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Daniel Bessner – Trump's Triumph and Liberalism's Failure

Nov 15, 2024

Guest

Daniel Bessner

Guest Daniel Bessner, a Professor of International Studies, offers keen insights into the failures of post-Cold War liberalism and the rise of populism. He discusses capitalism's impact on society and critiques the Democratic Party's disconnect with voters. The conversation touches on U.S. foreign policy missteps, especially regarding Ukraine, and the complexities of immigration tied to American actions in Central America. Bessner also challenges traditional views about Trump, arguing against labeling him as a fascist.

01:03:44

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

The Problem of Wants

People may have the "wrong" wants, driven by a system that promotes unsustainable consumption.
Addressing this requires discussing whether current desires can be met without negative externalities like climate change.

insights

INSIGHT

Trump's Anti-System Appeal

Trump's victory represents a "fuck you" to the system and a rejection of the Democratic Party's negativity.
The "Trump is a fascist" argument is unconvincing, as his presidency didn't reflect fascist governance.

insights

INSIGHT

The Racism and Misogyny Argument

Some argue that Trump's victories reflect the country's racism and misogyny.
This view suggests a moral indecency within American political culture.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

The Shifting Political Landscape

02:40 • 15min

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Skepticism and the Future of Liberalism

17:58 • 14min

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Nuclear Conflict and Geopolitical Shifts

32:12 • 11min

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Exploring the Disconnect Between Macroeconomics and Individual Experience

42:46 • 4min

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Electoral Predictions and Immigration Ethics

46:44 • 14min

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Modernization and Political Disillusionment

01:00:33 • 3min

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#36

• Mentioned in 363 episodes

Hillbilly Elegy

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

JD Vance

In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

#343

• Mentioned in 104 episodes

The End of History and the Last Man

Francis Fukuyama

In this book, Francis Fukuyama posits that human history is moving towards a state of idealized harmony through the mechanisms of liberal democracy. He argues that liberal democracy is the final form of human government, driven by two powerful forces: the logic of modern science and the struggle for recognition. Fukuyama draws on the philosophical ideas of Hegel and Kojeve, suggesting that liberal democracy meets the economic and psychological needs of humanity, including the desire for recognition and dignity. The book explores the implications of this thesis, including the potential paradox that the satisfaction of basic needs might lead to a lack of outlets for human striving and recognition.

#3584

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

Late Admissions

Glenn Loury

#9433

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

The Jewish century

Yuri Slezkine

In 'The Jewish Century', Yuri Slezkine presents a provocative thesis that Jews have adapted exceptionally well to modern life, becoming the premier symbols and standards of modernity. He categorizes Jews as 'Mercurians'—service nomads who provide crucial services such as money-lending, medicine, and trade—contrasting them with 'Apollonians,' the host societies traditionally devoted to agriculture and war. The book explores the role of Russian Jews in modernity, their involvement in the Soviet Union, and their impact on movements such as Marxism and Freudianism. Slezkine argues that modernity has transformed 'Apollonians' into 'Mercurians,' making the Jewish experience somewhat universal and emblematic of modern life.

#17176

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The ordeal of civility

Freud, Marx, Lévi-Strauss, and the Jewish Struggle with Modernity

John Murray Cuddihy

The book delves into the 'unconsummated social courtship' between Jews and gentiles, focusing on the predicament of Jews caught between their traditional, intimate community (Yiddishkeit) and the formal, polite expectations of gentile society. Cuddihy argues that the fundamental cultural norm of modernity is the politeness and formality required in interactions with strangers, which posed significant challenges for Jews moving out of Eastern European shtetls into modern European societies. The book also examines how the theories of Freud, Marx, and Lévi-Strauss were influenced by their Jewish backgrounds and the struggle with assimilation.

The Glenn Show is almost entirely listener supported. To receive early access to TGS episodes, an ad-free podcast feed, Q&As, and other exclusive content and benefits, become a full subscriber at https://glennloury.substack.com

Order Glenn's memoir, LATE ADMISSIONS: CONFESSIONS OF A BLACK CONSERVATIVE. Available here or wherever you get your books: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393881349

1:21 Have Glenn’s intellectual shifts been misread?

5:45 Danny: Francis Fukuyama was right

10:30 Capitalism won. Is that a good thing?

14:18 The climate under capitalism

20:24 Danny: “People said 'f**k you' to the Democratic Party”

23:51 Why the “Trump is a fascist” argument makes no sense

27:53 Whither the working class coalition?

33:10 How the US foreign policy establishment won the argument and lost Ukraine

36:28 Danny: There is no way the US can maintain influence in East Asia

38:26 Does Jewish survival require a Jewish state?

43:50 The limits of social science

49:36 The media’s obsession with polling

53:55 Is the US reaping what it’s sown on immigration?52:34 Is the US reaping what it’s sown on immigration?

Recorded November 9, 2024

Links and Readings

Dann’s podcast, American Prestige

Danny’s conversations with Glenn about his intellectual history, parts 1, 2, 3, and 4

Francis Fukuyama’s Financial Times piece, “What Trump Unleashed Means for America”

Danny’s Nation essay, “The Liberal Discontents of Francis Fukuyama”

Adam Tooze’s podcast, Ones & Tooze

Danny’s Harper’s essay, “The Life and Death of Hollywood”

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’s manifesto, The Communist Manifesto

Danny’s Harper’s essay, “Empire Burlesque”

Danny’s Boston Review piece, “Mass Destruction”

Glenn’s recent conversation with Rajiv Sethi

JD Vance’s book, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

John Murray Cuddihy’s book, The Ordeal of Civilization: Freud, Marx, Lévi-Strauss, and the Jewish Struggle with Modernity

Yuri Slezkine’s book, The Jewish Century

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe

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