Lea Ypi, a political scientist, discusses the grip of nationalism on democracy, exploring alternatives such as cosmopolitanism and challenges of a world state. The podcast also examines the potential for democracy in corporations and the economic imperative overriding democracy and nationalism.
The podcast explores the role of the nation-state in shaping and mobilizing democratic politics.
It delves into the social and cultural aspects of the nation as a unifying force and examines its potential within a cosmopolitan framework.
The podcast discusses the enduring hold of the nation in political imaginations and raises questions about its competitive advantage over alternative models.
Deep dives
The Scale of Democracy and Nationalism
The podcast explores the scale at which democracy can effectively function, referencing the classical Greek idea of citizen participation but acknowledging the limitations of scaling it up to modern levels of national politics. It discusses how the concept of the nation emerged as a construct to mobilize and unite people beyond regional differences, emphasizing its role in anti-monarchist movements and the fight against imperial powers. The podcast questions whether the idea of the nation is inherently stable or fragile, and explores different historical perspectives on democracy, including Plato's anti-democratic stance and Aristotle's belief in the wisdom of crowds.
Constructing the Nation and the Role of the State
The podcast delves into the construction of the nation, highlighting its role as a social glue that brings together fragmented groups and provides a sense of unity and belonging. It explores how the concept of the nation acts as a socializing vehicle, shaping culture, language, and collective narratives. The podcast also touches upon the distinction between progressive civic nationalism and exclusionary ethno-nationalism, highlighting the potential for national identities to transcend borders and exist within a cosmopolitan framework.
The Durability and Hold of the Nation
The podcast examines the enduring hold of the nation within political imaginations, even in a world marked by globalization and interconnectedness. It discusses how the nation offers a sense of unity and belonging in a world riddled with conflicts and inequalities. The podcast explores the construction and myth-making behind the nation, questioning the selection and partiality of historical narratives that contribute to its formation. It also raises the question of whether the idea of the nation has a competitive advantage over alternative models, considering its ability to rally movements and evoke deep identification.
The Potential of Cosmopolitanism
The podcast explores cosmopolitanism as an alternative idea to the nation-state, focusing on the potential for respectful interaction and equality between nations. It discusses how cosmopolitanism has historically played a critical role in challenging colonialism and imperialism, emphasizing the need for a shared framework of reference beyond national boundaries. The podcast highlights the compatibility between cosmopolitanism and national development, as well as the potential of intersecting structures of authority to foster a cosmopolitan order. It also acknowledges the limitations of cosmopolitanism within the existing capitalist system, which perpetuates power asymmetries and hampers global equality.
Democracy in Corporations and the Challenges of Capitalism
The podcast considers the possibility of democracy within corporations, highlighting the potential for participatory decision-making and worker representation. However, it notes the challenges of implementing such democratic practices within capitalist systems, where profit-making is the primary imperative. The podcast emphasizes that capitalism tends to prioritize profit over democracy and restricts the potential for internal democracy within companies. It also suggests that the economic imperative of capitalism undermines the feasibility of achieving a more democratic and egalitarian society within the current structure.
In the latest instalment of David’s ongoing conversation with Lea Ypi about the past, present and future of democracy they discuss whether democratic politics can ever break free from the stranglehold of the nation-state. When and why did nationalism take such a strong grip of the idea of democracy? What are the international or cosmopolitan alternatives? And can a democracy police its borders without having actual borders or actual police?
Listen to the previous episodes in this series here.
