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Glenn Diesen
chats with
Amb. Chas Freeman
Aug 1, 2026
This video features a conversation between host Professor Glenn Diesen and former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chas Freeman. They discuss the decline of diplomacy in the West, the transition toward a multipolar (or "multinodal") world order, and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Key Discussion Points:
- The Collapse of Western Diplomacy (0:00 - 20:57): Ambassador Freeman argues that diplomacy is effectively "dead" in the West, replaced by ultimatums, threats, and a lack of strategic common sense. He attributes this to media consolidation, the negative influence of social media, and a shift in leadership away from expert practitioners. (But not the obvious villain, an unfettered imperialism and the criminality it implies).
- A Shift to Multipolarity (13:28 - 24:50): The speakers discuss the transition from the U.S.-led unipolar moment to a complex, multinodal system. They emphasize that nations are increasingly acting based on their own agency and interests rather than strictly adhering to alignment with a single superpower.
- Understanding Non-Western Perspectives (26:20 - 36:35): Freeman discusses how non-Western nations are adopting Western concepts like sovereignty and the rule of law but applying them within their own civilizational contexts. He highlights the need for the West to move away from a "messianic" or "universalist" impulse that insists other nations mimic its own political model.
- The Middle East Crisis (36:45 - 51:10): The analysis pivots to the Middle East, where Freeman describes the current situation as a result of the post-Ottoman "anarchy" and the failure of Western-drawn borders. He discusses the Iran-Israel conflict, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and the weakening of U.S. regional security architecture.
- The War of Attrition (51:15 - 57:24): The conversation concludes with a discussion on how current U.S. military actions, such as those in the Strait of Hormuz and the depletion of ammunition, are weakening the United States' global posture, while potentially being viewed as a favorable development by Russia and China.
