The West Is GASLIGHTING Everyone — Now With AI | Profs. D. Riches & J. Eddebo
Dennis Riches and Johan Eddebo examine how dominant narratives are produced, defended and transformed by technology. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 5: Professor Dennis Riches (Literature) & Professor Johan Eddebo (Philosophy)Riches presents a contested interpretation of Rwanda and the Great Lakes conflicts, using it to question institutional authority and historical representation. Eddebo explores artificial intelligence, simulated reasoning and the erosion of meaningful dissent. Their Kyoto Symposium discussion considers internet countercultures, propaganda, media influence and human rationality, asking whether new forms of community and engagement with reality can resist the pressures of an emerging monoculture.Dennis and Johan's Links:Dennis Riches Substack: https://dennisriches.s... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljR1JfMEQ1UEs4dTQ5MFNEaWFzVjdtUnxBSTVJdTVzZ0FLYWFoRzZPUVpTUzFxZGlweVNUYjlDTEJFM1RvcnROY0hGX1BjazBENzlIMFQ1Vms3eW5JNll2U2V5RlNrcWt6Z0lsQTZfYkZ0MEhlajRVX1Z3Mi02LXNvQmhw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdennisriches.substack.com%2F&v=bHLOMeEoDhk)Lit by Imagination: https://dennisriches.w... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRXhqNTlPLS04YmhSR2JleUFSU1c2WHxBSTVJdTVzc01vMkw3VUFPcWYtQUxiTHgxUnp4a3dKdDhwM1VBMTNWbTJNTXh4a0tBTmRDWnF6QTd0Z2VjdjI0X3FzS0libk9GdWl2akpodjdiNFdMNkdSTXVpcHlTTzBzSGdY&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdennisriches.wordpress.com%2F&v=bHLOMeEoDhk)Johan Eddebo university profile: https://www.uu.se/kont... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRVplTDdoTXV2U203amxnclVhcl96V3xBSTVJdTV2TGhCSllNbXNKbEN0WTZwMFRURDVUMDlvaUxoeklSMW5VNm5hZl9QRzlDVE1zQ3ViQm9Za0VBckhyX0I1VGNKWVRLdWxrUDFkalhhSERyR1N2WGhvOUlHaEM0WVEt&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uu.se%2Fkontakt-och-organisation%2Fpersonal%3Fquery%3DN12-1513&v=bHLOMeEoDhk)Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljSFZXRVpwei10LVhkRmtUcE53VmdZc3xBSTVJdTV2TkliZmY2Ty1pNXp0Q29HdlY4SmEwTEJEVHowYUNXcWF4bVl3TTFWamJiaElYa0FjNEZ1WVZaRW00dTJwOGMzR2ZCNGk5ZTVYLU12b3oyQ1JqVThERWc5YUhObnct&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpascallottaz.substack.com%2F&v=bHLOMeEoDhk)Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljSFVnMmRBWFFkUmZhdzBlY0g1X0RQZHxBSTVJdTVzTUlWa0hyYWZlOTlJNUZRSk5vemQ2OHFjZWlZZzZHaks0WDg4cnFBVEswSG9pZ01PSF9UY0ZkbVV2WTF4V29qZGQ2WHh1emh5QkNOWWdTSWRiVFlBMVg4YTl5TGxF&q=https%3A%2F%2Fneutralitystudies.com%2Fdonate&v=bHLOMeEoDhk)Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRVNnd2xOUno4YlVkc1ZqV3Rqa0NmcnxBSTVJdTV0V0VzcktCV0dJaWY3NHFKa3NZczYyT1lRNEwtSlJUVU1SNFRfSUdwVFhFOU9MZVE0VlV3dWs1UjdyQzlsQTgwWnhjSVZXck5YWS1abFk4MDYwLWY2Z3h4aHVSRENK&q=https%3A%2F%2Fneutralitystudies.com%2Fshop&v=bHLOMeEoDhk)Time Stamps00:00 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk) Introduction: narrative control before and after AI03:46 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=226s) Riches on Rwanda and the Great Lakes conflicts12:11 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=731s&pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D) How dominant historical narratives are established19:00 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=1140s) Eddebo: the post-digital condition31:03 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=1863s) AI and the simulation of independent reasoning39:47 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=2387s) Q&A: where can dissent survive?47:18 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=2838s) Human rationality, technology and pessimism58:38 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHLOMeEoDhk&t=3518s&pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D) Reality, worldviews and alternatives to monoculture
19 Oct 2026
The Collective West Is NOT Finished. How The Empire Fights Its Decline | Nel Bonilla
Europe and North America are clearly on a declining trajectory, but that does not mean that have given up on their designs for World Domination. Something far more dangerous is going on.Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 4: Nel BonillaNel Bonilla challenges the assumption that Western decline necessarily leads to collapse or a peaceful multipolar order. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci, she examines how weakened legitimacy can coexist with coercion, institutional survival and the obstruction of alternatives. Her account of the bunker state connects austerity, militarization and elite power. The Kyoto Symposium discussion considers European dependence, competing interests and the fragmented forces opposing the existing order, asking what shared political language, organization and institutions might make meaningful systemic change possible.Nel's Links:Worldlines: https://worldlineslett... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRlk4MHVWQlhlOVhJdG0zTm1GNWp1QnxBSTVJdTVzc2M1NjlLc2FYQzNiOUo4SjdNazR0YTJEeE1yMy1wckkzMG1ONDR2ajZUNTBSY1JjMURsdjduRnBTS3ZjanJNekh3eWlpcVpxUk9tZ2xPemNpRDNLc3NEbzJmWlpY&q=https%3A%2F%2Fworldlinesletter.substack.com%2F&v=-6VIQpdcNsA)Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRjZIZmd2bGJWMk1SQjVrVHF5eVNIZ3xBSTVJdTVzMV9PUE1iTWF1TGQ3RXFiSDU1R193MzBzT3ROS0JSVjE5YkpMVklCVVFmdXFXY2JYOUQ4WUFsY19sNXhXVm9nTjJqWlZhb1RKSVRhRXhKN1NQendRYmlLQUw0V29u&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpascallottaz.substack.com%2F&v=-6VIQpdcNsA)Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljSEhPVW94VWtnVFk2d0dQWlVBMXAxR3xBSTVJdTV2V1lkYjlSdG1QLWlyQzRaMGRrNXlKdmNvYmFUVEtuQlVicnVsZERQWHhDYTczaGhwNDhXWU4xdXhaUzROQWN5WGtrY1dnaERURS1fNzczcTg4R0hBQWFBei1xekNE&q=https%3A%2F%2Fneutralitystudies.com%2Fdonate&v=-6VIQpdcNsA)Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRXhoSWRBZ0NMUjNkNmMtUU5EaGtieXxBSTVJdTV2Z2VYUGhPN1hRRjVZWnVUOXA1TEZfN2NwUzdteEluZE1yYk0zQS1FQ2MwZklwTkV5QjRvOHBMUjlQV1lDV2l1cXBXQUVLdXNTR3FmZDU0T2V3WXdJRXJIdlV1RVhX&q=https%3A%2F%2Fneutralitystudies.com%2Fshop&v=-6VIQpdcNsA)Time Stamps00:00 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA) Introduction and Gramsci’s time of monsters03:20 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=200s) Authority, consent and coercion08:42 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=522s) Why the Cold War was an exception15:09 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=909s) Different crises and the assumption of collapse22:40 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=1360s) Why a new order cannot be born27:50 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=1670s) The bunker state33:08 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=1988s) Q&A: state power and European dependence50:30 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VIQpdcNsA&t=3030s) Democracy, capital and political organization
18 Oct 2026
Europe's Mass-Psychosis Getting WORSE | Prof. Mattias Desmet
The most fragile moment in 500 years of Western imperial dominance is also its most dangerous. As power slips away, the masses are forming into a new and frightening way. And it all has to do with psychology. Kyoto University Symposium 2026: "Geopolitics in the Time of Monsters"Presentation 3: Prof. Mattias DesmetWhy do even intelligent people fall for the most ridiculous narratives? At the Kyoto Symposium, Mattias Desmet presents his theory of mass formation, linking loneliness, anxiety and collective identification to propaganda and intolerance. He argues that sincere speech can rebuild human connections and resist destructive conformity. The discussion tests his account against history, modernity, class, racism and contemporary geopolitical conflict. Audience members challenge his assumptions and explore whether psychological explanations can complement structural analysis when diagnosing the dangers facing societies today.Mattias's Links:Official website: https://mattiasdesmet.... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRkJBbTlLelFSSFZvcmUwek1FQnhMMnxBSTVJdTV1T0FfS2tfdDNqWEtzRGUxVm5WNldmNlF5Y0txb21qeTFKTHREZzAwR0RiRllnZm0wRHZBWXY0bTk1QjJxVmdKVGVfQzZWWjU4TTk0X0djcXlCOW9zSjZlejlkX1lT&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmattiasdesmet.com%2Fen%2F&v=llSgrF8h9AU)Substack: https://words.mattiasd... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRV9sTW5sbDlreEVPcWd6c1hka2FyZXxBSTVJdTV0NjJFNzEzTjJ1c1NoZ0RFUjY2c01hYXB0RjUyaWxVdWp3RnFyeW9fenI4M0x0M1UxOV9oOEdhVDNNVE84SUZGRjg0elRtSUxkWUZrMXlzYk5PRUsyS25kSURVd2V0&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwords.mattiasdesmet.org%2F&v=llSgrF8h9AU)Neutrality Studies Links:Neutrality Studies Substack: https://pascallottaz.s... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljSHdKUlp5M2tKVWNXUi1GQ3ZnRkdFeHxBSTVJdTV2ZmRuRVBYbXY4VzRmOVpVdjJZdnNzNlpNZzQ3a3hKakN5S1pRYkR1Q21ZMVlyNkcwcmRNQm5uMEJJLXpWTlJDMXJkVmo2bV84clZxa01aOG5ReW9INkZPaVp2MFlX&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpascallottaz.substack.com%2F&v=llSgrF8h9AU)Support Neutrality Studies: https://neutralitystud... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRkZzWE5OOFBFRlcyanJYOVk4R0VSY3xBSTVJdTV1blNOdFNCOUppN1RZMGlyVDhZZmIzWURJREk3THJPZHVJejQ4bGh6aEc1Vjl0TzdDTnhXcHZMdmNIQkhTODU0eWtQTlBWa0J0aElOSVE0NnJEdFhfektISEZySHYy&q=https%3A%2F%2Fneutralitystudies.com%2Fdonate&v=llSgrF8h9AU)Neutrality Studies shop: https://neutralitystud... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRzBubWhNUEJZdlBjcWZMdDB1Tkh6UnxBSTVJdTV0YUJCbnBmUDRLODZJZ04zM0xJTlc3QjVGblZMYkE5eWRBTXR2R3JwSWZELVhVaUxJek9weVpuNWdUalRnRzRZVlhUc3RqNE1CUjB3bmZldEJyWFhRYjhRZ2g3ZnNt&q=https%3A%2F%2Fneutralitystudies.com%2Fshop&v=llSgrF8h9AU)Time Stamps00:00 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU) Introduction: diagnosing the patient04:56 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=296s) Intelligence, conformity and mass formation08:31 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=511s) Loneliness and the appeal of collective narratives15:56 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=956s) Intolerance, propaganda and conflict19:39 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=1179s) Sincere speech and rebuilding human connections24:10 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=1450s) Q&A: anxiety and propaganda38:17 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=2297s) History, class and the limits of mass psychology56:40 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llSgrF8h9AU&t=3400s&pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D) Belief, experience and the final audience questions
Who has been a guest on Neutrality Studies
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Christoph Pfluger
Ivana Hughes
Steven Starr
Nel Bonilla
Konstatin Zhgenti
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