#104 - Alexander Chula - What A Small African Country & Its Dictator Can Teach Us About Western Civilisation

Alexander Chula is a medical doctor and writer working in London. His first book, Goodbye. Dr Banda was published 2023.

In this episode, Alexander and I think out loud about what an African dictator can teach the West about itself, how multiculturalism impacts conceptions of personal and national identity, the perceived cultural openness of modern society compared to the past and why engagement by middle-class Westerners on with foreign cultures on their travels are superficial in their nature, why this is a quick contrasts this with the more profound respect and curiosity exhibited by earlier generations, including those we thought were regressive or non-progressive, why British Victorian missionaries were more influential and had a greater, more positive impact than modern NGO- and aid-workers in Africa, and much, much more. 

Follow Alexander on X: https://x.com/alexanderchula
Buy Alex's book here: https://amzn.to/3XlUmLL

About Thinking Class:
Thinking Class is a long-form interview podcast exploring the cultural, historical, and moral forces shaping England, Britain, and the wider Western world.

Hosted by John Gillam, the show features serious conversations with historians, academics, and independent thinkers.

Thinking Class is concerned with discovering long-term patterns over headlines and hot-takes. Expect historically-grounded analysis on matters of national character, institutions, demography, belief, and political legitimacy.

New episodes every week.

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