Unholy Alliance -- The Left & Islamism | Yaron & Nikos Dialogues

Live June 14, 2026(The Yaron & Nikos Dialogues, Episode 5)Unholy Alliance -- The Left & Islamism | Yaron & Nikos DialoguesHow the Radical Left Fell in Love with Islamism: From Foucault to HamasWhy do so many on the Western Left embrace movements whose values seem fundamentally opposed to their own?In Episode 5 of The Yaron & Nikos Dialogues, Yaron Brook and Nikos Sotirakopoulos trace the intellectual, political, and historical roots of the alliance between the radical Left and Islamism. From Marxist revolutionary theory and Soviet policy to the Iranian Revolution, Michel Foucault, Edward Said, postcolonialism, and today's campus activism, they examine how anti-Western ideology forged one of the most influential political alliances of our time.The discussion explores how concepts like oppression, authenticity, moral relativism, and anti-colonialism transformed Western intellectual life—and how those ideas continue to shape attitudes toward Israel, the Middle East, and Western civilization itself.Watch Now: https://youtube.com/live/RIbjRxhZIKsMain Topics:00:00 Introduction to The Yaron & Nikos Dialogues00:54 October 7 and the rise of Left-Islamist alliances on campus02:56 Marx, Bolsheviks, and Islam in Soviet revolutionary strategy05:17 Arab nationalism, radical Islam, and revolutionary movements09:03 Lebanon, Musa Al Sadr, and Left-Islamist cooperation13:23 Hezbollah, Khomeini, and Iranian influence18:22 Rousseau, authenticity, and the Western intellectual tradition20:14 Michel Foucault and the Iranian Revolution26:14 Why Foucault became fascinated with religious zeal28:15 Arafat, the revolution, and regional transformation30:31 How Iran reshaped the Muslim world33:37 The U.S. Embassy hostage crisis35:14 Iran's revolutionary constitution36:01 Iran-Israel tensions and the prospect of war37:10 Radical Islam and influence in the West38:02 What happened to Iran's Left after the revolution?39:52 Foucault's enduring academic influence42:09 Edward Said and Orientalism48:34 How Orientalism transformed academia52:57 Postcolonialism and views of Israel54:58 The convergence of Leftist and Islamist causes57:00 Anti-Westernism, resentment, and "Queers for Palestine"1:00:32 Moral relativism and oppressor-oppressed thinking1:04:47 Jeremy Corbyn, Hamas, Hezbollah, and UK politicsAudience Questions1:24:21 R.E.M.'s "Stand" — great song or not?1:26:39 What's the fastest way to identify a cult?1:31:08 Starman, abortion, and individual rights1:32:40 Why do "Queers for Palestine" oppose Israeli self-defense?1:35:38 What does wisdom really mean?1:40:30 Is the Right actually the greater political threat?1:47:16 Why don't socialist failures change socialist minds?1:53:07 How did Jerry Seinfeld become a billionaire?1:58:30 "No ethical consumption under capitalism"—where did this idea come from?2:01:57 Can a culture dependent on government ever become free?2:04:25 What would a privatized Central Park look like?2:05:57 Can New York City be saved?2:09:06 Can the U.S. soccer team make a serious run?2:10:17 How do you stay calm during technological revolutions like AI?2:14:18 Is individualism viewed as a political liability?2:16:50 Thoughts on Yair Lapid?2:21:55 Messi vs. Ronaldo: talent or achievement?2:24:19 How would Nikos fix the NBA?2:26:15 Is nationalism ever appropriate?2:27:49 Has Nikos become an NHL fan?2:30:01 Messi or Ronaldo: genius vs. relentless ambition?More from [Nikos Sotirakopoulos](https://www.nikos.org/)Support Nikos:    / @nikos_1717  👉 Subscribe for fearless conversations on philosophy, politics, economics, psychology, culture, and the future of Western civilization.#NikosSotirakopoulos #Islamism #Postcolonialism #Iran #Israel #MiddleEastPolitics #Foucault #EdwardSaid #leftists #marxism #IdentityPolitics #PoliticalPhilosophy #ObjectivismThe Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTxSupport the Show and become a sponsor:   / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJContinue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.