Intelligence Squared Fascism, Exile, and Redefining Home in the 21st Century, with Ece Temelkuran
Ece Temelkuran, award-winning Turkish writer and political thinker forced into exile, reflects on exile, migration and rebuilding belonging. She discusses why we should name contemporary authoritarianism fascism. The conversation explores the moral damage of political violence, language as a way to rebuild home, and how literature and poetry help reimagine belonging.
43:43
Call The Threat By Its Name
- Ece Temelkuran argues we must call current movements 'fascism' rather than milder labels to prompt action.
- Naming the threat correctly forces political and moral responses instead of passive waiting.
Rejecting The 'Exile' Label
- Ece describes resisting the 'exile' label for moral, political, and emotional reasons.
- She rejects the aristocratic cachet of exile while noting it can permanently fix you outside your homeland.
Homelessness Is Multi-Dimensional
- Temelkuran frames global homelessness as moral, political, emotional, and physical, requiring intimacy to address.
- She chose letter-format to whisper truths amid overwhelming public shouting.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Ece's Location and Exile Background
01:48 • 1min
Why She Uses the Term Fascism
02:50 • 5min
Ambivalence About the Word Exile
08:19 • 3min
Why the Book Addresses Everyone
11:26 • 4min
Genre and Poetic Form
14:56 • 1min
Writing Toward Home with Words
16:11 • 2min
Gaza as Moral Experiment
18:40 • 3min
Interior Damage of Political Violence
22:00 • 3min
Dark Tech Retreat and AI Concerns
25:29 • 9min
Poetry, Odyssey, and Home
34:31 • 4min
One Art and Personal Loss
38:46 • 3min
Making a Home After Homelessness
41:35 • 3min
Outro
44:38 • 30sec
#28394
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Women Who Blow on Knots
Ece Temelkuran
Ece Temelkuran's "Women Who Blow on Knots" is a novel that delves into the experiences of women in the face of political oppression.
The novel uses fictional characters to explore themes of resistance, resilience, and the human spirit's capacity to endure hardship.
Written during a period of intense political turmoil in Turkey, the novel reflects the author's own experiences and observations.
The characters' struggles against authoritarian forces resonate with readers who have faced similar challenges.
The novel's exploration of female solidarity and the power of storytelling in the face of adversity makes it a compelling read.
#2281
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
Homer's odyssey
Gwen Cooper
Homer's Odyssey is a memoir by Gwen Cooper that chronicles her life with a blind cat named Homer.
Despite being born without eyes, Homer grows into a spirited and loving companion who faces numerous challenges, including surviving the aftermath of 9/11 and defending his home against an intruder.
Through Homer's adventures, Cooper reflects on the profound impact he had on her life, teaching her about courage, love, and living beyond limitations.
#10305
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Nation of Strangers
Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century
Ece Temelkuran
Nation of Strangers is a politically attuned and deeply personal series of letters from one stranger to another, exploring the evolving concept of home amid global displacement, rising fascism, and climate crisis.
Temelkuran reflects on the growing number of refugees, exiles, and the politically and economically homeless, offering a poetic yet precise meditation on alienation and belonging.
The book challenges traditional notions of home and citizenship, proposing a new understanding of community and solidarity in an increasingly fragmented world.
It follows Temelkuran's previous acclaimed works on political commentary and exile.
#1834
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
Together
The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
Vivek Murthy
In this book, Dr. Vivek Murthy makes a compelling case for loneliness as a major public health concern, comparable in harm to smoking.
He argues that loneliness affects not only individual health but also societal cohesion, contributing to issues such as addiction, violence, depression, and anxiety.
The book is divided into sections on understanding loneliness and building more connected lives, offering strategies like spending time with loved ones, focusing on each other, embracing solitude, and helping others.
Murthy draws from personal experiences, scientific research, and community examples to illustrate the negative impacts of loneliness and the healing power of human connection.
#8316
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
How to Lose a Country
The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship
Ece Temelkuran
Ece Temelkuran's "How to Lose a Country" meticulously outlines the seven steps through which democracies can descend into dictatorships.
Drawing on her experiences in Turkey under Erdogan's rule, the book provides a stark warning about the gradual erosion of democratic institutions and freedoms.
Temelkuran's analysis is both insightful and timely, offering a framework for understanding the rise of authoritarianism globally.
The book's strength lies in its blend of personal narrative and political analysis, making it accessible and engaging for a wide audience.
It serves as a crucial guide for citizens and activists seeking to protect and strengthen their democracies.
#28922
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Waiting for the Barbarians
J. M. Coetzee
'Waiting for the Barbarians', by J.M.
Coetzee, explores themes of colonialism, power, and moral responsibility through the eyes of a magistrate in a remote outpost of an unnamed empire.
The magistrate begins to question the empire's brutal treatment of suspected 'barbarians'.
His growing empathy leads to conflict with the authorities.
The novel examines the psychological effects of oppression and the complexities of justice.
Coetzee's stark prose and allegorical narrative challenge readers to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and societal structures.
#35
• Mentioned in 284 episodes
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Written in epistolary form, the novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant and ambitious scientist who, driven by Enlightenment-era ideas of progress and science, creates a living being from dead body parts.
However, upon seeing the creature come to life, Frankenstein is horrified and abandons it.
The creature, shunned by society due to its appearance, seeks revenge against its creator, leading to a series of tragic events.
The novel explores themes of guilt, loss, and the emotional and moral consequences of scientific hubris, blending elements of Gothic and Romantic literature.
#4780
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Director
Daniel Kehlmann
#8197
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
E. L. Konigsburg
The story follows Claudia, an 11-year-old girl, and her 9-year-old brother Jamie, who decide to run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
While there, they discover a small marble statue that may have been carved by Michelangelo and embark on a journey to uncover its provenance, which leads them to the enigmatic Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
The narrative is cleverly framed as a letter from Mrs. Frankweiler to her lawyer, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the tale of adventure, self-discovery, and family bonds.
#75357
The time of mute swans
Ece Temelkuran
Ece Temelkuran'ın 'The Time of Mute Swans' romanı, Türkiye'nin başkenti Ankara'da 1980 darbesinin arifesinde geçer.
Dönemi, demokratik aktivizmin bitişi ve popülist otoriterliğin başlangıcı olarak tasvir eder.
Yazarın diğer eserleri gibi Türkiye'nin siyasi ve sosyal meselelerini işleyen bu roman, 2015'te Türkçe, 2017'de İngilizce yayımlanmıştır.
#25942
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Bedtime for Frances
Robert Munsch
Robert Munsch's "Bedtime for Frances" is a charming and relatable story about a young badger who resists going to bed.
The book's simple yet effective storytelling techniques capture the essence of childhood defiance and the eventual acceptance of bedtime routines.
The illustrations are warm and inviting, creating a cozy atmosphere that resonates with young readers.
The book's enduring popularity stems from its ability to connect with children's emotions and experiences.
What does it mean to belong when the very idea of home is under threat?
In this episode we’re joined by award-winning author and political thinker Ece Temelkuran. Forced into exile for her critical views of President Erdoğan, Temelkuran has long signalled the alarm that fascism threatens not only her home country Türkiye, but the whole democratic world. Her first book in English, How to Lose a Country, received international praise. Her second, Together, offers ‘a way out from the political and moral insanity’ that is ushered by the global rise of fascism.
Now Temelkuran joins host Mythili Rao to discuss her new book, Nation of Strangers, a powerful and personal reappraisal of the concept of exile, migration and rebuilding home in the 21st century.
Increasingly, oppression seems to be spreading, institutions crumbling, and certainties dissolving. Across the world, the number of refugees and exiles, the dispossessed and displaced, the politically homeless and economically excluded is growing. In response, Nation of Strangers takes the form of intimate, urgent letters written from one stranger to another, exploring alienation, resistance, solidarity and hope.
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