Watches and Politics - Introduction

“Watches and Politics” is a limited-series podcast that explores the powerful intersection between horology and history, where timekeeping meets statecraft, diplomacy, war, and culture.Across ten meticulously researched episodes, political scientist and horology enthusiast Edi Shipoli guides listeners on a journey that reveals how watches have silently shaped, and been shaped by, the most pivotal moments in global history. From medieval bell towers to presidential wrists, from Calvinist Geneva to Cold War summits, this is the untold story of how time became a tool of power.This podcast is not about collecting watches—it’s about understanding them. It’s for listeners who are curious about how mechanical timekeeping, luxury brands, industrial revolutions, and diplomatic gifting have helped organize societies, discipline labor, project prestige, and mark identity.Why This Podcast MattersWatches aren’t just accessories—they’re cultural artifacts that reflect who we are and how we organize the world. This podcast reveals how something as small as a timepiece has influenced labor movements, empire-building, trade policies, and social status across centuries. By weaving together political science and horology, Watches and Politics offers a completely new lens on both.