Bungacast

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/236/ Green Nazi Paedos ft. Lily Lynch (UNLOCKED) Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

On the German Greens' shady history. Journalist Lily Lynch, editor of Balkanist, joins us to talk about her recent investigations into the Green Party, who are now back in power in Germany. The 68ers attempted to combat authoritarianism and Nazi legacies through sexual liberation, building on the work of Wilhelm Reich. How did this lead some small groups associated with the Greens to advocate paedophilia – and even to accept former Nazis into their ranks? Later the Greens would fully embrace war. We discuss how their emphasis on "maturity" and multilateral humanitarianism became the means through which they justified their new hawkish stance and adoption of NATO's cause. Readings:

Meet the German Green Party: From "Pedophile Rights" to Post-Pacifism, Lily Lynch (free)
The German Green Party's Oldest Member Was a Known Pedophile Nazi Stormtrooper, Lily Lynch
West Berlin Had a "Radical" All-Female Pedophile Commune with Links to the German Green Party, Lily Lynch
How a Pacifist Party Gave War a Chance, Lily Lynch
What's Become of the German Greens? Joachim Jachnow, NLR (2013)
No End to Neoliberalism in Germany, Bernhard Pirkl, Damage (Dec 2021)

/242/ Bureaucracy Rules OK ft. Michael Lind Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

On class wars, new and old.

Michael Lind, Professor of Practice at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, joins us to talk about what it might take to restore working class power in Western states. He explains some of the arguments in his book The New Class War (2020) in greater depth, as well as discussing his intellectual debt to the ex-Trotskyist theorist turned Cold War conservative, James Burnham.

Plus, Michael talks about how his Texan background and upbringing shaped his outlook on industrialisation, national development and populism.

Part two: https://www.patreon.com/posts/243-bureaucracy-62900197
Readings:

America’s Asymmetric Civil War, Tablet Mag
Why ending tenure is only the start, Tablet Mag
The importance of James Burnham, Tablet Mag
Bungacast Reading Club on The New Class War

Excerpt: /241/ Three Articles: Peace & Social War in North America Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

On dovish conservatives, Trumpist coup-mongers and Canadian truckers.

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Live debate/book launch in NYC, Feb 22nd: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-debate-book-launch-the-end-of-the-end-of-history-tickets-261000468427

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We examine what arguments 'pro-worker conservatives' are making in an aim to rid the GOP of warmongers and what this says about their vision of politics. In that light we also look at the Trumpist wing and ask what they might have in common, if anything, with the former. And we debate the Canadian protests against vaccine mandates and the left's response to it so far.

Three Articles:

Hawks Are Standing in the Way of a New Republican Party, Sohrab Ahmari, Patrick Deneen, Gladden Pappin, NYT
The second coming of Donald Trump, The Economist
As Workers Resist, the Left Recoils, Edwin Aponte, The Bellows

/240/ Populist Interventions: Örebro Party ft. Malcolm Kyeyune Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

The first in an occasional series on new initiatives.

We speak to Malcolm Kyeyune of Sweden's Örebro Party about its origins, analysis and goals. Is a new working class politics to be found in direct opposition to the PMC or the 'transferiat'? How does this local party intend to scale up? What sort of issues are on its agenda? And how does it aim to go beyond the impasses of other populist initiatives?

/239/ Against Justice ft. Ross Wolfe Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

On the critique of egalitarian ideology.

We talk to writer Ross Wolfe about his essay "Marxism Contra Justice". Given that struggles for justice have been central to all sorts of radical movements, why is it important to cleave Marxist politics away from this notion? How are contemporary notions of 'social justice' already degraded versions of earlier egalitarian ideology on the left? Is it possible to conceive of any popular working-class movement that doesn’t begin with people’s sense of indignation and desire for redress?
Links:

Marxism Contra Justice, Ross Wolfe, Datacide
The Charnel House, Ross Wolfe's blog

/238/ Reading Club: Emergency Politics I (Extended Excerpt) Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

On Carl Schmitt's Political Theology (1922).

We ask why people are scared of sovereignty – as opposed to state power per se, and analyse what is significant about the way in which Schmitt defines sovereignty. And what is the meaning of 'political theology'?

And we discuss your questions.

This is an extended excerpt of the first 30 mins of the episode. For the full thing, go to patreon.com/bungacast

Other links:

The shibboleth of sovereignty, Martin Loughlin and Stephen Tierney, Modern Law Review, 2008 (pdf)
The Fed policy error that should worry investors, John Hussman, FT
The Death of the Central Bank Myth, Adam Tooze, Foreign Policy

Excerpt: /237/ Three Articles: Italy, Ukraine, Matrix Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

We take on Italy's election of a new president and what that tells us about permanent crisis, the EU and the curtailing of democracy; we ask how serious the risk of war in Ukraine actually is; and review a film we haven't seen. The full episode is for subscribers only. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast 3 Articles:

As war looms larger, what are Russia’s military options in Ukraine?, The Economist
How the EU destroyed Italian democracy, Thomas Fazi & Paolo Cornetti, Unherd
Boringly postmodern and an ideological fantasy, Slavoj Zizek, The Spectator

Others:

Chartbook #70 Draghi for President?, Adam Tooze, Substack
How serious is Vladimir Putin about launching a major Ukraine offensive?, Max Seddon, FT

Excerpt: /236/ Green Nazi Paedos ft. Lily Lynch Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

Meet the German Green Party: From "Pedophile Rights" to Post-Pacifism, Lily Lynch (free)
The German Green Party's Oldest Member Was a Known Pedophile Nazi Stormtrooper, Lily Lynch
West Berlin Had a "Radical" All-Female Pedophile Commune with Links to the German Green Party, Lily Lynch
How a Pacifist Party Gave War a Chance, Lily Lynch
What's Become of the German Greens? Joachim Jachnow, NLR (2013)
No End to Neoliberalism in Germany, Bernhard Pirkl, Damage (Dec 2021)

/235/ Political Ritalin ft. Anton Jäger Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

On our current attention-deficit and hyperpolitical disorder. In our book, The End of the End of History, we discuss the move from post-politics to anti-politics; from consensus to rejection; from apathy to anger. In a new article, Anton Jäger argues we've now moved into a hyperpolitical age. Is everything being politicised...except the really important stuff? We discuss some examples of hyperpolitics in Europe and North America and ask if what's going on is just a hot culture war, or something bigger. And what are the risks of an actual civil war in France or the US? Reading:

How the World Went from Post-Politics to Hyper-Politics, Anton Jäger, Tribune
Introduction from The End of the End of History, Bungacast, Merion West
Did the culture wars ever end?, Q&A with Andrew Hartman, Illinois State

Grand Reset Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Bungacast is back for 2022, refreshed and reloaded. We've got a completely revamped Reading Club, arranged along three themes: Emergency Politics & Control; Cynical Ideology; and Techno-Feudalism. And there will be plenty of deep dives on national politics around the globe and discussions of big ideas with top guests.

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