Return to Bandung

Episode summary: In this episode, I discuss the BRICS—what it is, where it came from, and what significance it holds for the future of international politics. Reflecting on the bloc’s history and the most recent BRICS summit that took place last month, I explore the BRICS’ relationship to the emerging multipolar world order, and tackle the question of how we on the anti-imperialist left should think about projects like the BRICS, which pose a threat to Western hegemony without directly or explicitly challenging the capitalist-imperialist world system. Return to Bandung is hosted by Pranay Somayajula, an Indian-American writer, researcher, and organizer based in Washington, D.C. His work explores themes of diaspora, (inter)nationalism, anticolonial politics, and the many lives and afterlives of empire. You learn more about Pranay and read his writing on his website, as well as on his Substack blog, culture shock. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a review or rating, and subscribe to the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Sources and helpful links: Laurence Piper — The BRICS phenomenon: from regional economic leaders to global political players (Transnational Institute, April 2015) Joint Statement of the BRIC Countries’ Leaders — Yekaterinburg, 2009 Kazan Declaration: Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security — Kazan, 2024 Paul Millar — “How the BRICS nations failed to rebuild the global financial order” (France 24, August 2023) Paulo Nogeira Batista — BRICS financial and monetary initiatives – NDB, CRA, and a possible new currency (November 2023) Atlantic Council — Dollar Dominance Monitor Yanis Varoufakis — “US ‘neo-imperialist’ dollar scheme explained” (Geopolitical Economy Report, Feburary 2023) Ben Wray — “It’s Time to Dismantle the US Sanctions-Industrial Complex” (Jacobin, February 2024) Marco Rubio — "Tyrannical China wants to topple the US dollar" (The Telegraph, May 2023) Lydia Polgreen — “We’ve Just Had a Glimpse of the World to Come” (The New York Times, October 2024) Farah Stockman — "The Summit in Russia Should Be a Wake-Up Call for the West” (The New York Times, October 2024) Vijay Prashad — Neoliberalism with Southern Characteristics: The Rise of the BRICS (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, May 2013) Samir Amin — “Contemporary Imperialism” (Monthly Review, July 2015) Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research — Sovereignty, Dignity, and Regionalism in the New International Order (March 2023) Mao Zedong — On Contradiction (August 1937) Qiao Collective — “Why China’s Vaccine Internationalism Matters” (April 2021) Vijay Prashad — “We Know a Different World Will Be Born Out of This Mess” (Tricontinental Institute, January 2024) Kwame Nkrumah — Neo-Colonialism, the Last State of Imperialism (1965) Social links: Return to Bandung: Twitter: twitter.com/returntobandung Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/returntobandung/ Pranay Somayajula: Twitter: https://x.com/p_somayajula Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranay.somayajula/ Website: https://www.pranaysomayajula.com/ Substack: https://www.culture-shock.xyz/

In this episode, I’m joined by Aline Batarseh, Executive Director of Visualizing Palestine, to reflect on the past year of genocide and resistance in Palestine and beyond. We discuss the current state of the global Palestine solidarity movement, the importance of the information front in the fight against Israel's occupation and apartheid regime, and the crucial work that Visualizing Palestine is doing to combat propaganda and shed light on the truth about what’s really happening in Palestine. Return to Bandung is hosted by Pranay Somayajula, an Indian-American writer, researcher, and organizer based in Washington, D.C. His work explores themes of diaspora, (inter)nationalism, anticolonial politics, and the many lives and afterlives of empire. You learn more about Pranay and read his writing on his website, as well as on his Substack blog, culture shock. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a review or rating, and subscribe to the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Sources and helpful links: Aline Batarseh — Major media and the systemic silencing of Palestinians (Mondoweiss, March 2023) Visualizing Palestine — A System of Silencing (February 2023) Visualizing Palestine — Automating Genocide: Israel's Use of AI-Driven Warfare (February 2024) Visualizing Palestine — Stop Killer AI (May 2024) No Tech for Apartheid campaign Visualizing Palestine: A Chronicle of Colonialism and the Struggle for Liberation (Haymarket Books, 2024) Visualizing Palestine and Law for Palestine — Intent Portal (October 2024) Basil Farraj — In memory of Walid Daqqah (People’s Dispatch, April 2024) Social links: Return to Bandung: Twitter: twitter.com/returntobandung Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/returntobandung/ Pranay Somayajula: Twitter: https://x.com/p_somayajula Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranay.somayajula/ Website: https://www.pranaysomayajula.com/ Substack: https://www.culture-shock.xyz/ Visualizing Palestine: Twitter: https://twitter.com/visualizingpal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualizing_palestine/ Website: https://visualizingpalestine.org/

In this episode, I’m joined by Michael Galant, member of the Progressive International’s Secretariat and senior researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (here on the show in his personal capacity!). Michael and I talk about the decades-long campaign to build a New International Economic Order—a radical proposal, first articulated in 1974, for radically reshaping the entire global economy as we know it in order to level the playing field for the nations of the Global South. We discuss the history and trajectory of the NIEO, the connections between this worldmaking project and the broader Third Worldist movement, and the Progressive International’s new efforts to revive the NIEO’s radical vision as we mark the 50th anniversary of the UN’s original Declaration on the Establishment of the NIEO.Return to Bandung is hosted by Pranay Somayajula, an Indian-American writer, researcher, and organizer based in Washington, D.C. His work explores themes of diaspora, (inter)nationalism, anticolonial politics, and the many lives and afterlives of empire. You learn more about Pranay and read his writing on his website, as well as on his Substack blog, culture shock.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a review or rating, and subscribe to the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!Sources and helpful links:​UN General Assembly Resolution — Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order (May 1974)​Progressive International — Program of Action on the Construction of a New International Economic Order (September 2024)​Progressive International — A Manual for Mutiny: Presenting the Program of Action on the Construction of a New International Economic Order (September 2024)​UN General Assembly Resolution — Towards a new international economic order (December 2022)​Karuna Mantena — Getting the NIEO Right (Law and Political Economy Project, May 2018)​Adom Getachew —Worldmaking After Empire: The Rise and Fall of Self-Determination (Princeton University Press, 2019)​Michael Galant — Who’s Afraid of the Global South? (Foreign Policy, April 2024)Social links:Return to Bandung:​Twitter: twitter.com/returntobandung​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/returntobandung/Pranay Somayajula:​Twitter: https://x.com/p_somayajula​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranay.somayajula/​Website: https://www.pranaysomayajula.com/​Substack: https://www.culture-shock.xyz/Michael Galant:​Twitter: https://twitter.com/michael_galantProgressive International:​Twitter: https://x.com/ProgIntl​Website: https://progressive.international/

About this episode: Return to Bandung is a podcast that explores questions of imperialism, resistance, and internationalist solidarity throughout history and into the present day, and seeks to make the case for why anti-imperialist politics are as important in our current moment as ever before. In this pilot episode, I introduce Return to Bandung, provide a brief overview of the anti-imperialist history and analysis behind the show, and share more about my vision for the show going forward. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a review or rating, and subscribe to stay up to date with new episodes as they are released! About the show: Return to Bandung is hosted by Pranay Somayajula, an Indian-American writer, researcher, and organizer based in Washington, D.C. His work explores themes of diaspora, (inter)nationalism, anticolonial politics, and the many lives and afterlives of empire. You learn more about Pranay and read his writing on his website, as well as on his Substack blog, culture shock. Links and resources mentioned in the episode: ​“We Are All Palestinians: Notes on Solidarity and Collective Resistance” by Pranay Somayajula [LINK] ​Robin D.G. Kelley’s appearance on the Makdisi Street podcast [LINK] ​Indonesian President Sukarno’s opening address at the Bandung Conference [LINK] Stay in touch: Website: returntobandung.com Email: returntobandung@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/returntobandung Instagram: instagram.com/returntobandung

Welcome to the Third World. My name is Pranay Somayajula. I’m a writer, organizer, and host of Return to Bandung—a podcast that explores questions of imperialism, resistance, and internationalist solidarity throughout history and into the present day. Through historical analysis, interviews with expert guests, and deep dives into classic works of anticolonial theory, Return to Bandung seeks to make the case for why anti-imperialist politics are as important in our current moment as ever before. With new episodes dropping every two weeks, be sure to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, so that you can stay up to date with new episodes as they come out. Broadcasting to you from Washington, D.C.—the heart of the empire, the belly of the beast—this is Return to Bandung.