The Conversation Weekly

Callum Roberts, a marine conservation professor at the University of Exeter, discusses the groundbreaking UN high seas treaty aimed at safeguarding international waters. He highlights the treaty's potential to establish marine protected areas and its challenges, such as governance gaps in fishing and seabed mining. Callum shares insights on the treaty's negotiation, the need for global cooperation, and the hurdles posed by countries hesitant to sign. His urgent plea advocates for biodiversity-focused solutions to protect our oceans effectively.

Joe Wright, a political science professor at Penn State and expert on dictatorships, delves into alarming trends in U.S. military involvement under Trump. He shares his Chilean experiences, warning about the dangers of illegal military orders. Wright discusses the implications of militaries becoming politicized and how loyalist appointments can threaten democracy. He highlights the risk of targeting domestic opponents and explores whether military personnel might refuse unlawful commands, hoping for a commitment to lawful conduct.

Lucan Way, a renowned democracy professor at the University of Toronto, explores the rise of authoritarianism through the lens of Donald Trump's tactics. He discusses how Trump’s strategies, such as silencing opposition and leveraging legal investigations, signal a dangerous shift toward competitive authoritarianism. Way emphasizes the chilling effects these tactics have on critics, as they become reluctant to challenge power. He also draws parallels with autocrats in Hungary and Russia, shedding light on the U.S.'s unique vulnerabilities and institutional resistances.

Paul Collins, a law and political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, discusses the intricate relationship between presidential power and the judiciary. He highlights Donald Trump's aggressive tactics against judges, including personal attacks that have politicized the courts. Collins contrasts Trump's approach with past presidents' respect for judicial independence and explores pivotal Supreme Court cases that could redefine executive authority. He also draws parallels between Trump's strategies and those of historical autocrats, signaling potential threats to democratic norms.

Natasha Lindstaedt, a Professor of government at the University of Essex, dives into the art of crisis-manufacturing by autocrats like Trump. She explains how leaders exploit crises to consolidate power, rally support, and distract from scandals. Lindstaedt illustrates the use of scapegoats and historical examples, revealing how figures like Duterte and Erdogan have adopted similar tactics. Explore how these narratives shape public perception and enable emergency measures that bolster authoritarian rule.

Emma Shortis, a historian and adjunct senior fellow at RMIT University, explores the significant yet unseen role of Stephen Miller as an architect of Donald Trump's power. She reveals how Miller's loyalty and communication skills helped shape hardline immigration policies. Shortis compares him to historical figures like Karl Rove and highlights his incendiary rhetoric. The conversation delves into the essential traits of unelected architects who enable autocrats, asking whether Trump could've consolidated power without Miller's influence.

Erika Frantz, an associate professor of political science at Michigan State University, dives into the mechanics of authoritarianism. She discusses the defining tactics of modern strongmen, including the use of populist narratives and media manipulation. Frantz examines how Trump's rise parallels global authoritarian trends and identifies key moments that transformed the GOP under his influence. She also speculates on the future of U.S. democracy, highlighting the fragile nature of political systems even in established democracies.

Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.

In the latest escalation of tensions between the US and Venezuela, the US President Donald Trump ordered a "complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela. His Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, called the move "warmongering threats", and accused the US of trying to steal its resources.In this episode we speak to Pablo Uchoa, a PhD candidate researching Venezuela's military, on how Venezuela has long been preparing for this moment, ever since a failed coup attempt on Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez.This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood. Mixing by Michelle Macklem and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.Mentioned in this episode:The Making of an AutocratSearch "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series: The Making of an Autocrat. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.

Oecusse, a rugged, remote district of Timor-Leste in south-east Asia, is usually a pretty sleepy place. But in August, Oecusse was rocked by a large police raid on a suspected scam centre, later linked by a UN report to organised crime networks running scamming operations across south-east Asia. And then in early September, a Facebook post by one of Timor-Leste’s highest political officials made some explosive allegations about a murky criminal underworld trying to get a foothold in the country.In this episode, we speak to Michael Rose, an anthropologist and adjunct lecturer at the University of Adelaide who has lived and worked in Timor-Leste, about how Asia’s scamming gangs set their sights on Timor-Leste as their next frontier – and the movement to keep them out.This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood and Gemma Ware with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Mixing by Michelle Macklem and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.Cambodia is vowing to ‘rid’ the country of scam compounds. But we’ve seen several still operating in the openListen to episode 1 of Scam Factories '‘It seemed like a good job at first’: how people are trafficked, trapped and forced to scam in Southeast Asia'Scam Factories: read the series on The ConversationOrganised crime may be infiltrating Timor-Leste’s government. One minister is sounding the alarmMentioned in this episode:The Making of an AutocratSearch "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series: The Making of an Autocrat. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world’s pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.