Pesci-ent Knowledge: Stephen Kotkin on Xi’s China, Putin’s Russia | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution

Recorded on November 1st, 2022
Can China’s current authoritarian model hold without destroying its economy, and what’s the near-term outlook for the war in Ukraine? Stephen Kotkin, the Hoover Institution’s Kleinheinz Senior Fellow and an authority on geopolitics and authoritarian regimes (and a Joe Pesci soundalike) joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss the latest in Xi Jinping’s China and Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
ABOUT THE SERIES
GoodFellows, a weekly Hoover Institution broadcast, features senior fellows John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, and H.R. McMaster discussing the social, economic, and geostrategic ramifications of this changed world. They can’t banter over lunch these days, but they continue their spirited conversation online about what comes next, as we look forward to an end to the crisis.
For more in this series visit, www.hoover.org/goodfellows.

[@fotouhi]

Kotkin never disappoints. He's a true treasure.

[@ryanward10]

Unbelievable performance. Brilliant, insightful, poking fun at each other, relevant, high level, yet accessible. 👏

[@mart7379]

I nominate Kotkin as the 4th Goodfellow!

[@--Dani]

I second that...would make a great show/podcast into the best👍

[@penponds]

Hmmm… was the Three Musketeers improved in the Fourth…? LOL!

[@sykes2698]

Dr Kotkin is such a pleasure to watch and listen to

[@missKfierce]

Stephen Kotkin is a such a joy to listen to.

[@ffleischer]

The intro with Nikita Khrushchev claps 👏🏻 for Kotkin is 🤌🏼 What an entertaining and informative episode!!

[@zewpustyni1485]

Great episode, Joe Pesci was a great guest.

[@misterwilliam]

I see Stephen Kotkin and I just click.

[@salmanismail5330]

I could listen to stephen kotkin speak all day. 🇬🇧

[@joedo3529]

I see Stephen Kotkin, I could not click any faster.

[@andrewgrubb9268]

In my opinion the GoodFellows + Steve Kotkin at the Hoover Institution is without peer. A mesmerising 1 1/4 hour discussion.

[@coryzane.]

Love the show, Niall has met his match😁 Mr Kotkin is brilliant. Would love to see him back more!

[@kibirkshtis]

I just love him! Never miss any interview with Stephen. Greetings from Lithuania.

[@illyavogel1660]

Steven Kotkin was a great surprise, this is quickly turning into my favorite weekly show.

[@dancaulfield1008]

Kotkin is the man!!!!!

[@mikelis106]

it is like the sky clearing when he talks, everything becomes clear.

[@financereigns]

What a powerhouse panel of insight into this generation’s most prescient global issues!

[@RAM-py6zp]

Stephen Kotkin amazing as always. Thanks for bringing him

[@peterprocopio2192]

Great panel and discussion. Please invite Stephen to join on a regular basis.

[@AsharRM]

What a great world we live in to have all these eminent intellectuals give us this information for free while also keeping us entertained. God bless you all. ❤🎉

[@ninabak744]

Thanks so much. Professor Kotkin , already look forward to your return on the show.

[@aurelio-reymilaorcabal9669]

Goodfellow is one of my favorite shows and Stephen Kotkin and HR McMaster the best of analysts.

[@One_Nation_Conversation]

Lol, I love the title to this episode. Goodfellows certainly have a sense of humor -- Joe Pesci would approve. Dr. Kotkin never fails to deliver.

[@RutwikPandit]

How, absolutely love Stephen. One of the best episodes yet !

[@davidj7201]

Great to see Kotkin on Goodfellows live.

[@mpro9306]

Kotkin is the GOAT

[@yttlnn45]

WooHoo! The Legend Himself! What a treat!🥳 Thanks a lot Hoover!😊

[@consssf]

It's a great gift for me to have another opportunity to listen to such a great person as Stephen Kotkin. Thank you guys for that.

[@gnazlis]

I can't say what was more the case with this episode, the laughter I had or the knowledge I gained. CONGRATULATIONS!!! P.S. I vote for Kotkin to become part of the gang - or at least to come again many times!

[@syjiang]

Amazing guest, great contribution

[@shoofly529]

Ditto!

[@johnrhodes3350]

Stephen was almost enjoying himself too much, with those friendly jibes. But everyone else had the benefit and was just enjoying being on the same stage. Thank you gentlemen that was as enjoyable as it was informative, not withstanding the most grave and tragic subject. May true wisdom prevail and a lasting peace come quickly.

[@alexanderbristo4599]

Steve Kotkin is brilliant

[@user-oi9iz9jr8y]

Fantastic show. Steven is very interesting

[@saralwen2622]

Kotkin and McMaster are voices of reason as allways. Great content👌

[@Theiliteritesbian]

Yay! My days are always better with a new stephen k drop. I usually listen to it twice bc he chooses his words so well there is a lot of content in each sentence. Thanks for having him back I really appreciate it.

[@IRoch86]

I'll watch any video with Prof Kotkin, he should have a podcast or his own KZbin channel!!

[@deankruse2891]

so glad Stephen Kotkin was able to be on this episode. Thank you for putting these out, for free, for us to enjoy.

[@philipford6183]

An outstanding episode - well done to all involved. A fascinating conversation - Kotkin's a very special guest.

[@bpm990d]

Fantastic epispde and very enlightening conversation. Prof. Kotkin is quickly becoming one of my favorite academics.

[@robertdobosz9681]

Wow Kotkin is a superstar!

[@--Dani]

Somehow include Dr. Kotkin in the Goodfellows podcast full-time...my God a great podcast would be best ever. Big fan either way Fellows 👍

[@MrEnjoyBeats]

Kotkin is always a pleasure!

[@judge4all]

I highly recommend that the Good Fellows extend further invitation to the fine Professor to the show.

[@Bad_spark]

Kotkin is bloody hilarious and brilliant as usual. He really is extremely entertaining when he's in front of a camera. Yes, Cochrane, Ferguson and McMaster are also great, but Kotkin really shines in this format.

[@liamblackshaw3164]

The episode we've all been waiting for.

[@Saggizone]

Hurrah for the Steve!!!! I asked! 🙏👌

[@pilarramos3305]

My favorite historian. Thank you for featuring him, fascinating and fun, great combination.

[@mel3004]

What a great show! Thanks so much.

[@Xandil]

It's always great to hear Dr. Kotkin, but especially so with the Good Fellows. It makes my commute back and forth to the office much more enjoyable. Thanks!

[@andrewdemchyshyn6599]

Me as Ukrainian could not have said it more clearer then Kotkin did. He just knocked out of park. Public need to hear more such accurate takes, it will definitely clear a lot of confusing and will help to drum up support for Ukraine

[@jonnyjazzz]

Wow, I have never heard a description of this time period of China like this. Really glad I watched this.

[@peredavi]

Such fantastic discussions and information. Thank you! I’m just a retired airfreight pilot and merchant marine engineer who loves to read history and geopolitics. I went to Nanjing, China as a cadet engineer in 1982, then flew a great deal into Hong Kong, Shanghai,Tsingtao and Guangzhou 1999-2020. Saw a lot of changes. I was greatly disturbed by trade imbalances and I.P. theft for many years.

[@idriwzrd]

What an excellent discussion. Kotkin was an invaluable addition.

[@WhizzingFish12]

1st Comment - woo hoo! Kotkin is brilliant in both knowledge and explanatory ability. Always love listening to him.

[@mattben]

Knowledge and humor, i love it

[@strelnikoff1632]

Great show. Full marks.

[@MrCarlGW]

Stephen, you were remarkable. Thank-you. I'm finishing up Paradox of Power. Take your time on Vol III. I still have II to read. 😃

[@hhmichitsch]

Excellent show! Love Kotkin, what a speaker, what a wit. I laughed several times. It is so refeshing to hear such intelligent conversation and comment. I hope to see more from the "Big K" in future at Hoover. As to Mr Kotkin's qestion, I'm one, I don't know who the other guy is.

[@lawrencemartin24]

Kotkin is fascinating.

[@ChrisHam01]

What a fantastic episode. A new high watermark. Thanks!

[@hikerJohn]

Kotkin is great to listen to. He needs to get out more often . . . :o)

[@charlesmackey8179]

Outstanding from All !

[@messinround4810]

Yay professor Kotkin!

[@SidekickSam24]

It's nice to have people who can talk about these serious topics but can keep it light-hearted. It can be easy to get frustrated or despairing when looking at the problems in the world. We need to remember to not take everything too seriously and allow room for humor. Humor can solve some of the problems on its own.

[@dickjivas5996]

PLEASE bring this man back, you're my favorite 5.

[@DennisDithmar]

Brilliant show. Kotkin is always worth the while - and then some.

[@designwithintent8270]

Gentlemen, another insightful analysis of the war and beyond!

[@allen143]

Live and in person, what a refreshing change.

[@slavemonkey5063]

Great show, great guest! Bring Steven Kotkin back anytime to talk about anything, not just Russia!

[@oliverliddell613]

I love this guy. He is so disarming in appearance and accent but so fluent in his knowledge and delivery.

[@annejames2442]

Stephen Kotkin my absolute favorite. Thank you for a great show.

[@thanksfernuthin]

So nice to see face to face discourse. I never realized how important that was until the COVID Zoom era. If this conversation was held on Zoom it would have had half the information and twice the talk over/awkward pauses. We humans definitely need to see each other's facial and body cues real time to efficiently converse.

[@freda7436]

I would pay good money to hear Kotkin do the " I'm funny? Funny how?..." line Joe Pesci does in Goodfellas!

[@ma7rix13]

I propose Professor K as a permanent member of the Goodfellas. His intelligence and comedic input really makes this enjoyable to listen to.

[@JieSuCabc]

I learned a lot from Stephen Kotkin. Thank you.

[@sadkyagzyetim3434]

Hoover Institution: How much Kotkin content do you want ? Me: YES !

[@ericwillis777]

Thankyou for this podcast, and well done Stephen Kotkin, excellent comments and responses, much appreciated.

[@mart7379]

Outstanding. I look forward to every Goodfellows episode.

[@elmarwolters2751]

Thank you guys, I'm learning .....

[@matthewhartt5887]

Thank you Prof. Kotkin for teaching me so much. Thank you sir.

[@overlex]

I wish Kotkin would quote Pesci more often 😂 He’s a very funny guy!

[@jeffrnyquist]

Brilliant comments from Prof. Kotkin. Excellent!

[@BKLevi]

I seriously enjoyed this show. One to save.

[@geraldarcuri9307]

Absolutely superb analysis of ground level history!

[@redsix5165]

I was anticipating the cheers and laughed when I heard them!

[@omacburma]

Great show, thanks for bringing Dr. Kotkin on. The show is at it's best when it deals with issues like these.

[@dmeyer0]

Thank you, Stephen Kotkin. Thank you so much - this was a fascinating show. I'm a huge fan and am eagerly awaiting the 3rd book in your Stalin biography.

[@harrybarber4391]

Great discussion. Thank you all!

[@michaelodonovan6989]

Serious guy with a great sense of humour. Love the whole panel as well. Well done people, subscribed.

[@SeattlePioneer]

Yes, but STEPHEN! WHEN can we expect Volume III of Stalin? When that has been delivered, I will be glad to hear you on these talk shows! I don't want to see graven on Stephen's tombstone: "Volumes I & II of Stalin were GREAT!"

[@roxannekeomaka4754]

Mr. Kotkin is so interesting. I can listen and learn fro him all day, everyday!

[@richardt.buryan832]

OUTSTANDING.

[@mikelis106]

finally you got him here, sure enough he played hard to get!

[@Rader-iv9fk]

Guys, you MUST add Kotkin to the Goodfellas podcast, I am telling you this guy is awesome, and I love the accent. Your Podcast will explode in a GREAT way! Kotkin is a commen sense guy but he is brilianT!

[@henkbielderman4243]

What a pleasure!

[@cool_guy]

GoodFellows 3D Love u guys!

[@Paochinblog]

Kudos to Ukraine. It is crucial to establish a universal nation that incorporates smaller countries capable of contributing unique strategies against communism. Dr. Kotkin's insights are highly valued.

[@jennieknutson5289]

Thank you for the great conversation 😀, hope you do get the wife's on sometime too!

[@mst7155]

Great discussion!!!! All these people seem to have deep insights and were able to think and talk clearly about issues that are not at all obvious or even simple.

[@TheHighlanderprime]

Steven’s Pesci accent and orator style and his profound knowledge makes for a very unique and original presentation. Just imagine Joe Pesci making these presentations. It’s both funny and captivating.

[@MonkeyEmpires]

With Mr. Kotkin, the panel includes all my heroes! ❤

[@markc5025]

Excellent show. Stephen was great as always. Very hard to make a prediction about the war. It will come down to which society can endure more pain. We have poor visibility into how badly the sanctions are hitting Russia. The effect of mobilization on the Russian economy has to be massive along with the cutoff of European purchases of gas and oil. My money is on the Ukrainians.

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

The math doesn’t lie.