The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

Ep 403: Shikha Dalmia Is the Unpopulist

4 snips

Oct 28, 2024

Shikha Dalmia, a columnist with a focus on populism and modern authoritarianism, dives deep into the rising tide of populism and its global implications. She discusses the transformation within the Republican Party under Trump, and highlights the parallels between populist movements in India and the U.S. Dalmia emphasizes the erosion of liberal values in today’s political climate, the fragmentation of media narratives, and the urgent need for electoral reform to safeguard democracy. With insights from her own experiences, she sheds light on the challenges of modern identity and journalism.

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ANECDOTE

Populism's Unexpected Rise

Shikha Dalmia was surprised by Narendra Modi's rise to power despite his controversial past.
She believed the US was immune to such populism, only to be proven wrong by Trump's election.

INSIGHT

State Design: India vs. US

India's state design, inherited from colonial rule, is inherently oppressive.
This differs from the US, where the state's power is viewed with more suspicion.

INSIGHT

America's Dual History

America's history reveals a duality: a pursuit of freedom alongside a history of oppression, particularly of Black Americans.
This tension, rooted in slavery and Jim Crow, continues to shape American society today.

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Atlas Shrugged

Ayn Rand

Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.

The road to serfdom

Friedrich Von Hayek

In this influential book, Hayek argues that the abandonment of individualism and classical liberalism leads to a loss of freedom, the creation of an oppressive society, and ultimately, the tyranny of a dictator. He challenges the view that fascism and Nazism are capitalist reactions against socialism, instead positing that these ideologies share common roots in central economic planning and the empowerment of the state over the individual. The book emphasizes the dangers of collectivism and the importance of maintaining a free market system to preserve human freedom and dignity.

What Is Populism?

Jan-Werner Müller

The Flight 93 Election

The election of 2016 will test whether virtù remains in the core of the American nation.

Michael Anton

Colours of the cage

A Prison Memoir

Arun Ferreira

Remnants of a separation

Aanchal Malhotra

The Color of Law

Richard Rothstein

The Reactionary Spirit

Zach Beauchamp

A Rude Life

None

Vir Sanghvi

Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India

Akshaya Mukul

Rhinoceros

Eugène Ionesco

Written in 1959, 'Rhinoceros' is a satirical play that explores themes of totalitarianism, dehumanization, and the loss of individual identity. The story begins with the sudden appearance of a rhinoceros in a small provincial French village, leading to a series of events where the townspeople gradually transform into rhinoceroses. The main character, Bérenger, struggles to maintain his integrity and identity as he watches his friends and acquaintances succumb to this bizarre transformation. The play is often interpreted as a commentary on the rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes, drawing from Ionesco's experiences with Nazism and other authoritarian systems.

The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand

Published in 1943, 'The Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand tells the story of Howard Roark, a young and innovative architect who refuses to compromise his artistic vision despite the opposition from society. The novel explores themes of individualism, egoism, and the conflict between those who think for themselves (the 'first-handers') and those who follow the opinions of others (the 'second-handers'). It also delves into the lives of other characters such as Dominique Francon, Peter Keating, Ellsworth Toohey, and Gail Wynand, each representing different aspects of Rand's philosophical ideas. The book is a defense of egoism and individualism, presenting a radical rethinking of basic moral concepts and challenging conventional notions of selfishness and altruism[2][3][5].

Identity

The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment

Francis Fukuyama

In this book, Francis Fukuyama analyzes the contemporary rise of identity politics and its impact on liberal democracy. He argues that the desire for recognition of one's dignity is a fundamental human need and that this demand has been exploited by 'politics of resentment,' leading to the fragmentation of society into narrower identity groups. Fukuyama discusses how economic modernization, social change, and the failure of the left to build broad solidarity have contributed to this phenomenon. He proposes solutions such as national service, public education in civics, and the creation of inclusive national identities to counter the divisive effects of identity politics.