

Cruise ships in the sky—the story of public housing and high-rise towers

August 23rd, 2020

29:06


The hard lockdown of nine public housing towers in Melbourne last month raised many questions. When were they built? Why were they only built in Sydney and Melbourne? And why did we think tower …

Threat of extinction—how Australia’s environment law failed

August 16th, 2020

29:06


Australia is home to plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet. How did a law designed to protect our rich environmental heritage fail so badly?

How WWII changed Australia

August 9th, 2020

29:06


The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 75 years ago, led to the end of WWII in the Pacific. How did that war and the post-war …

Fish fight—why a Brexit deal hinges on who’s casting a net in Britain’s bountiful waters

August 2nd, 2020

29:06


Fishing became the lightning rod for Brexit but without a deal, the UK could catch plenty of fish but have nowhere to sell them. …

Voter suppression in the United States of America

July 26th, 2020

29:09


For over 200 years the right to vote in the US has been a contested issue, especially for African Americans and other people of …

The religious right—politics and God in the USA

July 19th, 2020

29:05


President Donald Trump appears a perhaps unconvincing Christian but the support of religious conservatives is crucial to his re-election in November.

The humble bicycle

July 12th, 2020

29:05


As the coronavirus sweeps across the globe, people everywhere are turning to cycling. In cities like London, Milan, Paris, and …

Vaccines - what can the past tell us about the future?

July 5th, 2020

29:07


Vaccines are one of the greatest medical advances in modern history but it usually takes decades to develop one that is both safe and effective. Can we beat the clock with Covid-19?

Over policed and under protected: Policing in America

June 28th, 2020

29:06


The recent killing of two African American men at the hands of white police has raised questions about policing across the United …

Yoga in the West

June 21st, 2020

37:44


Yoga goes back thousands of years in India but as its popularity spread around the world, its practice diversified to incorporate …

Human guinea pigs: Covid19, clinical trials and big business

June 14th, 2020

29:06


Would you volunteer to be a human guinea pig in a clinical trial for Covid19 vaccine? Would you be more likely to volunteer, if …

Biowarfare – can it tell us anything about the corona virus?

June 7th, 2020

29:05


The US suggestion that the corona virus came from a Chinese lab - although unsupported by any evidence - prompts the story of our …

Self-reliance or dependence - a history of Australian manufacturing

May 31st, 2020

29:06


There was a time in the 1960s when Australia manufactured almost everything – washing machines and fridges, footwear and clothes, cars and steel. It was a major part of our GDP and employed almost a …

Joe Biden President of the United States?

May 30th, 2020

29:06


Joe Biden is now President of the United States. He has been involved in U.S politic for almost 50 years and twice before ran for …

The evolution of cruising, from luxury trips to today's troubled waters

May 24th, 2020

29:05


Cruise holidays were once only for the wealthy. In recent decades they've found a mass market, but how and at what cost?

How epidemics and pandemics have changed history

May 17th, 2020

29:05


Human history is usually understood through wars, economic changes, technological development or great leaders. What’s frequently …

Animals, humans and disease

May 10th, 2020

29:05


Around two thirds of the infectious illnesses we humans suffer are caused by pathogens we’ve picked up from wild or domestic animals. They’re called zoonotic diseases and these kinds of illnesses go …

Will Joe Biden be the next President of the United States?

May 3rd, 2020

29:06


Joe Biden has emerged as the Democratic nominee for the United States Presidential race in November. But he’s run twice before and both times been defeated soundly. Why did he win this time and how …

In a fix - how match fixing became sport’s biggest threat

April 26th, 2020

29:06


Find out how match fixing works. It's ubiquitous and now recognised as the biggest threat to sport integrity.

What happened to the NBN, Australia's 'information superhighway'?

April 19th, 2020

29:06


The NBN was supposed to provide all Australian homes with reliable, super-fast internet connections. As many of us adjust to living and working from home, connected with our jobs, friends and family …

SARS, Ebola and now Covid-19 - world health and the role of the W.H.O.

April 12th, 2020

29:06


For over 60 years the World Health Organisation has been the pre-eminent international health organisation but questions have been asked about its response to several infectious diseases. This is the …

SARS and MERS - what did the earlier epidemics teach us?

April 5th, 2020

29:04


Singapore and South Korea – partly because of their experience with previous corona virus outbreaks – have managed this pandemic without locking people in their homes or shutting down their …

1929 Revisited

March 29th, 2020

29:07


After a month of almost unprecedented drama on global financial markets due to the spread of the Coronavirus, Rear Vision revisits the 1920s and the events that led to the stock market crash of 1929.

The Black Death - the plague that never went away

March 22nd, 2020

29:08


In the fourteenth century, the plague killed about half the population of Europe and Asia, making it one of the most devastating …

Benjamin Netanyahu - Hero or Villain?

March 15th, 2020

28:52


On the 17th March Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Prime Minister of Israel will appear in court, charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Despite the charges his party won the most seats in …

How China's wet markets and wild animal trade created an epidemic

March 8th, 2020

29:06


With coronavirus most likely having jumped from animals to humans at a wet market in China, here’s what you need to know about …

Secular India and the rise of Hindu Nationalism

March 1st, 2020

29:06


Last week as President Donald Trump was visit to India - the national capital New Delhi erupting in communal violence. It’s a …

Ireland - ready for change

February 23rd, 2020

29:05


Shifting political dynamics have given new life to the question of the reunification of the Republic in the south with Northern …

Greek Tragedy or Farce: The life and career of Rudy Giuliani

February 16th, 2020

29:07


At the heart of the recent US impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump was Trump’s personal lawyer and former Mayor of …

Ghosn has flown - the rise and fall of an auto industry mogul

February 9th, 2020

29:07


In December, one of the car industry’s most powerful figures fled from Japan where he was awaiting trial, apparently hidden in a …

The story of fire in the Australian landscape

February 2nd, 2020

29:07


Most Australians have been impacted by bush fires this summer. But fires are not new - we live in a country that has been shaped …

E-cigarettes - is there value in vaping?

January 26th, 2020

29:06


E-cigarettes first appeared as a healthier alternative to smoking, maybe even a way to quit, but they soon escaped the medical framework and have become a public health nightmare in the US. Yet some …

The anti-vaccination movement

January 19th, 2020

29:07


Why do some parents choose not to vaccinate their children, despite the safety and success of vaccines?

How history can help shape the debate about an Indigenous voice to Parliament

January 12th, 2020

29:06


In the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are calling for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. …

The art market

January 5th, 2020

29:07


Who decides what a painting is worth? The history of the art market and how it works.

Kashmir in lockdown: The story behind Pakistan and India's ongoing battle for control over Kashmir

December 29th, 2019

29:05


Earlier this year the Indian parliament has revoked Article 370 of the India Constitution — which had guaranteed some form of …

Understanding assassination

December 22nd, 2019

29:07


Assassination has a very long history yet each one is as singular as the life taken. Do they change the course of history, as …

Nancy Pelosi the most powerful woman in US politics

December 15th, 2019

29:05


Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House of Representative, and  the most powerful woman in the United States. For the past two years …

How to get there—the rise of satellite navigation

December 8th, 2019

29:06


GPS—where did this handy and incredibly accurate system come from and how did it become so thoroughly integrated into our lives?

Is water recycling the answer to our current drought?

December 1st, 2019

29:06


Parts of Australia are in the grip of one of the worst droughts in decades and water security is a key issue. While Sydney is about to go onto level 2 water restrictions, some towns like Cobar, …

A destructive mine and a civil war—Bougainville's path to an independence vote

November 24th, 2019

29:07


The desire for independence is driving politics in places as far flung as Catalonia, Scotland and New Caledonia. Will the people …

Protests in Lebanon: Is this the end of their religion-based political system?

November 17th, 2019

29:06


For over a month Lebanon’s streets have been brought to a standstill by protesters. The demonstrators are demanding a complete …

The making and breaking of the Berlin Wall

November 10th, 2019

29:06


On the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, hear the whole story—why was it built, how did affect the lives of …

Who are the Kurds?

November 3rd, 2019

29:05


Since the first Gulf War in 1991 the Kurds have been a key player in the Middle East first in Iraq and later in Syria.

But, who …

Franco’s body—the politics of the Spanish dictator’s remains

October 27th, 2019

29:06


Francisco Franco, an ally of Hitler and Mussolini, remains a controversial figure in Spain. The exhumation of his remains is the …

A radical change in drug policy: Decriminalising drug use and possession

October 20th, 2019

29:01


Senior police officers in NSW are making the case for decriminalising drug use and possession. But they're not alone — across …

Australia’s no-fault divorce—why it remains controversial

October 13th, 2019

29:04


Divorce in Australia can be a straightforward matter if both sides agree but if not, it can be expensive as well as destructive. The Family Law Act has been the subject of dozens of reports and over …

Why do America and Iran hate each other?

October 6th, 2019

29:08


Iran and America have despised each other for decades. The Americans see Iran as a nation of Islamic extremists and terrorists, while Iranians believe America is an imperial power determined to …

Mao's revolution - why did the Communists win?

September 29th, 2019

29:08


How did the Communists pull off an unexpected victory in China?

Why is Zimbabwe an economic basket case?

September 22nd, 2019

29:08


Zimbabwe is potentially one of the richest nations in Africa — it has productive agricultural land, a vast array of mineral …

Land use, climate change and the role of soil

September 15th, 2019

29:10


Farming and soil - how can we get the most out of agricultural land?

South Korea and Japan: A relationship in turmoil

September 8th, 2019

28:58


While the world’s focus has been on the trade war between China and America, you might have missed the economic stalemate brewing between Japan and South Korea.
But unlike most trade disputes their …

Trump, Greenland and the longer tale of American real estate

September 1st, 2019

28:54


Following the failure of President Trump’s clumsy attempt to buy Greenland from Denmark, here's the longer story of US land …

Kashmir in lockdown: The story behind Pakistan and India's ongoing battle for control over Kashmir

August 25th, 2019

29:07


The Indian parliament has revoked Article 370 of the India Constitution — which had guaranteed some form of independence for …

Unrest in Hong Kong

August 18th, 2019

29:10


Public demonstrations and vigils have long been part of political life in Hong Kong, but nothing matches the current protests.

How history can help shape the debate about an Indigenous voice to Parliament.

August 11th, 2019

29:07


In the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are calling for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. …

Counterculture - the environment movement

August 4th, 2019

29:12


The movement to protect Australia’s rich environmental heritage shifted from polite, backroom persuasion to sometimes violent …

Australian farming: family farms or Agro-business

July 28th, 2019

29:05


As a nation we have a great affection for our farmers and the family farm. But rural Australia is changing, and there’s an …

How low can they go? A history of interest rates.

July 21st, 2019

29:08


A history of interest rates from Ancient Babylon to today.

Being Boris - Boris Johnson

July 14th, 2019

29:17


Boris Johnson, the gaffe-prone showman of British politics, is about to get the job he’s always coveted.

The King Crane Commission: America's first political intervention in the Middle East

July 7th, 2019

29:05


There’ve been numerous American interventions in the Middle East. But does anyone remember the 1919 King Crane Commission, …

The Impact of the Versailles Treaty

June 30th, 2019

29:07


The Treaty of Versailles was signed 100 years ago - it ended WWI and was supposed to end all wars.

But as we all know it didn't end war and arguably laid the foundation for a century of ethnic …

The Paris Peace Conference 1919

June 23rd, 2019

29:04


The Paris Peace Conference of 1919, held just months after the end of WWI, gathered together the leaders of the world. Their …

Monopoly power in America

June 16th, 2019

29:05


In the United States there is concern about the power and market share of tech companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and …

Monarchies of Southeast Asia

June 9th, 2019

29:18


Royal families have survived colonialism, occupation and democratisation but will they last?

Roe V Wade

June 2nd, 2019

29:05


States across America are passing heartbeat laws, which aim to outlaw abortions at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest.

They are reigniting debate in the US around abortion …

The anti-vaccination movement

May 26th, 2019

29:19


Anti-vaxxers - despite the safety and success of vaccines, why do some parents choose not to vaccinate their children?

Terrorism in Southeast Asia

May 19th, 2019

29:05


The recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka shocked the world. Yet terrorism in our region has a very long and bloody history, one …

The art market

May 12th, 2019

29:08


Who decides what a painting is worth? The history of the art market and how it works.

New Zealand's electoral system — is it better than ours?

May 5th, 2019

29:06


What's behind New Zealand's impressive political response to the Christchurch terrorist attack?

Australia's upper houses

April 28th, 2019

29:07


Members have included racists, religious zealots and gun lovers, but are they vital for Australia’s democracy?

INTERPOL — the International Criminal Police Organization

April 21st, 2019

29:06


INTERPOL facilitates worldwide police cooperation - where does it come from and how does it work?

Legalising cannabis

April 14th, 2019

29:15


What lessons can be learned from the US experience?

Uyghurs the people of Xinjiang

April 7th, 2019

29:06


Now the Chinese government is rounding up and interning large number of  Uyghurs — the Muslim ethnic group from the western Chinese province of Xinjiang. While for decades there have been tensions, …

Justin Trudeau

March 31st, 2019

29:12


Justin Trudeau - Canada’s charismatic leader - struggles with a political scandal that has cost him some of his political gloss.

Algeria and the ghost president

March 24th, 2019

29:06


Two weeks ago, Algeria citizens took to the streets demanding that the aging, ill president - Abdelaziz Boteflika stand aside and not run for a 5th term as president.

While he has now agreed to this …

The Conservative Party and Brexit

March 17th, 2019

29:15


Why has Britain's relationship with Europe been a poisonous obsession in the Conservative Party?

Brexit, British Labour and Jeremy Corbyn

March 10th, 2019

29:06


Why is membership of the EU such a divisive political issue for Jeremy Corbyn and many Labour Party voters?

Is the war over in Syria?

March 3rd, 2019

29:07


As the last fighters of the Islamic State group are forced from land along the border with Iraq, Rear Vision looks both back at eight years of war and at what lies ahead.

Nancy Pelosi: The most powerful woman in US politics

February 24th, 2019

29:06


Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House of Representative and third in line to the President of the United States. For over ten …

Understanding assassination

February 17th, 2019

29:20


What do we know about assassins and their motivation? Do they change the course of history, as many assassins hope?

Political and Economic Crisis in Venezuela

February 10th, 2019

29:30


Venezuela is stuck in political turmoil – it has two legislative bodies claiming to right to pass laws, and two Presidents both …

Menindee fish kill - politics and water

February 3rd, 2019

29:24


A decade into the most ambitious program to save the Murray-Darling river system from ecological disaster, hundreds of thousands …

American foreign policy in Central America and the migrant crisis

January 27th, 2019

29:21


The large number of migrants arriving on the Mexico/United States border come from El Salvador, Honduras or Guatemala. These three central American nations have in common high poverty rates, wealth …

Sydney: first encounters

January 20th, 2019

29:05


What is known about the earliest encounters between the Aboriginal people and the British of the First Fleet?

In the shadow of Terra Nullius - Part 3 A time of hope to The Uluru Statement from the Heart

January 13th, 2019

29:07


The third and final part of Rear Vision’s series tracing the story of the relationship between indigenous and nonindigenous Australians. In this program we trace the story from the Tent Embassy in …

In the shadow of Terra Nullius, part 2: Assimilation to Activism

January 6th, 2019

29:06


In post WW2 Australia the key policy adopted by all state and territories in relations to Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders …

In the shadow of Terra Nullius: Part 1 invisibility to survival

December 30th, 2018

29:06


The story of the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is contested and complex. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders are the first people and their land, way of life and …

Russians in the UK

December 23rd, 2018

28:53


Russians in the UK – spies and billionaires, mysterious deaths and money laundering - and the long arm of Vladimir Putin.

Volkswagen

December 16th, 2018

28:52


Volkswagen and the story of its success.

The Irish border is Brexit's big headache—why is it there and what's it actually like?

December 9th, 2018

29:20


The Irish border—running along five hundred kilometres of rural land—is a paradox. Both visible and invisible, it’s vital to peace in Ireland.

Citizenship—after Trump’s challenge to birthright citizenship, what does it take to belong?

December 2nd, 2018

29:10


What does it mean to be a citizen? And what’s the story behind the passport, the most tangible proof of citizenship?

The radical left: part two

November 25th, 2018

29:06


Continuing the story of the radical left, from the 1930s to a new breed of openly left-wing politicians.

The radical left in the US: 1830s Utopian socialists to the 1930s Communists

November 18th, 2018

29:05


Trace the emergence of the radical left in the US, from 1830s Utopian socialists to 1930s Communists.

The Centenary of Armistice - Australia and World War I

November 11th, 2018

29:05


What was Australia’s role in World War I and what happened at home during the war and after it ended?

'One China': its history and continuing relevance

November 4th, 2018

28:46


Is it a power for peace? Or is it leading toward armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific?

Malaysia's political thriller

October 28th, 2018

29:04


A story of corruption, bitter political rivalries and ultimately, astonishment.

Reassessing the narrative of universal human rights

October 21st, 2018

28:57


Can a reassessment of the history of human rights help us explain current threats to personal freedoms?

Fire - how can we live in a fiery world?

October 14th, 2018

29:09


Increasingly wildfires, bushfires and megafires are extending fire seasons around the world.

Sami Parliaments: The Scandinavian Model

October 7th, 2018

29:08


What would a First Nation Voice to parliament look like?

Megacities

September 30th, 2018

29:10


What features do megacities share and how do they differ?

The Chagos Archipelago

September 23rd, 2018

29:01


Stolen islands, colonial bullies and a US military base.

The legacy of the Global Financial Crisis

September 16th, 2018

29:07


Ten years ago Lehman Brothers, one of America’s largest banks, collapsed, threatening the entire global financial system.

Red Marauder - A history of drought in Australia

September 9th, 2018

28:58


Europeans have been living in Australia for over 200 years, and it has taken us that long to realise that drought isn't an aberration, but rather a recurring part of life on this continent. So why …

Chinese immigration to Australia

September 2nd, 2018

29:03


It’s 200 years since the first documented Chinese settler arrived in the fledgling Australian colonies.

Modern China and the legacy of the Opium Wars

August 26th, 2018

28:56


The Opium Wars, between Britain and the Chinese Qing Empire resulted in the opening of china to western trade and the …

Imran Khan – from cricket pitch to politics

August 19th, 2018

29:10


Can a man whose political popularity rests on his sporting success transform his country?  

Peace: Ethiopia and Eritrea

August 12th, 2018

28:57


A revolution is sweeping the Horn of Africa - not one involving guns and bombs, but rather compromise and peace. For over 20 …

Working time: how the technologies of time keeping have shaped our working lives

August 5th, 2018

28:58


Working time , how the technologies  of time keeping have shaped our working lives from the punch clock of  the 19th century to …

The Pacific Ocean: The unsleeping eye of the earth

July 29th, 2018

29:08


The United States of America and many other Western powers, including us here in Australia, are starting to get concerned about the growing influence of the Chinese in the Pacific Region.

Remembering Edward Said's Orientalism

July 22nd, 2018

28:57


The story of Edward Said’s book of literary and cultural criticism, Orientalism. And how it became one of the most controversial …

Volkswagen

July 15th, 2018

28:56


Volkswagen and the story of its success.

Tax and happiness

July 8th, 2018

29:12


Why are the countries with the highest taxes the happiest?

In the shadow of Terra Nullius, part 3: A time of hope to The Uluru Statement from the Heart

July 1st, 2018

29:07


In this program we trace the story from the Tent Embassy in 1972 through to the Uluru Statement of the Heart in 2017.

In the shadow of Terra Nullius, part 2: Assimilation to Activism

June 24th, 2018

29:08


Rear Vision traces the story of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians — assimilation to activism.

In the shadow of Terra Nullius: Part 1 invisibility to survival

June 17th, 2018

29:08


Rear Vision traces the story of Australia's relationship with its Indigenous people — from the time of Federation in 1901 through to the Uluru Statement in 2017.

The summit of the century: the relationship between North Korea and the United States

June 10th, 2018

28:58


North Korea and the United States of America have been in conflict since 1945.

The story of FIFA

June 3rd, 2018

29:00


FIFA - a tale of bribery, racketeering and money laundering and Australia’s role in the corruption behind the world’s most …

Latin America makes a right turn

May 27th, 2018

29:02


For the past two decades most two-thirds of nations of Latin America, have consistently elected progressive or radical left governments. But is that about to change?

Remembering Suharto

May 20th, 2018

29:01


Suharto — Indonesia's strong man — toppled from power 20 years ago, after more than three decades in office.

What led to the student protests of 1968?

May 13th, 2018

29:03


In 1968 in almost every nation student unrest and protests became the norm and nowhere more so than in France. What were all these students protesting about?

Russians in the UK

May 6th, 2018

29:01


Russians in the UK – spies and billionaires, mysterious deaths and money laundering - and the long arm of Vladimir Putin.

Australia’s live export debate

April 29th, 2018

28:52


The patterns of debate about live exports – the economic argument versus the animal welfare questions – have run through Australia’s long history of shipping sheep and cattle overseas.

Trade wars

April 22nd, 2018

28:53


Rear Vision looks at trade wars of the past and how President Trump’s trade war might play out.

Australia: the world’s biggest gamblers

April 15th, 2018

28:51


Australians spend around $24 billion dollars a year on gambling.

The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919

April 8th, 2018

28:52


The world's worst flu pandemic killed around 50 million people worldwide — including many healthy young adults, not just those …

Northern Ireland - Part 2 - the Good Friday Agreement

April 1st, 2018

29:01


Twenty years ago, the Good Friday Agreement brought an uneasy end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland - Part 1 - the Troubles

March 25th, 2018

28:55


Kidnapping, bombing and murder - the battle over Northern Ireland.

The American gun industry

March 18th, 2018

28:52


No-one knows exactly how many guns there are in America; but we do know it's a billion-dollar business. 

Poland, World War II and Holocaust denial

March 11th, 2018

29:19


A controversial new law makes it illegal to accuse Poland of complicity in the Holocaust.

The FBI and the president

March 4th, 2018

28:52


Donald Trump is at war with the FBI, but he's not the first. The relationship between the presidency and the FBI has long been …

False nuclear alarms

February 25th, 2018

29:12


In the wake of the panic caused in Hawaii last month over its false nuclear alert, we’re looking at past false alarms.

Economic Inequality

February 18th, 2018

29:06


Is economic inequality increasing?

South Africa's African National Congress and its new president, Cyril Ramaphosa

February 11th, 2018

29:12


In December, Cyril Ramaphosa became the new president of the ANC and probably South Africa’s next president.

Iran 2018

February 4th, 2018

29:06


Beginning in December 2017 and continuing into January, a series of public protests erupted in cities across Iran. The protests were the most intense domestic challenge to the Iranian government …

Sydney: first encounters

January 28th, 2018

28:52


What is known about the earliest encounters between the Aboriginal people and the British of the First Fleet?

In the shadow of slavery: The post civil rights period

January 21st, 2018

28:52


The recent clash between white nationalists and protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia reminds us that race is and always has …

In the shadow of slavery: The events that led to the Civil Rights movement

January 14th, 2018

28:52


The recent clash between white nationalists and protesters in Charlottesville Virginia reminds us that race is and always has …

In the shadow of slavery: From reconstruction to 1900

January 7th, 2018

28:52


In the shadow of slavery: The roots of racism in the US.

The president and the press

December 31st, 2017

29:36


Reporting from the White House: how the media has covered the president and how the president has managed the press.

Gibraltar

December 24th, 2017

29:24


As the UK enters negotiations over its departure from the European Union, Gibraltar fears that it could become a bargaining chip.

The history of plastic

December 17th, 2017

29:18


The story of plastic is the story of the modern world. It's endlessly useful but an environmental headache.

Heard Island and Australia in the Antarctic

December 10th, 2017

28:52


Australia in the Antarctic and the story of Heard Island, a tiny, volcanic dot on the map.

Citizenship: An Idea

December 3rd, 2017

29:16


Citizenship is a western notion, and is in many respects like a membership in a fancy club - where decisions are made about who is to be included and who is not. But what does citizenship mean in the …

Battle over the Timor Sea

November 26th, 2017

29:01


How should Timor-Leste and Australia divide the gas and oil wealth under the Timor Sea?

Catalan independence

November 19th, 2017

29:06


The independence referendum last month highlighted the deep division within Catalonia and the political gulf between Catalonians …

Karl Marx

November 12th, 2017

29:07


Karl Marx - who was he and why was he so influential?

The Russian Revolution and its legacy

November 5th, 2017

28:52


The Bolshevik or Russian Revolution of October 1917 (by the Russian calendar), was one of most significant moments in modern …

The car industry

October 29th, 2017

28:59


Rear Vision traces the story of car making from the Ford production line to today’s global industry.

In the shadow of slavery: The post civil rights period

October 22nd, 2017

28:52


The 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibited race discrimination, yet 50 years it remains stubbornly entrenched in America.

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