Bungacast

On the former Yugoslavia and the ethnography of anti-nationalists. [For the full episode, subscribe: patreon.com/bungacast] [Reading Club LIVE: Sat 14 June, 9am LA, 12am NY, 5pm London, 6pm Berlin] In the third installment of this block on inter/nationalism in the 21st century, we take a look at the other side of nationalism, through scholar Stefaan Jansen's “Anti-nationalism: Post-Yugoslav Resistance and Narratives of Self and Society”. Who are the Somewheres and Anywheres in post-Yugoslavia? How does Jansen understand the marginalisation of anti-nationalism in Serbia and Croatia? Is understanding nationalism and anti-nationalism as discursive practices a useful lens for understanding post-Yugoslav identities? Why is the act of forgetting or misremembering significant in the context of post-Yugoslav anti-nationalist narratives? How did the contrast between pre-war Yugoslavia and post-war realities shape anti-nationalist identities? Must individuality be anti-nationalist? Reading Club 2024/25 Syllabus: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRn6kWzICbqUBo64Jp-c8TS0K4axTy3M/view

On the end of the (very) long 1960s. [For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast] Contributing Editor Lee Jones joins Alex and George to talk through the themes and stories of the month, including MAGA's war on universities, right-populists in power, and culture war. Plus we deal with your questions and comments on: lawfare, video games, and the 'new class'. What is TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out)? How should we respond to rightist attempts to rewrite the past? Why are Angela Merkel and Donald Trump representative of the age, in similar and different ways? Are people sick of subversion and just want order? What happens as the Boomers leave public life? Can we bracket 1960-2020? When should we throw the book at politicians? Links: Trump’s Tariff Gamble and the Decay of the Neoliberal Order, Lee Jones, American Affairs The Techno-Populist Convergence, Alex Hochuli, Compact How Labor won the preference war (and screwed the Greens), Financial Review Saving Britain’s Universities: Academic Freedom, Democracy and Renewal, Lee Jones and Philip Cunliffe, Cieo

Join writer Alex Gendler, known for his insights into the online rationalist subculture and author of 'Homo Algorithmicus', as he explores the cultural impact of incel communities over the past five years. He delves into the definition of 'TESCREAL' and its anti-human rationalism. Gendler also discusses the divide in Silicon Valley between altruistic and libertarian ideologies, the controversial debates surrounding birth rates, and the intersection of technology with modern masculinity, questioning the future of human values in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

On what is next for 'PMC theory' [For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast] The social media avatar known as Christopher Lasch's Angry Ghost joins us to unpick the conjuncture: as the Trump administration makes cuts and seeks to do away with progressives in bureaucracies, where does that leave the left-wing critique of the PMC? What would Lasch's ghost be telling us now? Is the PMC a class? Is it distinct people? Or is it more like procedures, and ways of thinking? Is woke over? Will the MANGOs (media, academia, NGOs) carry on? Can the PMC still advance oppositional politics or it hopeless compromised? What will be the effect on AI doing away with professional class jobs? Is vice-signalling replacing virtue-signalling? Links: Death of a Yuppie Dream, Barbara Ehrenreich, RosaLux (pdf) It’s Our Fault, Dustin Guastella, Damage Trump’s purge of the professionals, Ryan Zickgraf, UnHerd This obsession with a ‘new elite’ hides the real roots of power, Kenan Malik, The Guardian The Techno-Populist Convergence, Alex Hochuli, Compact

Enikő Vincze, an academic and activist from Babes Bolyai University, dives deep into the turbulent waters of Romanian politics. She unpacks the recent annulled election, exploring how Romanian politics mirrors broader European trends of misinformation and populism. The conversation probes the dynamics of upcoming elections and the so-called 'anti-system' parties. Vincze also examines the conflicts influenced by the Ukraine War and questions the Right’s promises of sovereignty, all while highlighting the pressing housing struggles in Romania.

Pawel Kaczmarski, a literary critic and expert in modern Polish literature, dives into the transformative potential of video games alongside hosts George and Alex. They explore how games like Helldivers 2 aim to teach agency but ultimately miss the mark. The conversation shifts to the upcoming elections in Poland, reflecting on voter disillusionment and political rhetoric. Kaczmarski also critiques the current state of both video game and literary criticism, questioning their relevance and engagement in today's cultural landscape.

On the charges against France's Marine Le Pen. [For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast] Alex and George discuss some main stories from the past month. After the death of Pope Francis, what's behind left-wing sympathy for the late Pope – and more widespread appreciation for Catholicism? Why do we want a progressive Pope, and would a reactionary one be better for us? Why is the US deporting people to Nayib Bukele's Salvadorian prisons, and what makes this so dystopian? Then Alex calls up Jacobin's Europe editor David Broder to understand the charges against Marine Le Pen. Is Marine Le Pen a victim of lawfare, or has she been hoist by her own petard? What are the consequences for the Rassemblement National, and for French politics? What has the European radical right's response been to Trump II so far? And we respond to your questions and comments from the past month on: Holding politicians to account on free speech Listening to poetry Redistribution as the obvious solution to the crisis Clientelism and hyperpolitics

On the mass-production of loyalty. *** We are exceptionally making this episode of the Reading Club freely available. See the full syllabus here: 2024/25 Reading Club. If you'd like to join, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast/membership. *** The second reading in this block on Inter/Nationalism in the 21st Century is The Invention of Tradition (eds. Eric Hobsbawm & Terrence Ranger, 1983), specifically Hobsbawm's chapter "Mass-Producing Traditions: Europe 1870-1914". How much did ordinary people buy into invented national traditions? Why did industrialisation allow for mass-producing traditions? Does the sense of belonging fostered then still exist today? If nation-states don't require active participation any more, what does this mean for the mass-production of loyalty? Are things like social media campaigns, national holidays for diversity, or even global events like the Olympics the new “mass-produced” traditions?

In this conversation with Walden Bello, a renowned public intellectual from the Philippines, listeners dive into the turbulent world of Filipino politics. Bello discusses the implications behind Duterte's arrest and the concept of 'lawfare.' He offers insights into the entrenched political dynasties, describing the Philippines as an 'anarchy of families.' The dialogue also touches on the challenges of left-wing activism, geopolitics in the South China Sea, and lessons for the future amidst changing global dynamics.

Corey Robin, a political theorist and professor at Brooklyn College, joins the discussion on Trump's administration and the evolving American political landscape. They explore whether Trump's reliance on executive orders signifies a lack of strength. The conversation dives into the complexities of oligarchy, questioning if the U.S. has transitioned into one, and how economic sanctions and immigration policies reflect deeper issues within democracy. The dialogues also touch on the fractures within the Republican Party and the implications of power dynamics in shaping governance.