Funding the Future Is the political order collapsing?
Nov 20, 2025
Governments across the West are struggling with legitimacy, as crises expose their failures. Trump faces scandals that may hinder his political future, while Labour's popularity wanes amid immigration issues. In France and Germany, leadership is proving unstable, with Macron and Merz losing public confidence. The podcast delves into the collapse of far-right movements and the exhaustion of neoliberal ideas. Advocating for a 'politics of care,' the host emphasizes the need for community investment and actionable leadership to restore faith in democracy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Western Political Authority Is Crumbling
- Richard Murphy argues Western governments are collapsing under incompetence and losing legitimacy during converging crises.
- He highlights leadership failures in the US, UK, France and Germany as evidence of a broader political breakdown.
Leader Failures Across Key Democracies
- Murphy details failures of specific leaders: Trump, Keir Starmer, Macron and Friedrich Merz, citing scandals and loss of authority.
- He uses these country examples to illustrate a shared pattern of incompetence and political decline.
Far-Right Movements Lack Coherence
- The far right is fracturing and cannot reconcile its varied supporters' demands into coherent governance.
- Parties like Reform, Le Pen's movement and Germany's AfD lack credible foundations for national leadership.