Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps "Can Liberalism Survive?" with Waleed Aly
22 snips
Sep 18, 2025 
Waleed Aly, a respected journalist and academic specializing in politics and extremism, joins for a deep dive into the challenges facing liberal democracy today. They discuss how social media and tribal politics threaten public discourse and whether regulation can effectively address these issues without infringing on free speech. Waleed sheds light on the erosion of community and the complexities of identity politics, while emphasizing the need for moral discussions over personal conflicts. Their conversation reveals the precarious state of liberal values in our rapidly changing world.
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Tech Threat To Liberal Democracy
- Waleed Aly warns liberal democracy may be collapsing under new technological tools and social dynamics.
- He highlights social media's structural harms as central to that risk.
Deliberation Not Debate
- Democracy requires deliberation, not spectacle, to function well.
- Social media collapses deliberation into gamified clashes that erode learning and civic bonds.
Reform Platform Incentives
- Regulate social platforms to reduce addiction and algorithmic harm instead of banning public conversation outright.
- Consider algorithmic reform, transparency, or altering profit incentives to prioritise healthier interactions.
