Politics Theory Other

Owen Hatherley joins me to discuss his recent article on Keir Starmer and the Labour leadership contest. You can read the piece here: https://medium.com/@owenhatherley/theres-a-starmer-waiting-in-the-sky-f2d26a9c4e97

Leo Panitch joins me to chat about the causes of Labour's defeat in the 2019 general election, the weaknesses of the labour movement beyond the party, and whether a Keir Starmer victory in the Labour leadership contest would portend a march back to the so-called political centre.

Lisa Wedeen joins me to discuss her new book, Authoritarian Apprehensions: Ideology, Judgment, and Mourning in Syria. We spoke about the strategies the Syrian regime has adopted in order to maintain a degree of public support, the neoliberal turn of Syrian society under Bashar al-Assad, how authoritarian leaders exploit digital media to create uncertainty, and the relevance of Louis Althusser's concept of interpellation to the regime's endurance. To get the extended version of this interview please sign up as a PTO supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/poltheoryother

The New Left Review's Daniel Finn joins me to discuss Sinn Féin's electoral breakthrough in the Irish general election. We spoke about the decline of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, why Ireland's economic recovery did not help Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael, and why Sinn Féin's association with the republican cause in Northern Ireland no longer puts off young Irish voters. To get access to this episode become a $5 supporter on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/poltheoryother

Len McCluskey joins me to talk about his new book, 'Why You Should Be A Trade Unionist'. We spoke about his own experience of becoming involved in the labour movement, what the unions could be doing to combat the conservative press, and we also talked about the Labour leadership contest and Len's position on freedom of movement.

Thea Riofrancos joins me to discuss the shambolic Iowa caucus, the significance of the strong showings of Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden's poor performance. We also chatted about media narratives and centrist panic at the prospect of Sanders winning the nomination. To get access to this episode become a $5 supporter on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/poltheoryother

Achin Vanaik joins me to discuss Hindu nationalism in India, the BJP's anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act, the lockdown in Kashmir, and India's economic slowdown.

Lara Friedman joins me to discuss the so-called Trump peace plan and the Israel-Palestine conflict. We spoke about the extent to which the plan diverges from previous American policy, and the ideological framework of its creators. Lara is the President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace based in Washington DC.

Financial Times journalist Tom Hancock joins me from the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. We spoke about the situation in the city, the response of the Chinese government to the crisis and how it compares to the SARS outbreak of 2002. We also discussed the broader political significance of the outbreak and the public mood in Wuhan and China more broadly.

Tom Blackburn joins me to chat about the Labour leadership contest, why Keir Starmer is the front runner, the importance of open selection, and what Jess Philipps' brief campaign tells us about the Labour right. If you'd like to hear the full interview please consider becoming a $5 PTO supporter on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/poltheoryother