Culture, Power and Politics » Podcast

Eleanor Janega, a medieval historian and author, dives into the intriguing concept of 'technofeudalism.' She explores how modern economic structures echo historical feudalism, dissecting labor dynamics, social hierarchies, and the evolution of economic obligations. Janega critiques flawed analogies between gig workers and serfs, emphasizing the complexities of contemporary labor conditions. The conversation also touches on the roles of political power and land ownership in shaping modern capitalism, urging listeners to rethink their understanding of both history and economic systems.

Dive into the captivating debate over whether we are transitioning to 'technofeudalism' as tech giants reshape economic power dynamics. Discover how historical feudal systems resemble today’s digital economies, and explore the transition from traditional capitalism to platform capitalism. Listen to insights on the evolution of labor and economic structures in a tech-driven society, while questioning if contemporary conditions truly parallel historical serfdom. This thought-provoking discussion unpacks complex ideas around socio-economic transformations.

Alan Finlayson returns for an in-depth discussion of the crisis of liberalism as an effective and legitimate philosophy of government, as exemplified by the success of the right-wing populist Reform party at the May 2025 UK local elections. If you can support us with a small regular donation, please do so here. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, please do so here. Btc donations: bc1q64590fsdzxe7rmfgp7f2jc97v7rp8fr4n0lspf

In this seminar, Brian Massumi discusses his new book, The Personality of Power: A Theory of Fascism for Anti-fascist Life. Brian is one of the major figures of Anglophone continental philosophy in our age and a key figure in the dissemination of the work of Deleuze & Guattari. This is part of our series From Marx to Spinoza: Affect, Ideology, Materiality, co-hosted by Andrew Goffey, Jason Read and Jeremy Gilbert. If you can support us with a small regular donation, please do so here. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, please do so here. Btc donations: bc1q64590fsdzxe7rmfgp7f2jc97v7rp8fr4n0lspf

John Protevi, an expert on Deleuze & Guattari and author of 'Regimes of Violence', shares profound insights into the intersections of violence and cooperation in human nature. He challenges deterministic views in evolutionary psychology, advocating for societal interventions that promote gender equality. Protevi examines how cultural context shapes violence, contrasting the behaviors of chimpanzees and bonobos. He also explores ideology's emotional influences on social behavior and delves into the beauty of teamwork in sports, highlighting its uplifting, collective spirit.

In this episode, Alan Finlayson joins Jeremy for a 3-hour discussion of the genesis, reality and possible futures of the online right. We cover the history of reactionary digital politics, the changing shape of our knowledge culture, the politics of the platform economy, and possible strategies for progressive forces. We also get into an argument about Bitcoin. Don’t say we never do anything for you. Yes it’s long, but you know how to use the pause button. We’re not sure why the audio on Jeremy’s mic was so bad most of the way through. It’s still listenable, but apologies for that. If you can support us with a small regular donation, please do so here. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, please do so here. Btc donations: bc1q64590fsdzxe7rmfgp7f2jc97v7rp8fr4n0lspf

This is a recording of the latest in our ongoing series of seminars, From Marx to Spinoza: Affect, Ideology, Materiality.With very special guest, Claire Colebrook, author of many books including Death of the Posthuman: Essays on Extinction If you can support us with a small regular donation, please do so here. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, please do so here. Btc donations: bc1q64590fsdzxe7rmfgp7f2jc97v7rp8fr4n0lspf

This is a recording of the most recent seminar in our From Marx to Spinoza series. This was a fantastic discussion; it was mostly one for the folks who are deeply involved in the series, but if you are just casually interested in what we make of the ‘New Materialism’, then it’s certainly worth a listen! For more information about the podcast and project see culturepowerpolitics.org If you can support us with a small regular donation, please do so here. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, please do so here.

In the latest emergency podcast, Alan Finlayson talks to Jeremy about the political implications of the recent UK budget, the re-election of Donald Trump, and the Conservative Party becoming the first major British political party to elect a Black woman as Leader. For more information about the podcast and project see culturepowerpolitics.org If you can support us with a small regular donation, please do so here. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, please do so here.

Andy Beckett discusses his new book about 5 key figures of the British Labour left: Tony Benn, Diane Abbot, Jeremy Corbyn, Ken Livingstone and John McDonnell. The Searchers: Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies was published earlier this year by Allen Lane. Andy and Jem go deep into some of the book’s key themes, including the strange place of London in the British left’s political imaginary, the decades-long political contest over what a post-industrial Britain could look like, and the long legacy of 1968.