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Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

ABC Australia
United States
Donald Trump
China
Australia
Israel
Bangladesh
Russia
NATO
Democratic Party
World War II
Iran
Hamas
United Nations
Hezbollah
Jair Bolsonaro
South China Sea
Ukraine
Brazil
Immigration
Tiktok

Move beyond the headlines to see how the past defines our world. Whether it's a local or international story, Rear Vision's expert analysis gives you the background you need to understand today's news.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes373Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Rear Vision

Latest Episodes

This year has seen an uncharacteristic flurry of meetings and engagement between North Korea, China and Russia.

Is a North Asia bromance blossoming or are we seeing a calculated collaboration?

The conflict between Israel and Lebanon that flared up in March this year is not new. Despite having no major border dispute or a struggle over resources, Israel and Lebanon have been in conflict for decades.

The history of Lebanon’s relationship w... more

Hezbollah has been a key political and military player in Lebanon for decades.

In 2000 it forced the Israeli military out of Southern Lebanon and since then has been in almost constant conflict with Israel. Since the October 7 terrorist attack by H... more

Fifteen years ago, events in Libya dominated world headlines. In 2011, during the “Arab Spring”, Western leaders pledged their determination to free the Libyan people from decades of oppression under Muammar Gaddafi. NATO jets were deployed. Today, a... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Mireille Rabiz
Director of Dickinson College; Associate Professor of Politics at University of Otago; author on Lebanon
Dickinson College / University of Otago
Episode: Israel Lebanon and the Palestinian story
Ziad Abourish
Associate Professor of Human Rights at Bard College
Bard College
Episode: Israel Lebanon and the Palestinian story
Dan Naor
Historian of modern Lebanese history
Ariel University
Episode: Israel Lebanon and the Palestinian story
Asaf Oyon
Brigadier General IDF Reserve; Senior Fellow at INSS Tel Aviv; International Fellow at Washington Institute
Israel Defense Forces / INSS / Washington Institute
Episode: Israel Lebanon and the Palestinian story
Halal Jalber
Journalist, author of Hezbollah profile; Beirut correspondent
The Middle East/Journalism
Episode: Hezbollah: Resistance fighters or terrorists
Amal Saad Ghorayeb
Academic and author of Hezbollah Politics and Religion
Academic/Lebanese political analysis
Episode: Hezbollah: Resistance fighters or terrorists
Juan Cole
Professor of Middle East History
University of Michigan
Episode: Hezbollah: Resistance fighters or terrorists
Tim Eaton
Senior Research Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa program
Chatham House
Episode: Whatever happened to Libya?
Emadeddin Badi
Conflict analyst
Unknown (ABC credits)
Episode: Whatever happened to Libya?

Hosts

Antony Funnell
Host of Rear Vision
Ros Bluett
Host of Rear Vision

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Past and present impact

    Enjoy the history of current issues and how they inform what is happening now.

    Balanced, well researched and easy listening. Every episode teaches me about how our world operates. I am left pondering how much we have learnt from history

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dalekflower
    Australiaa month ago
  • You don't know how important it is not to repeat history unless you know your history.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Aurorespera
    2 months ago
  • My never miss podcast

    I love how this show takes a current topic and deep dives through history to give the issue context.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Diddoms69
    Australia3 months ago
  • Best podcast in Australia

    This podcast continually provides excellent historical analysis to understand our world in context. Really love it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JayKayEmPee
    Australia3 months ago
  • Dead set fantastic stuff

    What an absolute gem this podcast is (in-depth, well researched, &

    beautifully put together) straight up information, no nonsense, no faffing, no extended intros - absolutely love this. I dead set love it - you peeps who put it together - I love your work ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tim Brunero
    Australia7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, evidence-based analysis with balanced perspectives.
Insightful historical context helps make sense of current events.
Engaging guests and rigorous scholarship are strong positives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#190
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#114
United Arab Emirates/History
Apple Podcasts
#144
New Zealand/History
Apple Podcasts
#162
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#181
China/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Whatever happened to Libya?
Q: How have external powers influenced Libya's trajectory since 2011?
Various regional and global powers—especially the UAE, Turkey, Russia, and, at times, the United States—have supported different Libyan factions for strategic reasons, often pursuing their own interests over a coherent international peace plan, which has prolonged instability.
Whatever happened to Libya?
Q: Who is Khalifa Haftar, and why has he been such a persistent obstacle to a unified Libyan state?
Haftar built a large, independent armed force in eastern Libya with backing from regional players, which enabled him to wield military power beyond political reach, undermining national-level negotiations and contributing to the country's enduring split.
Whatever happened to Libya?
Q: What drove the West to intervene in 2011, and why did that intervention not lead to a stable post-Gaddafi Libya?
The consensus was to protect civilians from mass atrocities, but the lack of a clear post-conflict plan and the exit of international sponsors allowed regional powers and Libyan factions to fill the vacuum, leading to ongoing fragmentation rather than a cohesive transition.
The history and future of women in combat
Q: Was there significant pushback when women began serving in combat roles?
There was surprisingly limited pushback in some countries at the time, largely because scandals and ongoing sexism within the forces made the change more palatable to the public, though some conservative voices opposed it.
Weaponised trade and a return to gunboat diplomacy
Q: What are the implications of US-China tensions?
There will be significant global GDP losses and double-digit welfare losses for developing countries.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rear Vision

What is Rear Vision about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show consistently probes how historical forces shape current events, from regional conflicts and diplomacy to social and political transformations. Listeners encounter deep context on questions like state-building, war accountability, migration, and global power dynamics, anchored by historians, policy experts, journalists, and regional scholars. The program stands out for its rigorous sourcing, nuanced debates, and a tendency to present multiple perspectives—often reframing familiar topics through long-view historical analysis. This combination makes it especially valuable for decision-makers seeking context for complex global issues, as well as for curious listeners who enjoy evidence-based storytelling grounde... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Rear Vision:

1. Big Ideas
2. If You're Listening
3. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald
4. Late Night Live — Full program podcast
5. Saturday Extra - Full program podcast

How many episodes of Rear Vision are there?

Rear Vision launched 20 years ago and published 373 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Rear Vision?

Recent guests on Rear Vision include:

1. Mireille Rabiz
2. Ziad Abourish
3. Dan Naor
4. Asaf Oyon
5. Halal Jalber
6. Amal Saad Ghorayeb
7. Juan Cole
8. Tim Eaton

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