Bungacast

The third in a special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict.   In this episode, we examine the Baby Boomers – myth and reality. The revolt of the '60s has been misunderstood in many dimensions. Was it betrayed or did it always express capitalist ideology? Were the Boomers the ones who really did the 1960s anyway? And what world have the Boomers created as they passed through life – and institutions?   Guests include: Jennie Bristow, senior lecturer in sociology at Canterbury Christ Church University Helen Andrews, senior editor at The American Conservative Josh Glenn, semiotician, author, and publisher of HiLoBrow Jeffrey Alexander, professor of sociology at Yale University Holger Nehring, chair in contemporary European history at the University of Stirling Kristin Ross, professor emeritus of comparative literature at New York University Original music by: Jonny Mundey   Additional music: Medité / A Change in My Heart / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Ondolut / Blumen / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Elliott Holmes / Bull Chase / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Kick Castle / Kick Down / courtesy of epidemicsound.com T. Morri / Nuthin' but Nuts / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Other Clips: American Pastoral Trailer © 2016 - Lionsgate Mai 1968 © France 3 Paris Ile-de-France Imitation de Daniel Cohn-Bendit © C'est Canteloup Baader Meinhof Complex © 2008

The second in a special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict. In this episode, we look at the emergence of 'youth' as political concept in the age following the French Revolution, and its shifting meanings. How important was generational consciousness in the Young Italy movement and its imitators in the 19th century, and how should we understand the so-called 'Lost Generation' of 1914? Guests include: Niall Whelahan, Chancellor’s Fellow in History, Strathclyde University Original music by: Jonny Mundey Additional music: Leimoti / Don't Leave It Here / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Leimoti / The Small Things / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Philip Ayers / Trapped in a Maze / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Walt Adams / Dark Tavern / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Other Clips: Black 47 Trailer © 2018 - WildCard Distribution Arracht Trailer © 2019 - Break Out Pictures The Sun Also Rises © 2019 - 20th Century Fox Mr Lloyd George Speaks To The Nation (1931) British Pathé

Felix Krawatzek, a political scientist from Berlin, examines youth's role in politics, highlighting how foundational experiences shape generational agency. Jennie Bristow, a sociologist, discusses generational significance since industrialization and the interplay of social forces in creating generational cleavages. Semiotician Joshua Glenn proposes alternative frameworks for understanding generations, suggesting they are a mix of social constructs and real movements. Together, they dive into the complexities of generational identity and the socio-political landscape.

On disruption, disturbance, decline, decay. We continue our attempt to conceptualise the present moment by looking at Silicon Valley-style disruption, geopolitical disturbances and 'polycrisis', and decline & decay along two axes: normative vs descriptive, and geopolitical and universal. Then we deal with your questions and comments over the past month on: religious authority; Russia, imperialism, and the USSR; and the limitations to 'the national interest'. Subscribe for the full episode: patreon.com/bungacast

[Bungacast is on holiday, so we're unlocking/re-releasing a July 2021 episode that was previously only available to higher-tier subscribers] We discuss Michael Lind's The New Class War. Lind identifies new lines in the class war, between working class and managerial overclass, between those in the "heartlands" and those in the "hubs". How convincing is this account? What is his critique of technocratic managerialism and its symptom, populism? How convincing - and realistic - is his solution of "democratic pluralism"? And is this only achievable as a result of a new cold war with China?

On The National Interest. Aufhebunga Bunga co-founder and contributing editor Phil Cunliffe joins us to talk about his new book about politics after the age of globalisation. We ask questions about his book – and then put him on trial for wrongthink. SUBSCRIBE: PATREON.COM/BUNGACAST Who is the 'national interest' good for? Is it a domestic or a foreign policy concern? Why did the 'national interest' disappear from our political vocabulary? Is the national interest an abstraction anyone can rhetorically claim? Is that not dangerous? What happens if leading politicians – or elites in general – adopt the national interest? Would this be good or bad? Will Trump's re-assertion of US interests push others to defend theirs? Does the national interest stand against class interests? Is this anti-socialist? Was Stalin-style socialism-in-one-country actually correct? Has Phil come around to supporting Roosevelt-style social democracy? Links: The National Interest: Politics After Globalization, Philip Cunliffe, Polity

Jason Myles, host of This Is Revolution and writer for Damage Magazine, dives into the complexities of image-enhancing drugs. He explores the cultural implications of steroid use and the rise of 'fake natties.' The discussion touches on authenticity, revealing how societal views shape our understanding of body image. Myles questions the taboo surrounding drug use, the impact of SSRIs, and the conflicting attitudes towards the body in fitness and trans discourse. Listeners are invited to consider how performance-enhancing substances are reshaping personal and societal norms.

The discussion kicks off with a deep dive into Jakubowski's insights on ideology and how it shapes the middle classes. The speakers tackle whether ideology is merely a false consciousness and explore capitalism's ideological nature. Insights into the petite bourgeoisie reveal generational aspirations for social mobility amid economic challenges. They also dissect the evolving educational motivations of the middle class and its historical dynamics, all while critiquing traditional views on class through a Marxist lens.

In this discussion, historian Sean Fear, a lecturer at the University of Leeds and expert in Vietnamese history, shares insights on Vietnam’s journey post-American War. He examines how Vietnamese identity intertwines with resistance and the complexities of its nationalism today. Fear addresses contemporary views on the war and the nation’s economic transformation through market reforms. Additionally, he explores the balancing act of Vietnam amid global pressures, particularly concerning China and the U.S. trade landscape.

Exploring the end of modernity, the conversation dives into the significance of 1989 in both Berlin and Beijing. They boldly question whether Trump could be viewed as a benevolent Stalin. The discussion also highlights Russia's role as a revisionist power amidst rising geopolitical tensions. With a critical look at the choice between liberal democracy and authoritarian populism, the hosts engage with complex historical parallels and contemporary anxieties, especially concerning nuclear threats and the cultural backlash of our times.