Politics Theory Other

Andy Beckett joins me to explain why he believes, despite being in power on both sides of the Atlantic, conservatism is in decline and how conservative ideology is proving itself unable to adjust to the challenges of the 21st century. The interview was prompted by Andy's long-read in the Guardian, ‘A zombie party’: the deepening crisis of conservatism': https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/28/a-zombie-party-the-deepening-crisis-of-conservatism

Christopher Connery joins me to talk about the nature of the Chinese economy following the initiation of market reforms from the late 1970s, the compatibility between authoritarianism and neoliberalism, and we also discussed the legacy of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The interview was prompted by Christopher's excellent article on neoliberalism in China which you can find in the Jan-Feb issue of the New Left Review: https://newleftreview.org/issues/II115/articles/christopher-connery-ronald-coase-in-beijing

In the season finale of #RedHacks Joana Ramiro talks to Trashfuture podcast host Riley Quinn.

Frances Ryan joins me to discuss her new book, 'Crippled: Austerity and the Demonization of Disabled People'. We spoke about the impact of austerity on people living with disability, the way in which New Labour's support for means testing and conditionality paved the way for the coalition government's welfare cuts and we also talked about the current situation of disability rights activism.

Leo Panitch joins me to discuss his recent article in Tribune Magazine on Ralph Miliband's classic work, The State in Capitalist Society. We discuss Miliband's theory of the state, his criticism of liberal pluralist accounts of the industrialised democracies, his debates with Nicos Poulantzas, and the relevance of his work to the Corbyn project. You can read Leo's article here: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2019/06/milibands-masterpiece

In the latest episode of #RedHacks, Joana Ramiro talks to writer and filmmaker Juliet Jacques. Sound by @japinto Listen to other episodes in the series here: soundcloud.com/poltheoryother/sets/redhacks

Alexander Gallas, author of 'The Thatcherite Offensive: A Neo-Poulantzasian Analysis' joins me to discussed the degree of popular support for the political and economic project of the Thatcher government, the debates between Stuart Hall and Bob Jessop on the nature of Thatcherite hegemony, and we also chatted about the way in which the New Labour era can be seen as a consolidation of Thatcherite neoliberalism.

Extinction Rebellion co-founder Roger Hallam joins me to discuss the organisational model of XR. We also chatted about the booklet Roger has written on the strategy of XR - 'Common Sense for the 21st Century: Only Nonviolent Rebellion Can Now Stop Climate Breakdown and Social Collapse'. And finally we also discussed the criticism XR has come in for regarding its tactics of mass arrest and a perceived failure to properly engage with people and communities of colour.

Christine Berry discusses 'People Get Ready: Preparing for a Corbyn Government' a new book authored by Christine together with Joe Guinan. We spoke about the likely backlash a Corbyn government would face from the business class and transnational finance and what strategies the Labour movement can adopt to defeat its opponents. We also chatted about the possible lessons for the left from the Thatcher government's victory over the unions and the labour movement in the 1980s as well as Labour's programme for economic democracy. You can read an extract from People Get Ready on the Tribune Magazine website: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2019/05/what-a-corbyn-government-would-mean

Adom Getachew joins me to discuss the liberation struggles of anti-colonial movements in Africa and the Caribbean in the twentieth century and the way in which they sought to construct a new global order that might secure real independence in the international system. We spoke about those efforts, as well her characterisation of the League of Nations, and associated figures, such as US president Woodrow Wilson, as essentially racist and counter revolutionary in nature, as well as the way the invasion of Ethiopia, by Mussolini's Italy in 1935 was articulated in ways that presage the modern era of humanitarian intervention.