Building Solidarity in an Age of Insecurity with Astra Taylor
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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...
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India's Surprising 2024 Election with Yogendra Yadav
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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. ______________________________________________________________________________________...
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South Africa's political crossroads with Sithembile Mbete and Lawrence Hamilton
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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...
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The Rise and Decline of Erdogan with Kaya Genç
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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...
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Protecting Canadian democracy from US influence with Rob Goodman
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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. ...
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What We Can Learn from Indonesian Democracy with Dan Slater
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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...
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Diverging Paths of Ukraine and Russia with Maria Popova
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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...
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Rescuing Social Democracy with Olle Tournquist
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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. __________________________________________________________________________________...
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The Politics of Remembering the Chilean Coup with Marcela Ríos Tobar
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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,...
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On The Frontlines of Democracy - Season 2 trailer
On the Frontlines of Democracy
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!
info_outlineIn this podcast, we'll sit down with scholars, writers, and academics to figure out how we can protect democratic values in a time of political mistrust, severe partisanship, and resurgent nationalism. Listen to the trailer now and subscribe to On The Frontlines of Democracy, launching May 2023!