The Netherlands - Why Belgium?

The Netherlands - Why Belgium?

Author: BBC Radio 4 June 25, 2018 Duration: 28:46

There is a faultline in Europe, from the North Sea to the Alps. Belgium sits halfway.


We often take the world map for granted, but the lines that define nations are far from permanent. In How to Invent a Country, award-winning journalist Misha Glenny, presented by BBC Radio 4, digs into the fascinating and often turbulent processes that bring a nation into being. This isn't just a dry history lesson; it's an exploration of the powerful forces-political ambition, cultural narratives, and sheer accident-that draw borders and forge identities. Each episode takes you to a different corner of the globe, unpacking the specific moments when a place transformed from an idea or a territory into a country recognized by the world. You'll hear about the contested lands, the foundational myths, and the real people whose lives were shaped by these creations. This podcast reveals how the countries we know today were invented, showing that their stories are alive, contested, and continually being rewritten. Tune in for a compelling journey that changes how you see every line on the map.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 64

How to Invent a Country
Podcast Episodes
Poland - a nation without a state [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:24
EP 2 - Misha Glenny on Poland's 123 year absence from the map, produced by Miles Warde
Poland - Obliterated from the map [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
Ep 1 - how Europe's largest state was sliced and diced by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
Scandinavia - The Bridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:56
Ep 1 "Danes talk about Swedes all the time. Swedes don't talk about Danes so much."
Ireland: Escalation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:37
Declan Lawn talks to Micha Glenny about the differences between the north and the south and, in particular, the border.
Ireland: Plantation and Conflict [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
Dr Joan Redmond talks to Misha Glenny about Ireland, England and the early seeds of war.
Ireland: Catholics and Protestants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
Fintan O'Toole talks to Misha Glenny about Catholics, Protestants, and Top of the Pops.