Now & Then with Robert Saunders: Gladstone vs Disraeli – The Bulgarian Horrors
Summary
In this episode, David Runciman and historian Robert Saunders explore the 150th anniversary of William Gladstone’s pamphlet, *The Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East*. They analyze the intense rivalry between Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli, contrasting their opposing views on empire, religion, and political style. The discussion details how the pamphlet’s moral outrage against Ottoman atrocities challenged Disraeli’s geopolitical realism and shifted British public opinion. The episode also examines the pamphlet’s complex legacy, balancing its humanitarian arguments with its era-…
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Silicon Valley Bank and First Citizens Bank
Introduction: The Bulgarian Horrors and British Politics
The Rivalry: Gladstone vs. Disraeli
Disraeli: The Unlikely Conservative Leader
Temperament and Religion in Their Rivalry
Personal History: Disraeli's Rise and Gladstone's Grief
Mutual Perceptions: Frivolity vs. Hypocrisy
Views on Empire: Skepticism vs. Romance
Relationship with Queen Victoria
Political Context: The 1874 Election and Party Dynamics
The Bulgarian Atrocities and British Complicity
Geopolitics vs. Morality: The Great Game
Public Sentiment: Jingoism and Moral Fury
Sponsor: Toyota Trucks
Realism and Denial in International Affairs
Analyzing the Pamphlet: Lurid and High-Minded
Racism and Universalism in Gladstone's Writings
Calls for Removal of Turkish Administration
Gladstone's Personal Struggles and Moral Vision
The People vs. Parliament: Mobilizing Public Opinion
Gladstone's Strategy and Disraeli's Response
Disraeli's Health and Imperial Ambitions
Legalistic Approaches and the Concert of Europe
Liberal Party Dynamics and Gladstone's Return
The Disintegration of the Liberal Coalition
Outro and Preview of Next Episode
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