Bungacast

Latest Episodes:

Excerpt: /209/ Aufhebonus Bonus + Kabul Falls Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

On the Fall of Kabul, plus responding to your questions & comments.
On this Aufhebonus Bonus, we take your critical comments on 'positive biopolitics' and authoritarian responses to Covid. Plus, whether neoliberalism is really ending, the usefulness of using 'PMC' or 'clerisy', and much more.
We start by discussing what's happening in Afghanistan, the 20 years of failure, and what happens next.
The full episode is for subscribers only. Sign up at pateron.com/bungacast for access.

/207/ Pangolin vs Lobster, pt 1 ft. Paolo Gerbaudo Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

What comes after neoliberalism - the protective state?

We talk to Paolo Gerbaudo about his new book, The Great Recoil, in which Paolo argues we are now turning inwards – globalisation is no longer a sea of opportunity and instead fear dominates. How convincing is his notion of an emerging 'protective state', and do either the left or right variants of it really promise us much at all?
Part two of the interview is available for subscribers only. Sign up and listen at patreon.com/bungacast
Links:

The Great Recoil, Verso Books
On the 'digital party', Bungacast

Excerpt: /206/ Three Articles: Post-Liberalism Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

On post-liberalism: loving the state, crushing the individual? For this 3A, articles from different 'conservative' outlets - but how conservative, and of what kind? Articles:

The real danger is insurgency on the right, William Hague, The Times (pdf attached in patreon)
To curse social media is to exonerate society, Janan Ganesh, FT (pdf attached in patreon)
We are all Britney now, Mary Harrington, Unherd

Full episode for subscribers only. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast

/205/ The World In One Country: The Final ft. Many Guests Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

What country best captures 20th and 21st century history?

For our 200th episode special, we posed the question: "If you had to study the history of only one country from 1900-2020, and thereby understand the history of the whole world, which would you pick?"

You voted on the ten submissions and now we invited the top 3 back on the pod to discuss in more depth: Dominik Leusder on Germany; David Broder on Italy; and David Adler on India.

Then Phil and Alex choose a winner (it's a "managed democracy").

Buy our book! Links to retailers

/204/ Three Articles: People's Republic of Fleeing Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

On Chinese investment, Swiss democracy, and fleeing from Afghanistan.

In this Three Articles, we discuss flight or departure in various ways: China opening the gates for its huge savings to spill onto world markets; Switzerland leaving (or remaining outside) the EU; and the US's sudden departure from Afghanistan, without telling anyone.

'Three Articles' episodes are normally for subscribers only - but this one's free. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast for regular access.

London book launch/bunga party: Register here
Articles:

What happens if Chinese household wealth is unleashed on the world?, Thomas Hale and Tabby Kinder, FT (pdf in patreon)
Swexit, Wolfgang Streeck, Sidecar-NLR
US troops abandoned Bagram airport base in the dead of night..., various, Daily Mail

Excerpt: /203/ Positive Biopolitics? ft. Benjamin Bratton Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

On pandemic & post-pandemic politics. We talk to Benjamin Bratton about his new book, The Revenge of the Real, and its argument for a "positive biopolitics". What does an "epidemiological view of society" look like, and why should we let go of the idea that unmediated social relations are the most authentic kind? We touch on the work of Foucault and Agamben and why they are or aren't relevant to our conditions and critique "boomer theorists".
The full episode is for subscribers only. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast
Come to our book launch in London. Readings:

The Revenge of the Real, Verso Books
The 7th Function of Language, Laurent Binet, Penguin

Excerpt: /202/ 3 Articles: Clerisy, War, Football Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

In our latest 3A, we discuss "the clerisy" and how it relates to the PMC; how the EU is doing forever war just as much as the US; and the hyper-commodification of football.
The full episode is for subscribers only. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast

Articles:

Did Populism Start A 21st Century Anti-Clerical Revolution?, Angela Nagle, Substack
Interview with Wolfgang Streeck: The EU’s war in Africa, Jonas Elvander, Brave New Europe
Cursed and compromised but Euro 2020’s irresistible circus rolls on, Barney Ronay, The Guardian

Excerpt: /201/ Reading Club: The New Class War Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

We discuss Michael Lind's The New Class War.

Lind identifies new lines in the class war, between working class and managerial overclass, between those in the "heartlands" and those in the "hubs". How convincing is this account? What is his critique of technocratic managerialism and its symptom, populism? How convincing - and realistic - is his solution of "democratic pluralism"? And is this only achievable as a result of a new cold war with China?
Reading Clubs are for higher-tier subscribers only. Sign up for $10/mo for full access: patreon.com/bungacast

/200/ The World In One Country ft. Many Guests Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

On world history, 1900-2020.

For our 200th episode special, we pose the question: "If you had to study the history of only one country from 1900-2020, and thereby understand the history of the whole world, which would you pick?"

We invited 10 contributors to each pitch one country, whose particularities capture the universal sweep of world history from the start of the 20th century till now.

Vote for which you think is best, and we'll have the top 3 back on to discuss in more depth: Link to voting page

Running order:

(18:20) Germany - Dominik Leusder
(23:02) Greece - Jonas Kyratzes
(27:57) India - David Adler
(33:46) Indonesia - Vincent Bevins
(38:25) Iraq - Liam Meissner
(44:03) Italy - David Broder
(49:19) Mexico - Roger Lancaster
(54:01) Taiwan - Nic Johnson
(59:44) Turkey - Arash Azizi
(01:04:32) Yugoslavia - Lily Lynch

Buy our book! Links to retailers

Come to our London book launch! Event link

Excerpt: /199/ Aufhebonus Bonus (June) Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

We take your questions, comments & criticisms. This episode is for subscribers only. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast On this Aufhebonus Bonus, we discuss whether unions are still capable of fighting for their members; the Arab-Israeli conflict at the End of History; a lot more on the 'PMC debate'; plus: whether Phil is "reductionist in the service of his own prejudices".

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected