Rudi Vranckx on War, History and Journalism

This is an interview with Belgian war correspondent and documentary maker Rudi Vranckx. Together with Hunter, he discusses the intersection of war, history, and journalism.Show NotesThe Importance of Remembering HistoryAn historian by training, Vranckx asserts that history is the root of the present. He expresses concern that a new generation of politicians, lacking a living memory of major wars, is dangerously dismantling the post-WWII structures of international cooperation. This fear motivated his documentary work, particularly a series on Belgian involvement in past conflicts like the Korean War. The goal was to capture the oral histories of aging veterans before their stories vanish, framing these events in their broader historical context. "To understand the war of now, you have to go back to the origins and where it started," he states.The Journalist's Role and Moral CompassVranckx sees his role as holding a mirror to society, highlighting the scars of conflict. While he believes facts are paramount, he stresses that context is crucial. Using the example of Gaza, he notes that the conflict has deep roots that long predate the events of October 7th. In the fog of war and widespread disinformation, Vranckx maintains that human rights serve as his absolute "moral compass." On Fatigue, Activism, and PowerVranckx acknowledges the reality of "conflict fatigue" but insists on the journalistic duty to find new ways to engage the public's hearts and minds. He argues that upholding international justice is fundamental to maintaining justice on a national and individual level. According to Vranckx, true change comes from the bottom up, with civil society and grassroots movements acting as the only effective counterweight to corrupt power. He criticizes institutions that remain silent on critical issues for fear of losing funding, paraphrasing Martin Niemöller's warning about inaction: "And then at the end there is nobody to speak out when they come for me."Global Security and the Power of IdeasIn his documentary "The New Iron Curtain," Vranckx observes that war has "come home" to Europe. He warns against a narrow, militarized view of security that focuses solely on an arms race. True security, he argues, also involves defending a society's values. "The biggest fear for Putin and Trump is not that the other one has a bigger gun, it's the ideas that the other one has." He laments the neglect of "soft power"—the influence of ideas, culture, and values—suggesting it can be more effective than military spending. He urges individuals to build resilience by investing in credible information and supporting fact-checking. "The facts are holy. The facts are the facts. There is no alternative facts like some lunatics try to say."Human Stories and a Call to ActionVranckx highlights the critical, yet often overlooked, role of women in conflict, calling women who fight for change at the grassroots level "true heroes." To make complex geopolitical situations understandable, he advocates for telling stories on a human level.With a recent poll showing 60% of Belgians fear war is coming, Vranckx urges people not to be paralyzed by fear of a future apocalypse but to "deal with the war that is going on" now—the war of disinformation and the erosion of societal values. He calls for rebuilding the "fabric of society" through community. When asked what we can learn from people in conflict zones, his simple answer is: "Humanity."He concludes that there is no "magic solution." The pursuit of truth and justice is not a quick victory but a "slow war of attrition." His final advice: "Be prepared."