Episode 2091: Lilie Chouliaraki on the Weaponization of Victimhood

Jun 12, 2024

Lilie Chouliaraki, Professor of Media and Communications at LSE and author of Wronged: The Weaponization of Victimhood, engages in a thought-provoking discussion. She explores how victimhood, often misconstrued as weakness, can be a tool for power, especially among political figures. Chouliaraki challenges listeners to critically evaluate claims of victimization through the lenses of race, class, and gender. The conversation also delves into the strategic manipulation of language in establishing narratives, urging a more nuanced understanding of victimhood in today's social movements.

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Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 3min

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Understanding the Complexities of Victimhood

03:01 • 3min

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The Strategic Use of Language in Power Dynamics

06:09 • 3min

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The Complexities of Victimhood

08:54 • 16min

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The Politics of Victimhood: Navigating Narratives

24:49 • 2min

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Exploring the Complexity of Victimhood

27:00 • 11min

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Wronged

The Weaponization of Victimhood

Lilie Chouliaraki

How to fix the future

Andrew Keen

The Internet Is Not the Answer

Andrew Keen

Politics and the English Language

George Orwell

In 'Politics and the English Language', George Orwell argues that vague and imprecise language can obscure truth and manipulate public opinion. He critiques the 'ugly and inaccurate' written English of his time, particularly in political contexts, where language is used to 'make lies sound truthful and murder respectable'. Orwell emphasizes the importance of clear and concrete language, suggesting that poor writing fosters poor political thinking and is a danger to society. He provides examples of bad writing and offers guidelines for effective writing, including six rules to avoid the misuse of language. Orwell believes that language and thought are interdependent and that improving language can help improve political life.

Digital vertigo

Andrew Keen

The cult of the amateur

Andrew Keen

The theory of moral sentiments

Adam Smith

Published in 1759, 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' is Adam Smith's first major published work, based on his lectures at Glasgow University. The book argues that morality is driven by humanity's natural sociability and the need for approval from peers, rather than by rational calculation or innate moral sense. Smith introduces key concepts such as sympathy, the impartial spectator, and the invisible hand, which explain how individuals judge the conduct and character of themselves and others. The work delves into the emotional and social aspects of human behavior, highlighting the role of emotions like pity and compassion in shaping moral sentiments and behaviors.

The Genealogy of Morals

Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche's "On the Genealogy of Morality" is a critical examination of morality's historical development. Nietzsche challenges traditional views of good and evil, arguing that they are not objective truths but rather power dynamics. He traces the origins of morality to resentment and the will to power, suggesting that morality is a tool used by the weak to control the strong. The work is divided into three essays, each exploring different aspects of morality's evolution. Nietzsche's analysis is complex and provocative, challenging readers to reconsider their own moral values and beliefs. His work continues to spark debate and inspire new interpretations.

Beyond Good and Evil

Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future

Friedrich Nietzsche

In 'Beyond Good and Evil', Nietzsche challenges the traditional morality and philosophical thought of his time. He argues that the Christian world is steeped in a 'slave morality' that demonizes strength and domination, and instead proposes a philosophy that celebrates the present and the individual's 'will to power'. The book is known for its aphoristic style and its critique of past philosophers for their dogmatic premises. Nietzsche advocates for a new kind of philosopher who values imagination, self-assertion, and the creation of values, and he introduces the concept of 'perspective of life' which denies a universal morality for all human beings.

One fashionable English language word I’d like to blow up is “weaponization”. Another is “victimhood”. So I couldn’t resist talking the London School of Eonomics professor Lilie Chouliaraki about Wronged: The Weaponization of Victimhood, her new book attempting to right how we abuse these two maligned words. Feeling wronged, Chouliaraki explains, is really all about establishing power. No wonder, then, Trump’s obsession with being victimized and his ludicrous sensitivity about being wronged.

Lilie Chouliaraki is Professor of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, where she also serves as the department’s Doctoral Program Director. She is the author of several books, including The Spectatorship of Suffering and The Ironic Spectator, Solidarity in the Age of Post-Humanitarianism and co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Humanitarian Communication

Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.

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