On The Frontlines Of Democracy podcast

35:43

Host Sanjay Ruparelia and Anne Norton sit to discuss Norton’s book Wild Democracy: Anarchy, Courage, and Ruling the Law, which reimagines freedom and democracy as expansive and inclusive. They discuss how anarchy, rather than being chaotic, can be a nursery for democracy. Norton argues that authoritarianism is a greater threat than anarchy and examines the qualities necessary for a truly free and democratic society. Their conversation also touches on the nature of rights, the responsibility to resist unjust laws, the role of institutions, and why democracy must remain "wild" to allow space for dissent and change. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia , Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Anne Norton ,a scholar of political theory and the inaugural Stacey and Henry Jackson President’s Distinguished Professor in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Norton is a Co-Founding Editor of the journal Theory and Event. Background Reading: Anne Norton’s Wild Democracy: Anarchy, Courage, and Ruling the Law…

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Conversation in an Age of Rage with Carol Off 41:38

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41:38

Host Sanjay Ruparelia sits with Carol Off to discuss her book, At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage, which explores the evolving meanings of political words like freedom, democracy, choice and truth. She argues that these words have been weaponized by the far right, emphasizing personal liberty over societal responsibility. Off critiques the rise of populism and demagoguery, highlighting the impact of billionaires on political discourse. She advocates for a return to rational language and transparency in journalism, stressing the importance of understanding historical context and the dangers of irrational debates. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes Host: Sanjay Ruparelia , Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Carol Off , former co-host of CBC’s As It Happens. She has also covered news and current affairs in Canada and around the world. Background Reading: Carol Off’s At A Loss For Words: Conversation In An Age of Rage Carol Off’s Toronto Star column – I hosted one of Canada’s most popular radio shows for 16 years. I’ve watched us descend into conflicting realities — here’s how we get out…

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Reflecting on Cold War Liberalism with Samuel Moyn 37:43

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37:43

Host Sanjay Ruparelia and Samuel Moyn discuss the evolution of liberalism, particularly during the Cold War. Moyn says that Cold War liberalism betrayed the emancipatory ideals of earlier liberals by focusing on negative liberty over positive liberty. He also highlights the contradictions in Cold War liberal thought, such as their pessimism about global freedom and their support for Israel. He also suggests that modern liberalism must reinvent itself to address current challenges, including rising inequalities and authoritarian populism, by revisiting and reviving the emancipatory ideals of historical liberalism. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Host: Sanjay Ruparelia , Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Samuel Moyn , the Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University. He has written many books analyzing the history of human rights and international law including his latest, Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times. Background Reading: Samuel Moyn’s Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times Samuel Moyn’s The Last Utopia: Human Rights in History Samuel Moyn’s Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World…

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Building Solidarity in an Age of Insecurity with Astra Taylor 41:02

for 17 weeks siden41:02

41:02

In this week’s episode, we speak with Astra Taylor, a critically acclaimed writer, filmmaker and organizer about practicing solidarity in an age of insecurity. Taylor discusses insecurity as a structural feature of capitalism and advocates for solidarity, which fosters collective responsibility and mutual obligation. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host Sanjay Ruparelia and Astra Taylor discuss the practice of solidarity in an age of insecurity. Taylor distinguishes between existential and manufactured insecurity, emphasizing that insecurity is a structural feature of capitalism. She also contrasts solidarity with unity and fraternity, highlighting solidarity's relational and transformative nature. She advocates for a "solidarity state,” which fosters collective responsibility and mutual obligation. Taylor also addresses the challenges of achieving global solidarity, noting the debt Western nations owe to the Global South due to historical injustices. She emphasizes the need for international cooperation to address crises like climate change and pandemics. Host: Sanjay Ruparelia , Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Astra Taylor , co-founder of the Debt Collective, documentary director, author and frequent contributor to publications including Dissent, The New Yorker and n+1. Her most recent book, co-authored with Leah Hunt-Hendrix, is Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea. Background Reading: Yogendra Yadav’s Making Sense of Indian Democracy: Theory in Practice Suhas Palshikar, K.C. Suri and Yogendra Yadav’s Party Competition in Indian States: Electoral Politics in Post-Congress Polity Alfred Stepan, Juan J. Linz and Yogendra Yadav’s Crafting State-Nations: India and Other Multinational Democracies Astra Taylor’s The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor’s Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea…

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India's Surprising 2024 Election with Yogendra Yadav 49:32

for 22 weeks siden49:32

49:32

In this week’s episode, we speak with renowned public intellectual and political activist Yogendra Yadav about India’s 2024 national election. We’ll discuss the BJP’s surprising losses, the continued dominance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the shifting political landscape, including the rise of lower caste support for Hindu nationalism. Yogendra shares his thoughts on the erosion of Indian democracy and how a new form of republican politics can help revive its original constitutional values. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host Sanjay Ruparelia sits down with Yogendra Yadav to discuss the political shifts that have defined India leading up to the 2024 Indian national election. Despite predictions of a sweeping victory, Narendra Modi’s BJP experienced significant losses, forcing it to form a coalition government. Yadav discusses Modi’s continued popularity despite setbacks over the past decade and shifts in voter concerns from national issues to local ones. The episode breaks down what the election means for the future of Indian democracy. Host: Sanjay Ruparelia , Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Yogendra Yadav , a public intellectual and political activist. He is currently the national convener of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, a campaign to protect and promote constitutional values and democratic institutions in India. Background Reading: Yogendra Yadav’s Making Sense of Indian Democracy: Theory in Practice Suhas Palshikar, K.C. Suri and Yogendra Yadav’s Party Competition in Indian States: Electoral Politics in Post-Congress Polity Alfred Stepan, Juan J. Linz and Yogendra Yadav’s Crafting State-Nations: India and Other Multinational Democracies…

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South Africa's political crossroads with Sithembile Mbete and Lawrence Hamilton 52:11

for 26 weeks siden52:11

52:11

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sithembile Mbete and Professor Lawrence Hamilton to shine a light on South Africa’s political landscape following the 2024 elections. While the ANC achieved political freedom thirty years ago, it failed to secure economic justice for the majority. We discuss why many in the Born Free generation view Mandela’s compromises as a betrayal and explore a critical take on the 1996 constitution. We also dive into the 2024 elections, the ANC’s declining popularity, and the rise of offshoot parties. How does political instability, alongside the challenges of inequality, corruption, and gender representation, shape South Africa’s future? Join us to find out more.…

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The Rise and Decline of Erdogan with Kaya Genç 39:02

for 40 weeks siden39:02

39:02

Host Sanjay Ruparelia sat down with Kaya Genç, a scholar, writer and journalist and the Istanbul correspondent for the Los Angeles Review of Books. His latest book, The Lion and the Nightingale: A Journey Through Modern Turkey, weaves a narrative of the current political climate in Turkey after the terror events and failed coup in 2016 through the personal stories of regular Turkish people. The “lion” represents Turkey’s past, its militant strength and power; while the “nightingale” conjures a song, representing Turkey’s rich cultural history of art, literature and romance. In this episode, Dr. Genç talks about populism and the rise of Erdogan, the similarities between militant secularism and Islamic extremism, and the resurgence of the once-dormant Turkish left. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes; Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University Guest: Kaya Genç, Turkish writer, journalist, and scholar, the Istanbul correspondent for The Los Angeles Review Books and a contributing editor to the Index on Censorship Further Reading: The Lion and the Nightingale: A Journey Through Modern Turkey by Kaya Genç Erdogan's Imperial Presidency by Kaya Genç, New York Review of Books Istanbul's Youth Feel Emancipated and Precarious by Kaya Genç, Los Angeles Review of Books The Tragedy of the Turkish Left by Ahmet Samim, New Left Review Read the transcript here .…

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Protecting Canadian democracy from US influence with Rob Goodman 36:15

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Host Sanjay Ruparelia sat down with Rob Goodman, an assistant professor of politics at the Toronto Metropolitan University. An award-winning author and former political speechwriter, his most recent book is Not Here: Why American Democracy is Eroding, and How Canada Can Protect Itself. In this episode, they discuss how founding myths between Canada and the United States have shaped the moral character of their respective governments and if Canada can avoid the rise of right-wing populism we've witnessed in the United States. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University Guest: Rob Goodman, Assistant Professor of Politics at the Toronto Metropolitan University Further Reading: Not Here: Why American Democracy is Eroding, and How Canada Can Protect Itself by Rob Goodman…

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What We Can Learn from Indonesian Democracy with Dan Slater 41:20

for 48 weeks siden41:20

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Host Sanjay Ruparelia sat down with Dan Slater, the James Orin Murfin professor of political science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he directs the Center for Emerging Democracies. Dan has written a series of essays and books on major issues in Southeast Asia, the latest of which is a book with Joseph Wong called From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia. On March 20, Prabowo Subianto was officially declared the next president of Indonesia. In today’s episode, Dan illuminates that election and Prabowo’s victory by discussing topics such as political power-sharing among elites, the enduring popularity of former president Jokowi, and what Indonesian politics can teach the world about non-Western democracies. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University Guest: Dan Slater, James Orin Murfin, Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Further Reading: From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia by Dan Slater and Joseph Wong Indonesia’s High-Stakes Handover by Dan Slater, Journal of Democracy What Indonesian Democracy Can Teach the World by Dan Slater, Journal of Democracy Who Are the Elites that Control Indonesian Politics? By Robertus Robet Episode transcript is available here .…

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Diverging Paths of Ukraine and Russia with Maria Popova 38:36

for 1 year siden38:36

38:36

Host Sanjay Ruparelia sat down with Maria Popova, an associate professor of political science at McGill University, where she holds the Jean Monnet Chair. Dr. Popova is a widely noted scholar of corruption, autocracy and populism in post-communist Europe, and recently released her book Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States which she co-authored with Oxana Shevel. As Ukraine enters its third year of the war with Russia, Maria joins us to discuss Russia and Ukraine's divergent paths after the fall of the Soviet Union, the two countries’ conflicting memories of the Holodomor, and Russia’s motivations in Ukraine that extend beyond NATO’s encroachment. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University Guest: Maria Popova, Jean Monnet Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University Further Reading: Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States by Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel Ukraine in Histories and Stories: Essays by Ukrainian Intellectuals by Volodomyr Yermolenko (editor) Red Famine by Anne Applebaum Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, 1878-1928 by Stephen Kotkin…

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Rescuing Social Democracy with Olle Tournquist 32:38

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Host Sanjay Ruparelia interviews Olle Tornquist, professor emeritus of political science and development research at the University of Oslo. Professor Tornquist’s research focuses on the rise and decline of second and third-wave democracy in Scandinavia as well as the Global South. This episode explores the power of participatory socialism in democratization, the challenges of applying the Scandinavian model elsewhere in the world, and the limitations of NATO in thwarting far-right authoritarianism. __________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Olle Tornquist is a professor emeritus of Political Science and Development Research at the University of Oslo. Professor Tornquist’s latest book is called In Search of New Social Democracy: Insights from the South, Implications for the North. Further Reading: Comparative Notes on Indian Experiences of Social Democracy: Kerala and West Bengal by John Harriss and Olle Tornquist Deepening Democracy: Institutional Innovations in Empowered Participatory Governments by Archon Fung and Erik Olin Wright Capital and Ideology by Thomas Picketty…

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The Politics of Remembering the Chilean Coup with Marcela Ríos Tobar 38:10

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38:10

Host Sanjay Ruparelia talks with Marcela Ríos Tobar, a visiting scholar at the Latin American Center at the University of Oxford, and the former Minister of Justice and Human Rights in Chile. Their discussion coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Chilean coup, an event that continues to haunt the country’s democratic institutions. In this episode, Dr. Ríos Tobar discusses the external forces that made the establishment of socialism before 1973 so difficult, as well as the lingering effects of the Pinochet dictatorship on Chilean politics. Fifty years later, despite its violent means, memory of the military coup remains polarized. While democratic gains have been made, a persistent, energized far right means there are two visions of Chile’s past– and its future. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Marcela Ríos Tobar, visiting scholar at the Latin American Center at the University of Oxford, former Minister of Justice and Human Rights in Chile. Further Reading: Feminist Agendas and Democracy in Latin America by Jane S. Jaquette (editor), Marcela Ríos Tobar (contributor) Transcript: On The Frontlines of Democracy - Season 2 - Ep1 - Marcela Rios Tobar…

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On The Frontlines of Democracy - Season 2 trailer 1:51

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On The Frontlines of Democracy is back! Join us this season as we unravel the complexities, celebrate the achievements, and navigate the dangers faced by democracies across the globe. Make sure to hit the subscribe button so you don't miss an episode!

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US-China conflict with Kristen Hopewell 53:58

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53:58

Sanjay Ruparelia is joined by Kristen Hopewell, the Canada Research Chair in Global Policy at the University of British Columbia, to discuss the current conflicts in international trade. In this episode, Hopewell explains the stalemates in the World Trade Organization, particularly the escalating conflict between China and the U.S. in trade negotiations. Although China is still considered a developing country, its rising economic status has halted the U.S.’s uncontested dominance. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host Sanjay Ruparelia sits down with Kristen Hopewell, the Canada Research Chair in Global Policy at the University of British Columbia. In this episode, Kristen Hopewell discusses the conflicts happening inside the World Trade Organization. As emerging economies, such as China and India, have more bargaining power in trade negotiations, industrialized nations like the U.S. and Canada are seeing their international influence dwindle. Host: Sanjay Ruparelia , Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Kristen Hopewell , Canada Research Chair in Global Policy in the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues, and Co-Director of the Centre for Chinese Research. Background Reading: Kristen Hopewell’s Clash of Powers: US-China Rivalry in Global Trade Governance Kristen Hopewell’s Breaking the WTO: How Emerging Powers Disrupted the Neoliberal Project Kristen Hopewell’s Emerging Powers, Leadership, and South–South Solidarity: The Battle Over Special and Differential Treatment at the WTO…

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Democratization in Asia-Pacific with Joseph Wong 38:25

for 2 years siden38:25