This episode explores the crises of liberalism. How do recent conditions of uncertainty and multiple crises play a role in amplifying the appeal of illiberal ideologies? And how does illiberalism differ from authoritarianism and populism? Tune in to hear how the defense of liberalism requires a connection to the everyday concerns and grievances of citizens.

This episode explores how the legacies of European colonialism in Africa impact the success of democratization today. How do international organizations play a role in declining support for democratic politics in parts of Africa? And how can a reliance on donors hinder the emergence of viable democratic structures? Finally, tune in to hear about the nexus between climate change and the demographic challenges faced by Africa.

This episode explores political and military conflicts in Ethiopia and more broadly, in the Horn of Africa. Why has Ethiopia’s process of democratization eroded in recent years? And what is the wider impact of such democratic backsliding on African regional politics? Listen to hear how shifting global geopolitical balances are shaping the opportunity structures of democratization in Africa today.

This episode explores environmental justice and the democratization of law. What does it take to turn the law into something that ordinary people can use to protect themselves? And how can putting the power of the law into the hands of the people support progressive emancipatory politics? Listen to hear how investment in community leadership is key to an environmentally just transition.

This episode explores human rights in relation to Russia’s full-scale aggression on Ukraine. How do accountability gaps play a role in restorative justice? And what are effective approaches for documenting losses and war crimes so they can be brought to court? Listen for an analysis of the current war in Ukraine and the prospects for addressing human rights violations.

This episode explores contemporary fears about the decline of democracy. Is the current downward spiral actually part of a rhythmic oscillation of democracy? And given its centrality to modern political life, can democracy really be eradicated? Listen to hear about how the changing forms of the democratic project must be understood with reference to historical dynamics and logics of capitalism.

This episode explores the concept of technofeudalism and the role of digital platforms in governing the lives of individuals. How has the cloud created a feedback loop that removes agency from those who produce data? And what are the effects of technofeudalism on democratic politics? Listen to consider what democratic societies must do to shift control of the algorithms toward the interests of the many.

This episode explores the pitfalls of understanding capitalism as a merely economic system. How does this narrow conventional view obscure distinct sources of non-economic wealth? And what is revealed by examining capitalism instead as a social order including aspects of expropriation, domestic labor and depletion of nature? Finally, why must progressive social movements recognize the common roots of structural problems against which they struggle?

This episode explores Austrian history and politics, looking to lessons of the past to understand the future of democracy in the country. What might growing support for right wing nationalism mean for Austria? And how does the country's neutrality play a role in relationships with external power in the EU and beyond? Listen to hear about Austria's complex political realities and paradoxes.

This episode explores Poland's recent election results and their significance as a turning point in democracy in Poland. Will this election mark the end of an illiberal period in the country? And might it be the start of a progressive wave sweeping across Europe? Listen to hear an analysis of the results and the political implications for both Poland and Europe.

This episode explores grassroots utopian practices and the Democratic Odyssey project, which recently convened in Athens. Building upon the notion of “demoicracy” in the European Union - the ideal of a union of people that govern together, but not as one – the conversation investigates collective access to political decision-making as a complementary mechanism of deliberative democracy.

This episode explores the notion of “demoicracy” in the European Union - the ideal of a union of people that govern together, but not as one. What might pluralizing democracy look like? And do recent experiments warrant optimism in citizen assemblies? Listen to hear about emergent new models of transnational grassroots participation in the political process across Europe.

This episode explores China's thinly veiled projects of expanding global influence. Does Chinese control of critical infrastructure and economic supply chains threaten Europe's autonomy? And how can democracies counter the global spread of Chinese Communist Party ideology? Listen to hear about China's vulnerabilities to political protest and why many Chinese citizens consent to surveillance that controls their everyday lives.

This episode, recorded live at the 2023 Alpbach Forum in Tirol, Austria, explores why economic inequalities have increased over recent years and how such stratification is detrimental to democracy. What has been learned through past and current crises? And how might the green transition play a role in the future? Listen for economic perspectives on potential steps toward a more equitable and democratic world.

This episode explores illusions about China's ambitions related to expanding military and economic power. How have such illusions been perpetuated by Germans and Europeans in order to maintain profit for companies? And what does a realistic assessment of China's current ambitions of global economic dominance, military might and technological supremacy, mean for the recalibration of European political, economic and security options?

This episode explores former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's population control programs and how eugenic principles have led to the forceful sterilization of women belonging to various indigenous communities. What role do foreign governments and international donors play in the racialized politics of population control, and how have violations of women's bodily autonomy and reproductive rights come to light? Listen to hear what kind of civil society mobilization is ongoing in pursuit of...

This episode focuses on comparisons of soft authoritarian regimes and the phenomenon of autocratic legalism. How do the uses and abuses of law play a role in dismantling liberal democracy from within and cementing authoritarian rule? Listen to hear how countries including Turkey, Hungary and the United States are using legal means to illiberal ends, and how resistance could be organized.

This episode explores the far-reaching implications of the recent Turkish elections. In a closely contested election, President Erdoğan has won a third term in office, dashing hopes of a return to a liberal, secular, pro-European government in Turkey. What led to this result especially after the impact of the devastating earthquake and plummeting value of the Turkish lira? And what aspects of soft authoritarianism play a role in the country’s current political conditions?

This episode explores current dilemmas faced by the European Union and the pursuit of strategic autonomy. How has a reliance on soft power, multilateral cooperation and economic integration created the current conditions of security and sovereignty in the EU? And what have the current and multiple crises brought to the forefront? Listen to hear what needs to be addressed regarding the EU’s current conundrums.

This episode explores the challenges and stakes in the pursuit of strategic autonomy for the European Union. How has the war in Ukraine rewritten the rules of transatlantic relations and geopolitics for the EU? And what does the internal cohesion and unity of the EU look like today? Listen to hear fundamental questions regarding the implications of Europe's continued military reliance on the United States and NATO.

This episode explores how populists effectively use constitutions to undermine and abolish constitutionalism. What legalistic tactics are often hiding behind culturalist arguments to subvert the rule of law? And how can law be better used in the service of liberal democracy?

This episode explores what kind of democracy is being defended in Israel today. Who are the supporters of the ruling coalition and what explains the popular appeal of the right-wing parties? Listen to a discussion with a wide historical context about the present political crisis, which many scholars have called a constitutional coup.  

This episode explores the main differences between contemporary, quasi-dictatorial regimes based on spin, and older 20th-century dictatorships based on overt repression and fear. Why do spin dictators demonstrate a commitment to democratic elections and how do their actions undermine democracy from within? Listen to find out what such regimes teach us about internal contradictions of Western democracies and how similar spin dictators are to so-called populist leaders.

This episode explores what makes republican values and practices important to the survival of any democracy, as well as the role of sociality in cultivating of a common sense of purpose, mutual interdependence, and collective engagement. What makes the agrarian ethos of Indian village communities resonate with the spirit of democratic republicanism and how does the rural India vote transform political consciousness?