The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Conservative socialism?

Aug 28, 2023

55:50

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Sohrab Ahmari, a conservative intellectual, discusses his book on mapping out a post-Trump future for the Republican Party. They explore the concept of seeking a higher truth and the different visions of tyranny. They also discuss private tyranny in the economic sphere and the need to restore balance in markets and support workers.

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Quick takeaways

Donald Trump disrupted the traditional ideological landscape in American politics and shattered the stagnant consensus within the Republican Party.

The author argues for restoring countervailing power to address the material roots of social and economic issues and challenge the dominance of neoliberalism.

Finding common cause in economic justice can help alleviate cultural and political divisions and build a more just society.

Deep dives

The Shattering of the Stale Consensus in American Politics

Donald Trump disrupted the traditional ideological landscape in American politics by challenging the stagnant consensus in Washington. This shattered the incoherent mix of laissez-faire economics and religious traditionalism within the Republican Party. As American politics evolves, the author wonders if there is potential for a new coalition that addresses deep-rooted issues. The guest on the podcast, Saurabh Amari, presents a conservative viewpoint in his book, Tyranny Inc., while embracing New Deal democratic socialism and showing concern for the working class.

"Tyranny: Beyond the State" Exploring the Incomplete Vision of Tyranny

00:49

Seekers and Uncertainty in Worldviews

01:15

The Impact of Precarious Insurance on Immigrant Experience and Working Class Americans

01:45

Restoring Union Density and Workplace Democracy

01:32

Introduction

2min

Seeking a Higher Truth

18min

Understanding Tyranny and the Central Argument

3min

Private Tyranny: Coercion in the Economic Sphere

12min

Moving Forward in the Wake of Neoliberalism

2min

The Supplanting of Democracy by Neoliberalism and the Implications for Politics

3min

Restoring Balance in Markets and Supporting Workers

16min

What will American politics look like after Trump? Sean Illing is joined by Sohrab Ahmari to discuss his new book, Tyranny, Inc. Ahmari is one of the conservative intellectuals trying to map out a post-Trump future for the Republican Party, and his book is an attempt to justify a form of democratic socialism from the right. The two discuss whether his vision could ever be the basis for a broader coalition.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari), author, Tyranny, Inc.

References:

Tyranny, Inc. by Sohrab Ahmari (Penguin Random House, 2023)
American Capitalism: The Concept of Countervailing Power by John Galbraith (Routledge, 1993)
Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
“Social Democracy and Social Conservatism Aren’t Compatible” by Matt McManus (Jacobin, August 2023)

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This episode was made by:

Engineer: Erica Huang
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Conservative socialism?

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Shattering of the Stale Consensus in American Politics

Saurabh Amari's Intellectual Evolution and Ideological Journey

The Concept of Neoliberalism and Its Influence

Moving Beyond Neoliberalism and Restoring Democratic Politics

Balancing Economic Justice and Cultural Battles

"Tyranny: Beyond the State" Exploring the Incomplete Vision of Tyranny

Seekers and Uncertainty in Worldviews

The Impact of Precarious Insurance on Immigrant Experience and Working Class Americans

Restoring Union Density and Workplace Democracy

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

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Discover
highlights

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Conservative socialism?

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Shattering of the Stale Consensus in American Politics

Saurabh Amari's Intellectual Evolution and Ideological Journey

The Concept of Neoliberalism and Its Influence

Moving Beyond Neoliberalism and Restoring Democratic Politics

Balancing Economic Justice and Cultural Battles

"Tyranny: Beyond the State" Exploring the Incomplete Vision of Tyranny

Seekers and Uncertainty in Worldviews

The Impact of Precarious Insurance on Immigrant Experience and Working Class Americans

Restoring Union Density and Workplace Democracy

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