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The Bulletin

Power, Populism, and the Plight of the Refugee with Roger Berkowitz

Feb 11, 2025
Roger Berkowitz, founder of the Hannah Arendt Center and expert in human rights, discusses the pressing issues of power and populism. He examines the rise of executive authority and its effects on political accountability. The conversation dives deep into the refugee crisis, revealing the moral obligations of nations and the historical challenges faced by asylum seekers. Berkowitz also emphasizes the need for grassroots resistance against power centralization and the role of marginalized communities in reshaping political landscapes.
43:48

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Roger Berkowitz emphasizes the urgent need for nations to rethink their responsibilities toward the unprecedented number of refugees due to geopolitical upheaval.
  • The podcast underscores concerns about the expanding power of the executive branch in immigration policy, suggesting a risk to democratic norms and local governance.

Deep dives

The Impact of the Satanic Panic on Society

Between 1991 and 1993, the United States experienced an alarming surge in reported cases of alleged satanic ritual abuse, totaling over 12,000. An audit conducted by the FBI in 1995 found no evidence linking these claims to organized cult activity, highlighting the disconnection between public fear and reality. This period of hysteria significantly influenced high-profile criminal cases such as the West Memphis Three, where communities were plunged into moral panic and rushed to judgment based on unverified claims. The Satanic Panic effectively shaped a political narrative that leveraged fear, impacting policymaking and public sentiment across the nation.

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