UNLOCKED: /361/ A Nightmare on the Brains of the Living ft. Benjamin Studebaker
Sep 28, 2023
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Political theorist Benjamin Studebaker discusses the chronic crisis of American democracy and how hope is used to keep people engaged in a system that doesn't deliver. The podcast explores the challenges of US politics, the role of the professional middle class, the decline of America, and the futility of symbols in politics. It also delves into boredom and despair as catalysts for new ideas, and the politics of free time.
The US political system is unable to deliver meaningful change, leading to disillusionment and despair among many Americans.
Focusing on hope in US politics can perpetuate the dysfunction of the system and distract from structural challenges.
Culture wars divert attention from systemic economic issues and hinder meaningful political progress in the United States.
Deep dives
The Impact of Capital Mobility on US Politics
The podcast episode discusses how changes in the economy over the past 50 years, particularly the increasing mobility of capital, have had profound effects on US politics. With capital becoming more mobile, states compete to attract money and jobs, leading to policies that favor capital over workers. This has resulted in outsourcing, wage suppression, weakening of labor rights, and the growing power of corporations and oligarchs. The podcast argues that these changes have made it difficult for the US political system to address the economic challenges faced by the working class. Despite promises made by politicians, the system is unable to deliver meaningful change, leading to disillusionment and despair among many Americans.
The Rise of Hope in US Politics
The podcast explores the role of hope in US politics and why it can be a problem. It argues that hope is problematic because the American political system is highly dysfunctional, making it difficult to achieve any significant policy changes. Even if a politician is elected with promises of change, the system's complexity and resistance from various institutions make it hard to implement reforms. Additionally, hope narratives offered by politicians and media personalities often lack substance and can be used to distract from the structural challenges faced by the country. The podcast suggests that focusing on hope can perpetuate the dysfunction of the political system and prevent a meaningful examination of its limitations.
The Influence of Culture Wars on US Politics
The podcast highlights the prevalence of culture wars in US politics and discusses their impact. It argues that culture wars divert attention away from systemic economic issues and instead focus on cultural and social divides. Both conservatives and progressives are engaged in these culture wars, blaming each other's ideologies for societal problems. The podcast suggests that culture wars are perpetuated by media businesses that prioritize generating engagement over effective political strategy. These culture wars rarely lead to substantial material changes or improvements in living standards for ordinary individuals, further fueling polarization and frustration. The podcast emphasizes that the perpetuation of culture wars and the neglect of economic challenges hinder meaningful political progress in the United States.
The Role of Despair in US Politics
The podcast explores the concept of despair in US politics and its impact on the political landscape. It argues that the American political system is unable to solve significant problems or deliver fundamental change due to various structural limitations. This sense of despair arises as people become disillusioned with the dysfunction of the system and the inability of politicians to bring about meaningful reforms. In response to this despair, individuals may either disengage from politics or seek alternative enclaves that provide a sense of escape from politics. However, these enclaves are eventually repoliticized, leading to continued frustration and the need for new approaches. The podcast emphasizes the importance of moving beyond outdated political movements and exploring genuinely new ways of addressing systemic issues.
The challenges of the anti-globalization movement
The speaker argues that the anti-globalization movement came too late to resist the power of capital mobility and too early to create meaningful change due to the lack of awareness of the economic hardships caused. The labor movement's weakened state and the system's confidence in the 80s and 90s further hampered resistance efforts. The globalization movement's connection to the labor movement was also insufficient, lacking mobilization and effectiveness. The potential for a mobilized working class and the possibility of new strategies and tactics pose significant challenges for systemic change.
Brexit's distorted path and challenges with system change
The speaker expresses disappointment in the UK's handling of Brexit, stating that it has not severed trade ties with Europe as expected and has sought to maintain its position within the system rather than leaving it. Similar patterns are observed in other European countries, where superficial exits are pursued to create an illusion of rebellion while adhering to European rules economically. The lack of substantial change resulting from Brexit and negative impacts on the British economy highlight the difficulties in achieving real economic transformation. The speaker also explores the challenges of envisioning alternative political systems and the need to move beyond historical analogies and develop new promises and ideas for change.
On US politics being stuck.
[This was originally a subscriber exclusive. Sign up now at patreon.com/bungacast]
We talk to political theorist Benjamin Studebaker about his new book, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut. Studebaker holds that hope is a problem because it's used by professionals to keep people engaged in a system that simply doesn't deliver. Hence the culture wars and the focus on various 'vices'.
How are both left and right complicit in this situation? What's the solution? Are we dependent on oligarchs going rogue to shake the system? Do we need to hit rock bottom to rekindle our political imaginations?
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