The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

In a sense there have always been but two political philosophies: liberty and power.” David Boaz. author of The Libertarian Mind, joins Amit Varma in episode 117 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain what libertarian thinking stands for, and to bust some of the misconceptions around it. Also check out: The Libertarian Mind -- David Boaz The Libertarian Reader -- edited by David Boaz What Does It Mean to Be Libertarian? -- ep 64 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Amit Varma) Every Act of Government Is an Act of Violence -- Amit Varma The Evolution of Everything -- ep 96 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Matt Ridley) The World is Getting Better -- ep 101 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Steven Pinker) The Right to Property -- ep 26 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Shruti Rajagopalan) Public Choice, Voting and Governance -- ep 92 of The Pragati Podcast (w. Amit Varma) The Kim Kardashian Liberal -- Amit Varma I, Pencil -- Leonard Read You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

In 2008, India was growing at 8.8% and was described as a miracle economy. It all went downhill in the next 10 years. Puja Mehra, author of The Lost Decade, joins Amit Varma in episode 116 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the random events, political imperatives and human dramas that collided to bring us to the brink of a crisis. Also check out: The Lost Decade -- Puja Mehra DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- ep 85 of The Seen and the Unseen Most of Amit Varma’s writing on DeMon, collected in one Twitter thread Narendra Modi Takes a Great Leap Backwards — Amit Varma Demonetisation -- Ep 2 of The Seen and the Unseen The Bad and Complex Tax -- Ep 74 of The Seen and the Unseen (on GST) Is KitKat a Chocolate or a Biscuit? -- ep 28 of The Seen and the Unseen (on GST) The State of Our Farmers -- ep 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (in Hindi) Where Are the Jobs? -- ep 87 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

The ideology of Hindutva dominates our political and cultural landscape today. How did it begin, and what is it precisely? Aakar Patel, author of the forthcoming book Our Hindu Rashtra, joins Amit Varma in episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on three important Hindutva thinkers. Also check out: Hindutva – VD Savarkar Bunch of Thoughts – MS Golwalkar Integral Humanism – Deendayal Upadhyay Ayodhya: The Dark Night – Dhirendra Jha and Krishna Jha The Coffeehouse of Surat – Leo Tolstoy Why I Write – Saadat Hasan Manto (translated by Aakar Patel) The Story of Our Ancestors – Episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen The BJP’s Magic Formula – Episode 45 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Why is crime ubiquitous in Indian politics? Why is your neta also a dada? Political scientist Milan Vaishnav joins Amit Varma in episode 114 of The Seen and the Unseen to speak about the incentives in play that have brought us to this place. Also check out: When Crime Pays -- Milan Vaishnav The Grand Tamasha -- Milan Vaishnav's podcast You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

The formation of Bangladesh was neither inevitable nor a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. Historian Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the geopolitical forces that shaped those events of 1971. Also check out: 1971: A Global History of the Creation of Bangladesh -- Srinath Raghavan The Blood Telegram  -- Gary Bass Uncle Sam in South Asia -- episode 93 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Srinath Raghavan Understanding the India-Pakistan Conflict - episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Srinath Raghavan The formation of the Mujibnagar interim government Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's speech at the UN  You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Who were the first Indians? Where did the Harappans go? Who were the Aryans? Whose descendants are we? Tony Joseph joins Amit Varma in episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe how massive scientific advances in the last few years have given us answers to these questions. Also check out: Early Indians -- Tony Joseph Who We Are and How We Got Here -- David Reich You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Srinath Raghavan, a historian and foreign policy analyst with deep insights into South Asian geopolitics, unpacks the intricate dynamics of the India-Pakistan conflict. He explores the historical roots and current tensions, particularly focusing on Kashmir and nuclear strategies. Raghavan discusses deterrence concepts, the delicate balance between military might and diplomacy, and the implications of recent events like the Pulwama attack. He highlights the narratives shaping both nations' identities, offering a nuanced perspective on this complex rivalry.

Venezuela is a country blessed by nature but cursed by politics. Journalist Alexandra Ulmer joins Amit Varma in episode 110 of The Seen and the Unseen to share her insights from her years as a reporter there. Also check out: - Alexandra Ulmer's homepage  Alexandra Ulmer for Reuters Crude Nation: How Oil Riches Ruined Venezuela -- Raúl Gallegos Hugo Chávez: The Definitive Biography  -- Cristina Marcano & Alberto Barrera Tyszka Comandante: Inside Hugo Chavez's Venezuela -- Rory Carroll Hell of a Fiesta  -- Enrique Krauze. non-gated version here How to End Venezuela’s Nightmare  -- Ricardo Hausmann You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Should we care about philosophy in these modern times? Philosopher Rebecca Goldstein joins Amit Varma in episode 109 of The Seen and the Unseen to argue that we should -- and Plato's Dialogues illustrate why. Also check out: Plato at the Googleplex  -- Rebecca Goldstein You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

India is rapidly urbanizing – and the Indian state seems to be in denial about it. Reuben Abraham and Pritika Hingorani join Amit Varma in episode 108 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss what India needs to do to prepare for its urban future. Also check out: India’s a Land of Cities, Not Villages -- Reuben Abraham and Pritika Hingorani How cities, not states, can solve the world's biggest problems -- Robert Muggah and Reuben Abraham Reclaim the Sky  -- Episode 11 of The Seen and the Unseen, on FSI Why Are Our Cities So Messed Up?  -- Episode 31 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Urban Governance The Gateway to Our Cities  -- Episode 21 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Slums The World is Getting Better  -- Episode 101 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Human Progress Order Without Design  -- Alain Bertaud Triumph of the City  -- Edward Glaeser Young Rural Women in India Chase Big-City Dreams -- Ellen Barry You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios