Bungacast

/239/ Against Justice ft. Ross Wolfe

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)

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

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

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)

 

/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

Grand Reset

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.

• Buy The End of the End of History
• Subscribe on Patreon
• Follow us on Facebook (and after clicking like, select us as favourites)
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram

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

Excerpt: /233/ Aufhebonus Bonus

For the last time in 2021, we take your questions, comments and criticisms.

 

As always, lots of debate about Covid - and we start by remarking upon a possible u-turn on the issue on the British left.

 

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Buy the Bunga book: linktr.ee/bungacast

 

This is a sample. For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

Excerpt: /232/ Reading Club: Cold, Hard / Warm, Soft

On Eva Illouz's Cold Intimacies: The Making of Emotional Capitalism

How has the cold and hard world of bureaucratic, instrumental rationalism penetrated the intimate sphere of love and relationships? And how has open communication and emotional understanding been used to advance economic interests?

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This is a free sample. For the full episode, sign up at patreon.com/bungacast

 

/231/ New Class Analysis ft. Catherine Liu

On Thursday 9 November, George Hoare and Alex Hochuli took part in a conversation with Catherine Liu about their recent books – The End of the End of History and Virtue Hoarders, respectively. The focus was on the social and political role of the Professional-Managerial Class in historical context.

The webinar was hosted and presented by the UCI Humanities Center, as part of their Ideas with Impact series and we're reposting the conversation as a podcast here.

Excerpt: /230/ Repetition Compulsion ft. Doug Lain, pt. 2

On the left outflanked.

 

We continue our discussion with Douglas Lain, formerly of Zer0 Books and now of Diet Soap Media. Has the left been overtaken by events - yet again? And we propose a typology of a left divided between progressives, populists and Marxists – progressives who are authoritarian, populists who are opportunists, and Marxists who are lonely.

 

Hey listener - why not tell us how you see Bunga and the world? Fill out our listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NN6SPD9

 

Links:

• Diet Soap Media: Patreon | YouTube
• OK Bunger! The Problem of Generations

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

/229/ Repetition Compulsion ft. Doug Lain, pt. 1

On branding and the left. 

Douglas Lain, until recently publisher of Zer0 Books and now of Diet Soap Media, joins us to talk about what happened with Zer0. Mainly, we discuss the left at the End of History, revisit No Logo and the anti-branding stance, and compare Gen X and Millennial lefts - is it just a continual story of decline?

Links:

• Diet Soap Media: Patreon | YouTube
• OK Bunger! The Problem of Generations

/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

 

Excerpt: /227/ Reading Club: All That Is Solid

On modernity's contradictions.

 

In this month's Reading Club, we discuss the introduction to Marshall Berman's marvellous All That Is Solid Melts Into Air.

 

This is an excerpt. For the full episode, subscribe for $10/mo at patreon.com/bungacast

 

Can we revive, as Berman intends, the truly dialectical, 19th century attitude to modernity? What value is there in talking about "modernity" rather than “capitalism”? And how to we recognise possibilities for transcending today's impasses, where the question of "modernity" isn't even on the table?

 

The final Reading Club of 2021 will be on Eva Illouz's Cold Intimacies.

Excerpt: /226/ Science Says: No Woke

On the Jacobin & YouGov survey of the US working class.

 

A study (pdf) carried out by YouGov on behalf of Jacobin magazine and the Center for Working-Class Politics has learned that "working-class voters prefer progressive candidates who focus primarily on bread-and-butter economic issues, and who frame those issues in universal terms." What can we learn from the study, beyond the obvious? What are its limitations, who is it for, and what does the survey say about those who commissioned it?

 

Plus: does it make sense to frame your politics as 'anti-woke'?

 

Reading:

• Jacobin executive summary
• Full report (pdf)