E95 - Episode 95: The idea that broke the Middle East, with Dr. Micah Goodman

In the middle of war sirens and missile attacks, Haviv Gur sits down with Israeli philosopher Micah Goodman for a sweeping conversation about one of the biggest questions of our time: Why have some societies declined while others thrive? They trace the ideological roots of modern Islamist movements, the “politics of blame” that has hollowed out regimes like Iran, and the deep miscalculation that led Israel’s enemies to believe a liberal democracy would collapse under pressure. Instead, Israel revealed a strange and powerful formula—combining fierce individualism with tribal solidarity—that produced both technological strength and extraordinary willingness to sacrifi...