Ireland

Ireland

By: Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 50 minutes
Abridged: No

The “isle of poets and scholars” has known almost constant warfare for centuries. In 1920, it was divided into North and South. Yet this purely political solution left a religious and cultural schism intact. This presentation follows Ireland’s tragic course from St. Patrick to Britain’s imposition of direct rule in 1974.

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The Golden Triangle

By: Bertil Lintner, Mike Hassell & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Richard C. Hottelet
Length: 2 hours 48 minutes
Abridged: No

Thailand, Laos, and Burma have been known as the “Golden Triangle” because of their historically prominent role in the drug trade. For centuries, these countries have produced the opium that has attracted traders from Europe and elsewhere. Economics, religion, and politics combine to make this area not only important but also, to the western... Read more »

Cuba

By: Joseph Stromberg, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 39 minutes
Abridged: No

This island was once a clearing house for importing slaves into the New World. It later became one of the world’s few remaining bastions of Marxism, proclaiming socio-economic equality. In both forms, Cuba has played a unique and dramatic role in American affairs. This presentation focuses on Cuba’s economic and social upheaval, with special... Read more »

Germany

By: Ralph Raico, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 54 minutes
Abridged: No

Germany is historically one of the most important of all nations. Since emerging from its days as a Roman province, Germany (including Prussia) has had a central role in European affairs. It has reached the heights in art, music, literature, and political power, yet it’s also reached the depths in humiliating military defeat and partition. This... Read more »

Poland

By: Victoria Varga, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Peter Hackes
Length: 2 hours 46 minutes
Abridged: No

The breakdown of Europe’s Eastern Bloc proves that the map of Europe cannot be redrawn merely to serve political ends. Perhaps no country illustrates this more clearly than Poland, whose borders often have been a negotiating tool of the Big Powers. This presentation enlightens our understanding of the current drama in Eastern Europe.

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Central America

By: Joseph Stromberg, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 42 minutes
Abridged: No

A cluster of five countries; Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica; are commonly referred to as Central America. Although these nations differ in their histories and politics, they share at least one factor: they have been caught up in the turmoil of America’s foreign policy in this region. These recordings depict the chain... Read more »

Mexico

By: Joseph Stromberg, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Peter Hackes
Length: 2 hours 56 minutes
Abridged: No

In 1540, Mexico was declared to be New Spain. With a diverse culture and great natural resources, it should have prospered like its northern neighbor. But Mexico’s history includes political corruption, war, revolution, and grinding poverty. Why has the fate of Mexico been so different than that of the United States?

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Colombia and Panama

By: Joseph Stromberg, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Richard C. Hottelet
Length: 2 hours 53 minutes
Abridged: No

Colombia in the 1980s became known for its role in the illegal drug trade, and for political instability and violence caused by this problem. But much of this is a recent development in Colombia’s history that began in the 1530s, when Spain conquered local Indian kingdoms. This is the story of how Spain’s “New Granada” evolved into Venezuela,... Read more »

The Middle East

By: Wendy McElroy, Sheldon Richman & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 42 minutes
Abridged: No

By the end of World War I, Britain had promised control of Palestine both to Arabs and Jews. Each of these peoples claimed a longstanding right to the same piece of land, and violence was inevitable. This presentation examines how and why this magical land has become a virtual war zone.

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India and Pakistan

By: Dr. Gregory Kozlowski, Mike Hassell & Gregory Kozlowski
Narrated by: Peter Hackes
Length: 2 hours 55 minutes
Abridged: No

As one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, India presents a rich mosaic of political, religious, and cultural influences. In 1947, this vast region was split; Pakistan was created to separate Muslims from Hindus, and millions died. Strife and political troubles continue to plague India.

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China

By: Murray Sayle, Pat Childs & Mike Hassell
Narrated by: Richard C. Hottelet
Length: 2 hours 59 minutes
Abridged: No

Since Marco Polo, the fabled markets of China have drawn the west like a magnet. This ancient culture has been colonized by foreign powers, buffeted by war and revolution, yet China remains one of the most constant of international influences. It is a sleeping giant. Many fear, and some welcome its awakening. This presentation examines both the... Read more »

The Philippines

By: Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 45 minutes
Abridged: No

Strategically located, the Philippine Islands have been one of the keys to American policy in the Pacific. But this loose island chain has a bitter history, vacillating between oppression and rebellion. America’s military installations here ensure that she will be caught in any Filipino conflict.

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South Africa

By: Joseph Stromberg, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Harry Reasoner
Length: 2 hours 47 minutes
Abridged: No

South Africa has become the world’s symbol of racism. From the moment the Dutch colonists set foot on the Cape in 1652, this nation has steered a straight course toward apartheid, resulting in consistent civil unrest. This presentation explores the economic and social forces that have brought South Africa into the international spotlight.

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Ethiopia

By: Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Peter Hackes
Length: 2 hours 46 minutes
Abridged: No

This rich culture of East Africa, known in the Bible as Abyssinia, claims descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Under a Marxist regime, however, this ancient people has suffered from famine and genocide. This presentation chronicles the heartbreak of Ethiopia, which mirrors many of the crises besieging the third world countries of... Read more »

The Persian Gulf States

By: Joseph Stromberg, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Peter Hackes
Length: 2 hours 53 minutes
Abridged: No

More than half of the world’s oil comes from Persian Gulf states. Political instability and religious strife there threaten to interrupt the world’s economic routines. Two presentations examine the history of Persia, Iran’s attempt to westernize, and the backlash of religiously fervent Muslims against the West and each other.

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Russia and the Soviet Union

By: Ralph Raico, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Peter Hackes
Length: 2 hours 55 minutes
Abridged: No

Recent events have made it clear that the Soviet Union is not a monolith; it’s a collection of nationalities, many with serious objection to union. The demise of communism holds great promise and great danger not only for the Soviets, but for the world. This presentation examines how the region’s long history led to modern reality.

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The Mediterranean Basin

By: Ralph Raico, Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Richard C. Hottelet
Length: 2 hours 58 minutes
Abridged: No

The lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea contain some of the oldest cultures on Earth. Italy and the other countries of Europe and North Africa have played a central role in various expanding empires, and also in shrinking fortunes. This presentation explores the broad sweep of history in one of the cradles of civilization.

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Nigeria and West Africa

By: Wendy McElroy & Pat Childs
Narrated by: Richard C. Hottelet
Length: 2 hours 36 minutes
Abridged: No

With a culture dating back to at least 700 BC, West Africa has a long and rich history. British influence after the sixteenth century, and especially in the eighteenth century, changed the region’s course. By 1967, Nigeria was at war with itself, with the “Republic of Biafra” produced in Nigeria’s eastern region. Over a million people perished.... Read more »