Raffaella Bolini: Europe's New Arms Race - The Only Winning Move Is Not to Play
From If You Were In Charge by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini
May 5, 2026 · 47 min · Season 3 · Episode 6
About this episode
Raffaella Bolini discusses Europe's arms race and advocates for common security and a multipolar Europe.
On the leadership podcast If You Were In Charge, Italian peace activist Raffaella Bolini was on the streets of the 80s peace movement against the Euromissiles. Forty years later, she's back, pushing back on a Europe planning to spend €6.8 trillion on armaments over the next decade. In conversation with Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Kavita Nandini Ramdas, she makes the case for common security, the politics of care, and a multipolar Europe of intersectional regions. The only winning move, she argues, is not to play. A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. Sanam and Kavita open the episode with the latest flotilla to be intercepted on the way to Gaza, the unfolding war in Iran, and the absurdity of trillions being spent on defence at the expense of future generations, while everything from healthcare to social services goes without. But not without hope. They also remember the remarkable legacy of Cora and Peter Weiss, whose memorial was held this month, two activists at the forefront of the peace and justice movement for their entire lifetimes. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the…
People in this episode
Hosts: Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, Kavita Nandini Ramdas
Guest: Raffaella Bolini
Topics covered
- arms race
- peace activism
- European security
- social justice
- military spending
- intersectionality
Keywords
- arms race
- peace movement
- military spending
- social services
- Cora and Peter Weiss
- Gaza
- Iran
- European security
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ICAN, ADA Production
Places: Europe, Gaza, Iran
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- Farhana Yamin, Reetta Toivanen & Rana Dajani: Iran, Gaza Reax - Why Never Again Is Now · April 6, 2026 · 52 min
- Stefanie Fox: Not in Our Name - Jewish Anti-Zionism Amid an Expanding Iran War · March 23, 2026 · 1h 1m
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