The Prospect Podcast

Throughout its history, England was regularly falling to foreign takeovers and perennially divided—it was a nation that never was. Author of The Shortest History of England James Hawes joins the Prospect Interview to discuss the chaotic, mixed history of England and the thorny question of English identity. James discusses English nationalism in the wake of the 2020 Euros, the enduring power of southern elites, and the great construct that is Great Britain. You can read James's essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/the-england-delusion-scotland-united-kingdom-history Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American historian Carol Anderson joins the Prospect Interview to discuss the secret history of America’s much-debated Second Amendment. The amendment, enshrined in the country’s bill of rights, asserts the right of “well-regulated militias” to “keep and bear arms.” Carol, whose previous book White Rage was deemed essential reading during Donald Trump’s America, illuminates the history and impact of the Second Amendment, and the many ways it has been designed to keep African Americans powerless and vulnerable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month’s issue of Prospect, we have two essays approaching the thorny yet increasingly unignorable question of referendums: are they really democratic? Author and former Labour MP Chris Mullin, in his cover story on the rise of nationalism under Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, warns that we may soon begin to have referendums on everything—including the return of the death penalty. Meanwhile political economist Helen Thompson argues that our whole constitution has, and always did, rest on popular consent—and referendums are inevitably needed when party politics fail. Chris and Helen join editor Tom Clark to talk about the history and future of referendums in Britain, whether Brexit could have been avoided entirely, and whether we will soon see an independent Scotland.Chris Mullin's essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/hartlepool-hangman-conservative-party-nationalism-death-penaltyHelen Thompson's essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/consent-british-constitution-referendums-brexit-europe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Christian Davies joins the Prospect Interview to discuss Poland's authoritarian turn—and what it could mean for Europe as a whole. In the latest issue of Prospect, out now on newsstands and online, Christian writes an essay about the nostalgic nationalists of the ultra-conservative Law and Justice Party, which is tightening its grip on the country which—not long ago—the west viewed as the very model of a new liberal democracy. He warns this could eventually have one consequence no-one for esaw—a drift towards the orbit of Russia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Novelist Natasha Brown joins the Prospect Interview to talk about writing contemporary Britain and the fragmented self in her debut, Assembly. The novel follows a Black British woman as she navigates her high-powered job in London’s financial world, faces a medical emergency, and prepares to go to her boyfriend’s family party at their lavish countryside estate. Natasha talks to assistant editor Rebecca Liu about bringing finance into fiction, writing the inner lives of the wealthy, and what fiction can offer a nation currently caught in endless culture wars.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever since emerging in the late 17th century, the Tories have restlessly reinvented themselves, shamelessly shape-shifted and shown a Lazarus-like ability to rise from political death. David Cameron talked about a “big society” while Theresa May railed against “burning injustices.” So what—if anything—does the party under Boris Johnson believe in? Rachel Sylvester joins the Prospect Interview to talk about the latest reinvention of the Conservatives, why Boris Johnson may become a victim of his own success, and the PM’s journalist past.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Clement Attlee to Margaret Thatcher, several movers and shakers have entered government with plans to fundamentally change how the British economy is run. But have they ever truly succeeded? In this week’s podcast Tom Clark welcomes the Economist‘s Duncan Weldon, who argues that Britain’s “hands off” approach to the economy is so ingrained it’s influenced everyone, from the Treasury to trade unions.You can read Duncan’s essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/condemned-to-be-liberal-why-britain-cant-easily-break-with-economic-laissez-faire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rush Limbaugh and his Fox News descendants softened up America for Donald Trump. Could the British shock jock do the same for political life in the UK? Journalist Zoe Williams joins Tom Clark to discuss why the media-savvy renegade took off in early 2000s America, what the “war on woke” really misses, and why we should all be concerned about the future of the BBC. You can read Zoe’s essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/uk-shock-jock-rush-limbaugh-radio-lbc-farage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sameer Rahim joins professor David Herman for a discussion on the life and work of the public intellectual Edward Said, who is the subject of a new biography, Places of Mind, by Timothy Brennan. Sameer, who wrote about the limitations of the thinker in our most recent issue of Prospect, joins David, a former student of Said’s, to discuss what Said got right, and wrong, about orientalism, his friendship with Salman Rushdie, and what Said would have made of the Israel – Palestine conflict today. You can read Sameer’s essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/disorientated-the-confusions-of-edward-said Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Britain slowly opens up—and cinemas, galleries, and concert halls finally return—arts and books editor Sameer Rahim talks to Nicholas Kenyon, managing director at the Barbican, about the struggles faced by Britain’s artists over the past year, and why he’s looking forward to opening the Barbican’s doors. Nicholas, who was previously director of the BBC Proms and music critic for the New Yorker and the Observer, also talks about the changing face of classical music, how the music world will be affected by Brexit, and writing his new book The Life of Music: New Adventures in the Western Classical Tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.