May 3, 2022

Excerpt: /261/ Three Articles: Macronistan

[Patreon Exclusive]

We analyse the French presidential election results, the country's geographical and class divides, and what a second term for Macron means for the EU.

Three Articles:

Emmanuel Macron Is Forming a New Right-Wing Bloc, Interview with Bruno Amable, Jacobin
Why Macron is invincible, Christopher Caldwell, Unherd
Le Pen was doomed from the start, Nathan Pinkoski, Compact

/257/ How to Boil a Frog (2) ft. Chris Bickerton

The second part of our double ep on France's presidential election.

Ahead of the second round, we discuss how likely a Le Pen victory could be and the effect of Zemmour’s candidacy – which appears to have made her seem more centrist. We also debate how the French deep state and EU might react to a Le Pen victory.

We also ask Chris, co-author of Technopopulism, whether this is a classically 'technopopulist' election.

Reading:

Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics, Chris Bickerton
The European Union: A Citizen’s Guide, Chris Bickerton

April 19, 2022

/256/ How to Boil a Frog (1) ft. Charles Devellennes

On France's presidential elections.

We talk to Charles Devellennes to digest the first round, which saw centre-right Macron and far-right Le Pen come out on top, with leftist Mélenchon missing out. How similar are Macron and Le Pen's proposals actually? And has Macron's attempts to play statesman over Ukraine affected his chances?

With Le Pen and Macron both going after Mélenchon's 20% of the voter share, how will each approach this challenge?

Readings:

Charles' twitter thread on the similarities between Macron and Le Pen
Why the French left keeps failing, Charles Devellennes, spiked
The Gilets Jaunes and the New Social Contract, Charles Devellennes
The Macron Régime: The Ideology of the New Right in France, Charles Devellennes (forthcoming)

April 12, 2022

/254/ Three Articles: Ukraine

[Patreon Exclusive]

On US proxy wars, Russia's elite, Ukrainian neutrality.

'Three Articles' aims to provide serious political discussion on current affairs that we feel is lacking elsewhere, drawing out the logical conclusions of the three pieces' arguments.

Articles:

A proxy war in Ukraine is the worst possible outcome — except for all the others, Sam Winter-Levy, War on the Rocks
“Now we're going to f*ck them all.” What's happening in Russia's elites after a month of war, Farida Rustamova, Faridaily
Zelensky’s muddled neutrality plan is not the answer for Ukraine, James Sherr, FT (attached)

April 5, 2022

/252/ Technopopulism & Toxic Politics ft. Carlo Invernizzi Accetti

On the fusion of technocracy & populism.

Carlo Invernizzi Accetti talks to us about his book, Technopopulism, co-authored with Chris Bickerton. This is the "new logic of democratic politics". How are all politicians today effectively technocratic and populist at the same time? How does this distinguish our age from a more ideological age in the past? And what can be done to make politics ideological again?

Part 2, which includes the rest of the interview, and the After Party where Alex, George and Phil debate why politics are toxic today, is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64729183/

Readings:

The Age of Technopopulism? George Hoare, Damage
Alex's thread on consensus-through-dissensus
The Berlusconi - cocktail recipe

March 1, 2022

/236/ Green Nazi Paedos ft. Lily Lynch (UNLOCKED)

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)

February 8, 2022

/240/ Populist Interventions: Örebro Party ft. Malcolm Kyeyune

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?

January 25, 2022

Excerpt: /237/ Three Articles: Italy, Ukraine, Matrix

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

January 18, 2022

Excerpt: /236/ Green Nazi Paedos ft. Lily Lynch

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.

The full episode is available to subscribers only. Sign up at patreon.com/bungacast

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)

January 11, 2022

/235/ Political Ritalin ft. Anton Jäger

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

January 4, 2022

Excerpt: /234/ Three Articles: Restoration?

On Millennial homeowners, the USA falling apart, and restoration in the UK.

As better-off 30-somethings start to get on the property ladder, does this put paid to 'Generation Left'? Will American decline be accompanied by a second civil war - as China serenely watches on? And does Britain represent a return to the 'End of History'? Is everything becoming boring again?

This is an excerpt. For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

Articles:

Millennials Are Supercharging the Housing Market, Nicole Friedman, WSJ (attached)
A tale of two elites in Washington and Beijing, Gideon Rachman, FT (attached)
British politics suddenly feels small – and the old order is ‘taking back control’, Julian Coman

November 30, 2021

/228/ Three Articles: Popular Backlash in Chile, India, Europe

On people power on three continents.

We discuss Chile's landmark elections, the first after the uprising of 2019-20, which see a face-off between left and far-right; Modi's repeal of controversial laws that provoked a huge mobilisation of farmers in India last year; and protests and riots against new lockdowns and vaccine mandates across Europe.

Articles:

Has the Backlash to Progressivism Come to Chile?, Lili Loofbourow, Slate
In Rare Show of Weakness, Modi Bows to India’s Farmers, Various, NYT
Violence in Belgium and Netherlands as Covid protests erupt across Europe, Jon Henley, The Guardian

Other relevant episodes

/93/ Hot Chile and Other Neoliberal Failures ft. Pablo Pryluka
/198/ Universal India ft. Achin Vanaik

November 16, 2021

/225/ Wokeistan & Lebanonworld ft. Karl Sharro

On sectarianism & identitarianism.

Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) is back on Bunga to talk to us about his essay "The Retreat from Universalism in the Middle East and the World".

Lebanon has been used as a model for other Middle Eastern countries, even though its confessional system is a disaster. But Lebanese-style sectarianism isn't a form of 'feudal' backwardness – in fact it represents a precursor of the multicultural and identitarian politics in the West.

Who are the enemies of universalism today, East and West? And what sort of political projects are capable of rejuvenating secular universalism?

Excerpt: OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 3

The third in a special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict.

This is an excerpt. For the full 1h40min episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

In this episode, we examine the Baby Boomers – myth and reality. The revolt of the '60s has been misunderstood in many dimensions. Was it betrayed or did it always express capitalist ideology? Were the Boomers the ones who really did the 1960s anyway? And what world have the Boomers created as they passed through life – and institutions?

Guests include:

Jennie Bristow, senior lecturer in sociology at Canterbury Christ Church University
Helen Andrews, senior editor at The American Conservative
Josh Glenn, semiotician, author, and publisher of HiLoBrow
Jeffrey Alexander, professor of sociology at Yale University
Holger Nehring, chair in contemporary European history at the University of Stirling
Kristin Ross, professor emeritus of comparative literature at New York University

Original music by: Jonny Mundey

Additional music:

Medité / A Change in My Heart / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Ondolut / Blumen / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Elliott Holmes / Bull Chase / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Kick Castle / Kick Down / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
T. Morri / Nuthin' but Nuts / courtesy of epidemicsound.com

Other Clips:

September 30, 2021

/218/ Stability Über Alles ft. Wolfgang Streeck

On German's elections – and the costs of stability.

Wolfgang Streeck is back on the podcast to round-up Germany's elections last Sunday (26 September). What's behind the emphasis on continuity and competence? Is Germany stuck in the 2000s?

We also discuss the importation of US-style culture wars into Germany, the country's role in the Eurozone, and strategic relations with France.

The second part of the conversation – where we debate the end of neoliberalism and capitalist crisis – is over at patreon.com/bungacast.

Readings:

Will it Be Enough?, Wolfgang Streeck, Sidecar
“Order” Prevails in Berlin, Gregor Baszak, The Bellows
Things Can’t Go on Like This for the German Left, Alexander Brentler, Jacobin

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