The 2020 Holberg Debate with John Bolton & Yanis Varoufakis: “Is Global Stability A Pipe Dream?”

At the 2020 Holberg Debate, Amb. John Bolton and Member of the Hellenic Parliament Yanis Varoufakis discussed current threats to regional and global stability. The debate took place on 5 December and was chaired from Bergen, Norway.
The Holberg Debate is an annual event organised by the Holberg Prize. The debate is inspired by Ludvig Holberg's Enlightenment ideas and aims to explore pressing issues of our time.
The Holberg Prize is an international reserach prize awarded annually to scholars who have made outstanding contributions to research in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology. The Prize was established by the Norwegian government in 2003 and is administered by the University of Bergen.
PROGRAM
00:48 Welcome by moderator Scott Gates, Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo
06:15 Ambassador John Bolton opening statement
19:58 Professor Yanis Varoufakis opening statement
39:10 The Holberg Debate starts
01:51:12 Q&A
02:18:00 Ambassador John Bolton closing remarks
02:20:02 Professor Yanis Varoufakis closing remarks
ABOUT THE 2020 HOLBERG DEBATE
At the 2020 Holberg Debate we were joined via videolink by two top speakers who have both been important policy makers at crucial times in their respective countries: Member of the Hellenic Parliament and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and Ambassador John Bolton (US), former National Security Advisor and US Ambassador to the UN. Moderator for the event is Scott Gates, Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo (UiO), as well as Guest Researcher at UiO’s Department of Economics and Research Professor at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
PHOTO CREDITS: Yanis Varoufakis. Photo: Olaf Kosinsky (kosinsky.eu) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0). John Bolton. Photo: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)
For more information: See the Holberg Prize website:
holbergprisen.no/en/holberg-p...

[Holberg Prize]

Watch all the Holberg Debates here: holbergprize.org/en/en/holberg-prize/holberg-debate

[Bubu Baba]

Yanis Varoufakis is a real breath of fresh air on the political scene

[fffwe]

🤭

[DrCruel]

@gunnarMyTube I've heard. Google how that turned out.

[gunnarMyTube]

He was Finance Minister for Greece

[Jimmy Recard]

@DrCruel tell me what you’re hearing then

[Charlie McGrain]

Fabulous. Incredible example of intellect vs ideology. We have to be thankful there are not more John Bolton's in this world. It would have ended a long time ago.

[☭Comrade Natalie☭]

Intellect+ideology vs merely ideology.

[scott fay]

he should get disappeared

[tigershark1]

When you have people like John here walking around free, you should know your system is corrupt

[Duane Craig]

@Clement In some ways the two parties are similar and in other ways they are different, certainly when it comes to foreign affairs they are way too similar on a really bad foreign policy position.

[Clement]

Woe, woe, I guess the American public have little choice of any peace loving and moral government...both the Donkey and Elephant are the similar bed fellas in different clothes !

[Mark Harris]

I’m only 45 minutes in... but this is ridiculous. I am a conservative economist, and found Varoufakis’ summary of the economic history of the last 100 years to be fascinating: factual, illuminating, precise and perfect. I have never heard or read such an excellent, succinct account, anywhere. In just 10 minutes, he demonstrated his depth of understanding and complete mastery of what he discussed. For Bolton to immediately dismiss it as a “Marxist” interpretation is idiotic. Varoufakis might well be a Marxist, and I would love to spend an evening drinking with him arguing about incentives, property rights and a dozen other things about which I am sure we would disagree; but there is no way that his opening statement was Marxist. It was sheer brilliance.

[Demetrios Athenaios]

@Psilent Music UK He has described himself as an "Erratic Marxist" He is very much aware of what Carl Marx has written, but he has disagreed with Marx in some major points... Others have called "capitalist" for example Gillian Tett, the British author and journalist at the Financial Times, kzbin.info/www/bejne/faeZYmZmoLite7s

[bina nocht]

@Lorena Wolfman unfortunately most of us are so dumb we have no idea what half of the stuff they're talking about even means. So trite doctrine that people recognise might appeal to them more than complex nuances.

[nadja vale]

It is an immense pleasure to listen to you, Professor Varoufakis! Thank you!

[Bernie Holland]

1:10:00 I have resigned myself to endure this in its entirety - and mid-way through I am coming to the realisation that Bolton is not too far away from being certified insane - so let us be grateful for the existence of Professor Varoufakis

[DrCruel]

@Daniel Andrews Certainly Left fascists struggle with the task.

[Daniel Andrews]

I know it's not easy being human, but I'm wondering if the repeated mispronunciation of a name is ever excusable...

[Betty Jones]

"I am coming to the realisation that Bolton is not too far away from being certified insane" 100% Bernie

[DrCruel]

I have resigned myself to endure this in its entirety - and mid-way through I am coming to the realisation that Varoufakisis not too far away from being certified insane - so let us be grateful for the existence of John Bolton.

[Ongo Gablogian]

"Socialism for the few, austerity for the many." My hope "is that we do not make a desert and call it stability." Yanis is so excellent. Bolton has no shame or honor.

[Chase Francis]

Settle down, crazy cat lady.

[El Ougid]

Calgacus a tribal chieftan from scotland said that about the Romans, they make a desert and call it peace

[Alessandro Colacci]

but first... allow me to destroy your gallery.

[Ken Rimmer]

Thank you mr. Varoufakis, Bolton's thinking needs to be called out for exactly what it is and using the term primitive is a perfect description!

[Faris Btoush]

@Alex aoeu256 epstein island style

[Alex aoeu256]

How did such primitive thinking get such a high position…

[Richie Dharma]

There is almost no comparison between the high levels of articulation and knowledge from Varoufakis, and the measly finger-pointing by Bolton.

[El Ougid]

When Bolton said primitive tribes were capitalist I literally burst out laughing like a maniac alone in my room at 2am in the morning

[Floyd Black]

So much ignorance regarding the Comanche trading empire in the southwest with the other Indians, Spanish, British and Americans.

[Julian Cochran]

@Si Chambers Agreed. Stone Age cultures can even be observed today (Aboriginal Australia though prior to all integration, there is lot of footage as late as 1950s and 60s, or right now Kalahari Bushmen in Africa even today) and they share *everything*. Including land of course. They also don’t “compete” economically, the cooperate. They compete for status but that has northing to do with economics. Their system, like our childhood family environment, is overwhelmingly more accurately described as communist (thus our natural system, if you want to call it that) than capitalist. The idea of capitalism being something foundational is just brainwashing and rationalisation.

[bina nocht]

@Si Chambers agreed.

[Si Chambers]

@bina nocht Capitalism requires a currency, legally enforceable rights, a banking system etc. I mean, perhaps it is possible, but it's very unlikely. We've had plenty of other economic systems that delivered inequality and motivated by self interest. Those qualities alone don't guarantee capitalism

[Antoine O Fionnagain]

Yanis has poetry in his soul, Bolton has neither poetry nor soul.

[DrCruel]

@Iason Tsopoulos Homer Simpson perhaps.

[DrCruel]

@Bernie Holland Your approval is noted and appreciated.

[DrCruel]

@Svetoslav Atanasov You're welcome.

[DrCruel]

@Michael Ridgway Thanks.

[Jimi Lindley]

I didn't think I could hate Bolton anymore than I already did. Then I listened to this whole debate.

[Michael De Young]

It was like watching a debate between good and evil. Thank you Yanis.

[Arthur Huizar]

Bro what are you talking about? Your guy sounds like Dracula. 🧛‍♂️

[Michael De Young]

@Sohrab Amiri kind of you to say, thank you

[Sohrab Amiri]

Hi You have a great insight I do respect you 🤔😜

[ukmuziktv]

I'm just amazed bolton can talk for over 20 mins without interuption but still say absolutely nothing

[S Leo]

Lots of talk not much substance, leaves a strong hawkish taste every time, each one crying out for war or confrontation

[night of the world]

lol ya

[northofyou33]

Seriously.

[ssp]

Varoufakis wiped the floor with Bolton, I wasn’t surprised.

[zahr Music]

This was like pitting a sea cucumber against the oracle.

[Unwind Relax Meditate Heal]

It's sad to see how one side offers a solution to every problem and the other finds a problem with every solution.

[Francis Powell]

I was struggling to find those words.

[Mole Man]

Yanis' view on the global instability is immensely insightful and convincing. It is such a privilege to be able to gain such great knowledge free on the internet for free.

[Mary Brody]

Having watched the whole thing, I can only conclude that Bolton is shockingly dumb, or he is genuinely taking the piss. Top marks for Varoufakis for not sighing at him, even once. He was magnanimity personified.

[A NNYER]

I would say shockingly dumb!

[Odin All farther]

In his day he belonged to a group known as the crazy's him Rumsfeld and all the usual suspects .

[O Foghladha]

@John Lawson well said

[Raymond Calleja]

I greatly enjoyed the debate. The debaters were fantastic and respectful to each other. Let's have more, please. Thank you.

[Pierce Moghaddam]

Yanis Varoufakis is an amazing mind, Glad I got to know of him.

[NeuralLink]

We need this kind of debates to keep us aware that how ill-informed and subjective we can be.

[Ye Tian]

First 30 min into the "debate", I am reviewing my undergraduate principles of macro-economics under the instruction of professor Yanis Varoufakis

[AudiophileTubes]

Varoufakis is amazing, on so many levels!

[Jean Kaplan]

I find John Bolton's world view terrifying. Structures for threat mitigation (until the threats disappear in and of themselves) - sounds like endless war. Certainly has worked very well since the 70's, the threats have just disappeared, haven't they? I'm glad we have people like Yanis trying to think strategically, even if for now he's a voice in the wilderness.

[Paul Brett]

@bina nocht the trick is not to mistake long words for intelligence.

[bina nocht]

@Jean Kaplan true. But then if you have an articulate person speaking intelligently and a clown half the population or more are only going to understand the clown.

[bina nocht]

@Lex772 totally. Unconsciousness personified.

[Jrbnrbr]

46:45 moderator totally saves Bolton by getting him off the hook for Varoufakis's question

[Alyn Ames]

Then around 1:00:10 he interrupts Varoufakis to essentially argue on Bolton's behalf. Haven't finished yet, but I'd be very surprised if he does the same going the other direction. Moderator seems about 90% in Bolton's corner.

[Pensieri]

Such a huge difference between Bolton and Varoufakis. While Bolton immediately jumps into a "our enemies are always at fault" attack versus Varoufakis who adopts a moremeasured, mature and intellectual approach and attitude to the state of world affairs.

[Maria Vila]

The fact that professor Varoufakis has become as notable as he has is proof that capitalism as we know it is in its death throws. People are actively seeking alternative which scares the hell out of the corporate elites.

[Richann Haxton]

This, for me, was actually quite amazing. If only primary election debates were this well constructed it would turn politics on its head. This simple question about GLOBAL INSTABILITY and the following two different perspectives are PROFOUNDLY Different and Make for potentially PROFOUNDLY different RESULTS. One should know what IDEOLOGIES they are truly VOTING for, to REPRESENT their WILL. Though neither of these men are running for office, perse', they are greatly influential and represent vastly different powerful political movements and / or plausible solutions to our Collective Experience that may forever change the trajectory of our shared experience for generations to come.

[Roberto Collins Lazo L]

Behind Bolton you can see an elephant, an eagle, and a hand grenade. That describes his character. Thanks Yanis for your excellent presentation.

[Paul Sufi]

Incredible professor Varoufakis... the mass media should amplify this kind of message.

[Γιάννης Σπίνος]

The mass nedia in Greece massacred Varoufakis in 2015

[Paul Sufi]

@panayotis panayotis I think that is untrue. He is just against this "philanthropist" private corporation.

[panayotis panayotis]

I like Yanis and he is a charming & well educated man . What I do not like, is his relationship with the monster George Soros and thus Bill Gates !!!

[Paul Sufi]

@Pat Den But why it is so fucking obvious? We should stop this way of consuming and realize what is really going on. Fascism is winning guys...

[Camcolito]

I never thought I'd say this, but fair play to John Bolton (for letting Varoufakis sort him out)

[MegaLotusEater]

lol

[XD Gao]

if this is a movie, Bolton looks and talks like a villain from the start…

[Francis Powell]

He exists in a world of villains, dictated by a belief that human nature is inherently evil.

[Zereay Meshesha]

When the gentleman spoke of surveillance state and largest incarcerated population, I genuinely thought he was speaking of the United States, Orwell would be embarrassed that even he could not dream up such conditions as the US government has been able to impose.

[Anna Lippert]

The gulf between approaches, literally between the constructive and the destructive, is encapsulated in this metaphor by Yanis Varoufakis: (38:58) "I'm looking forward to the discussion we're going to have, but let me finish with a hope that we do not make a desert and call it stability."

[Tina Tang]

I think Prof Varouvakis is brilliant in his analysis and recommendation.

[SolidAir54321]

Bolton: How can we win the game for the U.S. elite. Varoufakis: How can we get to a more harmonious world.

[kungfreddie]

@Eric MacRae and btw... conservatives?? We are not Americans.. we have 8 parties in parlament that are all along the political spectrum.. u should at least know that if ur speaking about a countries politics.

[kungfreddie]

@Eric MacRae u know nothing about sweden.. I lived through it and didn't just skim through a wiki entry (if even that). The social democrats had the power in sweden most of the time between 1950-2000. And they did a lot of projects to bring ppl out of poverty, but the problem was that the government had monopoly in so many business, and where they didn't high taxes made them move out of the country, that at the end of the 70s sweden was almost bankrupt and they had to move to a more open market, lower taxes way of governing. And between 1995-2014 sweden was great! It wasn't until the massive immigration in 2015 that we became the rape capitol of Europe, that gun violence and gang activity broke out everywhere. And I'm not blaming that on the immigrants. I'm blaming the government that takes in more ppl than they can care for. It's like a crazy cat lady that has 30 cats even though she can.only care for 5. We all know what happens to ALL the cats on such cases, they live in starvation and sickness and misery. And now we haven't even.mentioned the brain drain and cash flight from countries that really need those things. U think it's poor ppl or low intelligence ppl that flee from syria or Africa? Hardly, since it cost like 10-20k usd to smugglers to do the trip. These ppl are needed in their home countries to rebuild. This is the new way of colonization, instead of taking land we take the most productive ppl. And no, that they ate productive doesn't help sweden either, it just hurts syria. Bcoz they come from a dictatorship where u don't trust anything with the government and they are smart they make sure not to pay tax when working and at the same time get welfare. You know nothing about the situation in sweden!

[Eric MacRae]

@kungfreddie blaming the immigrants is the typical conservative tactic. It always has been. The conservative never actually criticise the system on how it generate the inequality that exist. Rather they always seeks the minority and the average Joe to blame for the systamic failure. For the record the problem that sweeden is facing is because of the neo-liberalism policies that it was introduced has a way to fix the problem of the 80-90s. It is the main governing policy that has governing the western world for the past 40 years. Data after data after data has been shown that it was a total failure to lift people out of poverty but it made them poorer and the rich richer. This includes Sweeden! I know the conservative want to say that the socialist policy is the fault of why our system failed. It was the same argument that Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Regan etc. All made in order to undo the Keynesian Era policies and established trickle-down economics as a way to solve the problem. So guess what the answer is not more capitalism or austerity measure. Those kinds of policies always leads to more problem down the road every single time. This is a basic facts about the world. We have data after data after data that trickle-down economics doesn't work and what you are advocating is trickle-down economics. You want to solve our problems here are some thing that we can do. Tax cut for the poor and tax the rich since trickle-down economic never works it only makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Every 7 years forgive all debts. Give power to the working class, strengthen unions etc. In other words, give power to the people and not the elite. An no amount of as homienen changes any the facts that I have stated.

[NewDawnRising]

The debate shows the stark difference between intelligence and ideology.

[pat max]

THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT CONVERSATION 👌

[Mr Balfour B]

Yanis was always a true speaker.

[Achilles Michopoulos]

Excellent pair... I wonder how on earth Bolton acceped the invitation. Yanis, as always, managed to dominate. The next president of the World Goverment (in my dreams).....

[Noble]

“I’m an outsider because I was a Republican at Yale” 👍 such a humble gargoyle

[Theodore Koulouris]

Essentially, Varoufakis sounds like a proper scholar possessed of a wonderful understanding of post-19th-century history, whereas Bolton sounds like a crank hellbent on war.

[YouTube Curates Content, algorithm is a lie]

Bolton: We need to keep threatening people that we'll punch them in the face. Veroufakis: You've already punched certain groups of people in the face...repeatedly!!! Subsequently, people behave quite badly and dysfunctionally when you punch them in the face. Perhaps, we need to find a way where we stop punching people in the face. Otherwise, you're stuck in a never ending conflict where possible progress is awlays stifled. Unless you're a large stock holder in defense contractors or a compete duplicitous psychopath, I fail to see how your argument is in any way functional. Bolton: But people behave badly when they're punched in the face. Therefore, we need to keep punching people in the face. Veroufakis: Idiot

[john malovitch]

They butchered his last name so many times

[Maria Vila]

Varoufakis is extremely knowledgeable and gets his point across very effectively.

[Grinning Guise]

Just 30 minutes in and you can tell that Bolton is completely over his head

[Joona Zhu]

‘ the worst way of being poor is poverty surrounded by wealth ‘ Yanis

[RedAnsyn]

46:37 it's hard not to percieve the host sprinting away from Varoufakis' clear, direct challenge to Bolton as covering fire or preferential treatment.

[Idrissa Morehouse]

Thank you Holberg Prize Organization - so refreshing to hear a high level intelligent debate on these huge and looming topics - Mr. Veroufakis is excellent -love that he called him out on presenting a solution rather than analysis and re-statement of the problem

[@Frostydei]

When Bolton said "Americans enjoy economic security" my drink shot through my nose 😐

[bina nocht]

@kungfreddie as far as I read the person was seen within 2 months and then got further treatment within 3 weeks. That's really good for a non emergency situation. You have to biopsy the cancer proliferate the cells look at the under a scope. You have to have mri or other scans to locate the thing. You have to plan a surgery which kind what body parts to remove how much to take whether to shrink the tumour first or not the state of the persons health is risk wise for surgery. For chemo for radiation. If the biopsy said it was a fast growing cancer than can double in a week then they would need to act very fast otherwise not so much. This is an older person with unknown cancer type. Must have been bad if they operated and people can doe from operations even with they don't have cancer. It must have either been very far gone or she died from complications. It happens. Figuring out what to do with someone with an advanced newly diagnosed cancer isn't easy. And if they they have cobmorbidities even harder. Possibly the person was obese etc. So considering that 8 weeks is not a long time to get set up to a cancer treatment plan. It happens all the time. Cancer kills . If you want evidence of the hospital system i america just look at the statistics. And then look at stories from real peoples lives on here on KZbin. You don't have to remain in the dark about whether that happens or not.

[kungfreddie]

@bina nocht high priority??? We had to push the whole summer for them to take it serious. And then wait x weeks more for treatment. And now she is dead. Just compare cancer survival rates between usa and eu countries. And what the hell do u need money 4 when ur dead? One thing I don't get.. so if a homeless person with no money comes to the hospital with an operable breastcancer the hospital will just kick them out and say: sorry, no money - u die! I doubt that somehow... I always hear this argument from leftists but never seen any evidence for it like news clips etc.. if that was the case why would ambulances even go when they get calls to skid row or some homeless encampment? Pretty obvious they don't have money.. I even heard u have a law that says they can't make u homeless bcoz of medical bills. Don't get me wrong.. all systems have pros and cons.. but alot of Americans seem to think European systems are just wonderful without drawbacks.

[bina nocht]

@kungfreddie you are ill informed. In the usa as a retired nurse your mom at 65 or above would be eligible for medicare which would cost her up to 500 dollars a month... if she got cancer the average wait time is 6 weeks. Depending on the type of insursnce The lower grades you could be paying up to 10grand for treatment. If you didn't have insurance it would cost you 40 grand for treatment on average. So if she was in America she would have waited six weeks. And still likely had to pay around 10 000 dollars average depending on her plan. Not to mention any care she needed after her treatment which js not covered if she needed ongoing care at home. Not to mention medications on top of that which may not be covered or whcih you need a different policy to cover .... not to mention her funeral costs in USA would be average twice the cost. Not that that would matter. I also always assumed you can get things done fast in USA if you have money. I only recently found out they have such long wait times there as well. Quite shocking. So don't worry you are far better off. And its unfortunate that people can't get treated immediately as you would with a broken leg but you have to remember that tests have to be done...even paying privately it takes time for test results to be processed even if you are a priority and it sounds like they gave your mom a high priority. Same for my aunt ...actually wished they gave her more time to make her choice because its a lot to take in and consider about the different treatments. She didn't go for surgery because of her age it is a high risk for surgery so hopefully radiation will work. But was all done within weeks. Which i think if they did it within days mistakes could easily be made tests could not be processed etc. Peopl3 have to be rearranged to make space for the machines and surgeons who also have a lot of dying children to prioritize. So i think 3 weeks is as fast as anyone would want it to be.

[Jakob Jäger]

I had no Idea that Yanis Varoufakis was such an intelligent economist. Only knew his name and that he was minister of finances

[Buick Adelaide]

Yanis an energetic intellectual Giant.

[Arne Hartmann]

When you invite someone like Bolton, you have to deal with the consequence that everyone in the room feels embarrassed to listen to his dangerous rants. Dont give guys like him a platform to basically agitate for war.

[Tushar Singh]

Bolton doesn't even know what capitalism is 😂

[JL]

Yanis Varoufakis is a very brilliant man, clear thoughts, inspiring.

[Adam Albrec]

Finally a debate between Good and Evil. Who knew it would be televised?

[Monarchial Entertainment, Barbados.]

lol lol .

[KanDoAllThings]

SPOT ON!! THIS is the War we are truly fighting!

[Anthony Peters]

😂

[Evan Grey]

@Chris Cebu Of course?

[john z]

wow. Bolton does not disappoint as the limping pedestrian he is.

[Tiger]

Kinda disappointed there wasn't a real exchange at several points when Varoufakis asked Bolten to address his statements rather than hand waiving his entire response and just resorting to "Well everything is complicated and China is bad"

[Nami Nea]

I couldn’t stop laughing hearing John Bolten. When he said Putin is playing a weak hand, I spilt my coffee laughing. Paid experts are paid to give expertise to everything the money wants. That’s called corruption and it’s common in so called science for centuries.

[ruha p]

I'm gonna watch more of this guy's videos, he seems honest, smart, and I just gotta know how his name is really pronounced.

[Lupe Merritt]

Yanis wins this one. Thank you Yanis.

[Niko Biniaris]

Mr Bolton is a living '70s time capsule.

[☭Comrade Natalie☭]

He kinda looks as if he came from one lol.

[Walt McCarthy]

The sad thing is, back in the Vietnam War Bolton was a draft dodger. I think a lot of us can agree to disagree when our opponents comes from genuine place. This is not case with Bolton. He is a cynical, manipulator. Shame on him.

[Cadhla O’Hanlon]

Michael Garcia couldn't agree more.

[Arlene Chambers]

Very interesting debate. Thank you.

[Diego]

God, Bolton's introductory speech was awful! "We good they bad, let's fight". Can't believe how many lies, mischievous misleading claims and totally delusional remarks were made in such a small time period. If someone asks why is the US such a problem for humanity at large, do show them this clip! I was kinda expecting Yannis to point out more atrocities committed by the US (besides supported military coup in Greece or Saudi Arabia), but I still liked the classy ways in which he somewhat undermined Bolton's alarming calls and at the same time picture the US away from that benign god-sent position that these types of American try so hard to push despite all evidence pointing them wrong. I'm sure there must be another person way more capable and knowledgeable than Bolton to call for this type of debate,probably someone from the Ivy league. Frankly, he didn't cut it for this event, just leave populist politics for him!

[Da Lia]

It's shocking how lawyers turn politicians like Mr. Bolton knows so little about world affairs, yet attaining high offices in US. Just left me speechless.

[Orson Olson]

WRONG. Bolton was never a lawyer. Only a diplomat.

[bina nocht]

As one senator says in the film religulous ...you don't need to do an iq test to run or office.

[tiefensucht]

the problems lies within the system. politics is all about legislation, but not only that, even the free market, science and creative industry is a legal minefield. it gets harder and harder to navigate the world without the deep knowledge of the legal system.

[yehya chalhoub]

Ooooof I would of never in a million years have imagined yanis and the Warner bros character being in dialogue lol

[Bernie Holland]

1:02:48 "The service of human happiness" - which apparently is anathema to Bolton

[NIvek]

Yanis showing us again why he’s one of the brightest and lucid minds of the 21st century

[Psilent Music UK]

@Stéphane du Père-de-la-croix I haven't read a single comment from you here that actually deals with why you think Varoufakis' economic suggestions during the debt crisis are unviable. I imagine that is because you can't actually make such an analysis, because you're an ideologue. I invite you to prove me wrong.

[Psilent Music UK]

@Jason Charalambides Your political views can be summed up as "everything I don't like or doesn't work is Socialism." How unsophisticated.

[PesoTalks]

Lucid is a beautiful term on him... I almost thought Bolton was asleep for like most of his lifetime.

[Jane Doe]

Not even close. He's smart, but not on that high of a level

[Stratos Ledee]

It’s worth learning Greek just to hear him address Parliament daily. His sense of humor is blindingly funny

[Daniel Niswander]

Excellent stuff - especially start at 1:56:00 to the end!

[jdawg]

Yanis: Bretton Woods was good Bolton: THAT'S MARXISM. I KNOW WHAT MARXISM IS AND THAT'S IT.

[Beri Bee]

As Mr Bolton went through the list of threats I thought he was talking about America. My mistake.

[raffey]

Listening to a thinker, like Varoufakis, is refreshing - wow. However, he is not alone. Left leaning thinkers are emerging all over the world. In particular, I don't think humanity has ever seen its young people more engaged or broadly informed - ever. Today is April 13, 2021 and I am off to see if I can find any comments or analysis by Varoufakis and Bolton regarding Biden's work to date. Thank you Holberg Debate, and host, for an excellent afternoon.

[trasigasfalt2]

Would love to hear part two 2023 edition

[Hank Astral]

Shocking how Bolton knows so little about economics and yet wielded so much global power.

[Seku Drame]

It’s shocking how much he know of anything at all, there don’t seem to be any substance in his talk apart from regurgitating an already established conservative views which has not context to anything but just a pure emotional reactions to a loosing a perceived power which never first existed.

[Diane Hoekstra]

@Jane Doe you can condemn China without going to war with them. Their actions in Hong Kong and Xinchiang are terrible, but nothing on the scale of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

[themarbleking]

He’s one of the smartest people in America. Which says a lot about their attitude to peace!

[A Leon G.]

Nice work Yanis!

[antonkn3]

Go Varofakis. He crushed it

[displacednaija]

The intellectual gulf between the Professor and the former Ambassador in the opening shots is immense. Vivem that this American technocrat has been influential in world affairs is scary in he least. He is blissfully dismissive of America's crimes of tormenting instability around the world.

[John Vaughan]

The format is good - learnt from both. However, I suggest this: first, choose the 2 people; then, toss a coin to see who presents; then, let that person present for 10 minutes and have the other respond. Have a 30-minute discussion and a closing statement. An hour is long enough - how many sit through 2+ hours? Only nerds like me I think. You could have links to more detailed analysis and a useful thing would be a deconstructed summary in the 'show more' section.

[Mr Balfour B]

The super powers cannot continue to dictate to the world what they themselves are.

[Roberto Mejia]

Thank you Holberg Prize for bringing this magnificent debate between two different visions. One representing the vision of a progressively declining empire with a its dominance …” you are either with us or against us”… and its determination to retain control if necessary by force, and the second view of a global citizen, presenting a vision based on social justice, elimination of poverty, respect to the natural environment and sustainable social development. Fraternity, humanity above the accumulation of capital … money, profit, greed, power and control …. A teachable moment specially for the young and future generation to build a better “world.

[Paul G]

Bolton is a far right political actor.. he worked for Trump for god sakes.. I love watching these types of videos and I think they clearly have a majority European audience. So I like to take a moment to say.. I’m an American and disagree with Bolton 1000s a day! Not all Americans think like him. He is not stating American views, he is stating neo-conservative views, hegemony without limits views, America or else views. That’s not my position. I think China is unfairly demonized in the west, and China is unfairly apologized for at times as well. I do think that China not being any type of Democracy at the executive level is something that is very concerning given how much power it has. America with all its problems has potential for moderation due to its beleaguered democracy, for now it’s still a democracy. Either way, the world will only survive if some version of coexistence and shared influence between superpowers of the world exists to solve the greatest challenges on our horizon, climate change and instability that Yannis talks about.

[CLINT EASTWOOD]

If Bolton said it was raining outside I would get my swimming trunks and suncream and shades and have a Barbeque.

[Darko Vignjevic]

Today's weather forecast today is partially sunny from morning to mid day with a high chance of carpet rain before nightfall. Special notice: Due to expected white phosphorus fog tomorrow morning, all residents who suffer from civilian or innocence conditions are advised to stay indoors till noon

[Soufiane Fariss]

Props to the chairman for not sitting on a chair.

[Vinayak Kumbhakern]

47:00 Interesting observation by Scott Gates... "I'd like to focus on the notion of stability. To some degree you're both naturally focusing on two dimensions. Ambassador Bolton naturally is focusing on insecurity and focusing on the security sector, and Professor Varoufakis is focused on the economics. And that's to be expected. I knew that was going to be happening all along."

[A Y]

‘Instability is inevitable’ because of all the wars and confrontation created by the US, not to mention the colour revolutions instigated by the CI A

[Godot Krull]

Two men, with totally different interests...not only perspective...

[Asheanae]

Yanis wiped the floor with Bolton, just different leagues in terms of intellectual acumen.

[lewis street]

It felt almost as if Bolton was a student trying to make sense of lecture that was above his knowledge base and intelectual capacity!

[Dork Anderson]

Mr. Weapons of Mass Destruction.

[senglee koay]

There is no way Bolton is Yanis' intellect.

[Terence Shared]

I came away with the same conclusion. One is a true intellectual. The other is a war mongerer.

[Terence Shared]

Saddened that the host let Bolton off the hook and not have him answer Yanis' question at the 46:00 mark.

[Michele Baffo]

A debate is a fitting format for these two gentlemen. Why not. Let's keep in mind though that both have time to spare because real politics phased them out. It's tempting to call both of them extreme but I would rather say: simplistic. The human mind is wired to look for simple ideas that encompass as much as possible. Vanity pulls us in that direction, verbal ability makes for treacherous confidence. What keeps us at bay is reality - if we honor it. The true challenge is actual politics: real issues and real outcomes in the face of real complexity. A whole different conversation.

[edd3055]

What's up with the moderator can even pronounce Yanis last name and helping out Bolton are 2 vs 1 or what, Yanis handle them Flawlessly

[Samuel Hauptmann van Dam]

Fascinating "debate" for sure.

[Maria M]

Yanis is a decent human being. which one cannot say about Bolton.

[Pietro Aretino]

When Bolton starts off describing China at the start, I thought he was describing the US.

[Hmmm Hmmm]

@Jetson Bloathog yes, dictatorship of the proletariat as opposed to dictatorship of the bourgeois in the us

[DietyOfWind]

@Jon Foster You are completely wrong about the US civil war and the states that attempted secessions own articles of secession directly refute the very points you made. The south also initiated the entire thing by attacking a fort they felt entitled to not only just once but twice.

[Steven Light]

Ha the times change the people are the same ,strong leadership is key .

[endeuinable]

The moderator kept changing the subject every other intervention which completely interfered with what could have otherwise been an interesting debate where participants could have replied to each others specific points.

[Yun Zhang]

Yanis should be the next UN secretary

[ozeeo79]

how is Bolton even a free man, mind blown

[Eggsburst]

"Capitalism is about freedom" If only

[Иван]

If you imagine this discussion as two different soups. Then on the left side you will see Kreatosoupa (Greek Beef Soup), and on the right side you will see a warm yellow salty liquid that is actually just piss on the plate.

[manuel cuenta correo]

It is a grate relief to hear Dr. Varoufakis' reasoning and arguments.

[ka kada]

sadly, not enough of his admirer have any incentive to pick up fight with war lovers like Bolton

[XF Zhang]

This debate is strange: it’s like your financial advisor trying to talk about your investment strategy, but you just want to talk about your divorce and your ex...

[larissa scisci]

Moderator was absolutely terrible, please don’t have him again and the two guests were great. I enjoyed listening to both of their points of views, focus and perspective on the questions being asked of them - love these kinds of discussions