This episode focuses on Slobodian’s latest book, Hayek’s Bastards, which reveals how some neoliberals forged an alliance with segments of the far right to roll back the progressive achievements of the post WWII era, eroding the very foundations of democracy. Why did the end of the Cold War trigger new fears among them and how did this eventually lead to an illiberal, soft authoritarian turn? What is the epochal significance of framing anti-progressive and anti-egalitarian political ideologies and agendas in the language of socio-biology and economics. How can ideas about the deregulated free market be reconciled with hard border control and ethno-racial arguments against immigration? Tune in to hear Quinn Slobodian explain what the neoliberal justifications of inequality and hierarchy mean for the future of our democracies.

This episode explores the tension between democracy and capitalist markets. How could the fragmentation of national sovereignty offer a “solution” in the neoliberal imagination? What can experiment in special economic zones—from China to South Africa and Somalia—teach us about the far-right’s dismantling of democratic institutions in Europe and the U.S.? Tune in to hear Quinn Slobodian unravel the global circulation of market-driven governance and its consequences for democracy.

This episode examines the unprecedented attacks on universities under the Trump administration. Why do these assaults go beyond culture-war battles over the humanities and diversity to target the very foundations of scholarship and scientific research? And how are internal pressures – ranging from monetization and vocationalism to the retreat from dissent – weakening universities from within? Tune in to hear why defending the autonomy of higher education is inseparable from defending democracy itself.

This episode explores the tensions and contradictions of liberal democracy. What are some recent developments regarding opposing dynamics of economic globalization and the political sovereignty of the nation state? And why are universities, which have paved the way for upward mobility in most Western democracies, now under attack? Tune in to hear why there cannot be a free society without free universities.

This episode explores recent challenges to the ideal of the university as a space for open debate and the plurality of views. What is emerging in various national contexts of higher education across Europe and in the United States? And how is the ideal of the university currently being debated? Listen also to hear what the EU’s rearmament could mean for academic freedom across Europe.

This episode explores the pitfalls of valorizing participation as a democratic end in itself. How might a one-sided emphasis on participatory politics be instrumentalized by elite interests? And does simply getting more people involved in decision-making truly advance democratic ideals? Listen to hear why democracies should focus more on resistance to state capture.

This episode explores the current political organizing stemming from mass student-led protests in Serbia against corruption of the regime. Why are Serbian students suspicious of the political establishment, including all political parties in the opposition? And what are the strategic dilemmas for the future direction of the protests? Listen to hear how accession to the EU could impact Serbia’s ongoing struggle for democratization.

This episode explores the mass student-led protests in Serbia against corruption of the regime. How did moral outrage over a fatal railway station roof collapse in 2024 fuel a large-scale protest movement? And what key factors are behind its momentum? Listen to hear about current government tactics and the implications for academic freedom, university autonomy and democratization of Serbian society.

This episode explores the broad implications of the large-scale protests across Turkey in response to President Erdoğan’s repression of political opposition. What is the background to the recent developments that the Turkish regime faces? And what are the dilemmas that have given rise to this political storm? Listen to hear why the current resistance in the streets to authoritarianism is a sign that young people and ordinary citizens are willing to protect democracy.

This episode explores Cara Daggett's concept of petro-masculinity. It explains how fossil fuel-based power structures depend on a gendered and racial ordering of the world. How do the threats of climate crises feed into reactionary politics? Listen to hear why it is critical to consider democratic society in a global ecological context, one that integrates the natural and social aspects of climate and politics. Our guest: Cara Daggett

This episode explores the multiple contradictions of Iranian society today. What are the limits for Iranian cultural producers? And what tactics do they employ to circumvent censorship and social taboos? Tune in for the wide-ranging conversation with insights from cinema and culture to women's protests and demographic concerns.

This episode explores the recent German elections and related social, economic and cultural issues. How did welfare measures, migration and history play a role in the elections' outcome? And how might universities serve as models for democratic engagement and outreach? Listen also to hear how the establishment of citizen councils could help to restore rational debate, a sense of efficacy and the spirit of tolerance needed to cultivate democracy.

This episode explores the attack against progressive political agendas in the U.S. How have recent actions rolled back hard-won achievements in the realm of gender equity and racial diversity? And why is class relatively underemphasized in the U.S. when it comes examining voter preferences among women? Listen to hear about how reactionary narratives of patriarchy under threat are unfolding, and why increased welfare measures and childcare support are unlikely to lead to the Right’s desired pronatalist birthrates.

This episode explores what a second Trump presidency could mean for American domestic policy and politics, and for the rest of the world. Is American democracy at serious risk of being dismantled? And what will be the impact of Trump’s agenda on global efforts to reverse climate change and transatlantic relations with the European Union? Listen to hear what’s in store for America and the world.

This episode examines the factors which led to Donald Trump's decisive victory in the recent U.S. election. Did the Harris campaign’s insistence on issues of identity, rights, and democracy overshadow people's everyday struggles with economic issues? What role did patriarchal bias and demographics of a shifting landscape of political preferences play in this election? And finally, will the bark of Trump’s campaign promises be worse than the actual bite of the coming presidency?

This episode explores advances made by the far-right in Austria and in Germany and examines crucial factors raised by Lutz’s recent report on identity, partisanship and polarization. What are the unexpected convergences and similarities across European countries? And what are the implications of the findings on the contested notion of illiberal democracy? Listen to hear about the challenge of mobilizing disaffected voters and what characterizes identity-democracy tradeoffs.

This episode explores the recent national elections in Austria and the victory of a radical right-wing party. How is this development situated within the EU's broader shift to the right? And what explains the decline of the traditional center-right and the Social Democrats? Listen to hear about the issues that dominated public discourse during the campaign and about the current state of democracy in Austria.

This episode focuses on the mainstreaming of radical politics and how extremist ideologies gain a foothold. How can democratic practice respond to a trend toward polarization and destabilization of liberal democracies? And what defenses can be mounted to protect liberal values and institutions? Listen to hear about Julia Ebner’s latest research and potential ways to counter the trend of mainstreaming extremism.

This episode explores the social worlds of various extremist groups and the corrosive effects of radicalization on contemporary democracy. Why is it necessary to observe extremist organizations up close? And how are gender and religion instrumentally deployed? Listen to hear about the unexpected similarities between various extremist groups and how the negative effects on democracy can be countered.

This episode analyzes the elections in India and the trajectory of Indian democracy from the mid-seventies to today. How do voter motivations due to worsening economic conditions influence elections in the country? And how do expectations for democracy to deliver economic growth and development play a role? Listen to hear how a new alignment of parties can help the cause of democracy in Indian elections to come.