Metapolitics - Conversations

His latest book, "Pax Economica: Left-wing Visions of a Free Trade World" (Princeton University Press, 2024), was recognized among the best books of 2024 by both The New Yorker and Financial Times. His research focuses on the political economy of trade, economic nationalism, and the intersection of domestic and international politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Marc Palen challen...

In this episode, we sit down with philosopher Sasha Mudd to examine the deeper moral currents shaping contemporary politics. Professor Mudd challenges the conventional view of Trumpism as nihilistic chaos, arguing instead that it represents a coherent—if troubling—moral vision that seeks to replace liberal values with hierarchical ones.

Our conversation explores how liberal elites have become disconnected from ordinary people's live...

In this episode of Metapolitics, hosts Barry Richards and Mustafa Selek welcome Professor Gary Chartier, Distinguished Professor of Law and Business Ethics at La Sierra University, to discuss his provocative book "Christianity and the Nation-State." Chartier presents a radical liberal argument that challenges fundamental assumptions about political authority, state legitimacy, and social organization.

The conversation begins with Ch...

In this episode, hosts Barry Richards and Mustafa Selek explore a compelling paradox in contemporary politics: the unexpected fusion of authoritarian and libertarian impulses within modern political movements. Barry presents his concept of the "authoritarian-libertarian hybrid" to explain how seemingly contradictory tendencies—submission to strong leaders alongside demands for individual freedom—can coexist and reinforce each other...

In this first part of a two-episode series, hosts Barry Richards and Mustafa Selek dive deep into the complex phenomenon of lone actor terrorism and violence. Mustafa shares insights from his intensive research, beginning with why researchers prefer the term "lone actor" over the media-driven "lone wolf" label—a distinction that goes beyond semantics to address how language can inadvertently glamorize and inspire copycat attacks.

Th...

In this foundational episode of Metapolitics, hosts Barry Richards and Mustafa Selek explore the challenging question: Why is liberal democracy so difficult to sustain? The conversation examines how democratic systems place unique psychological demands on citizens that other political systems do not.

The hosts investigate what constitutes a functional democracy beyond its formal structures - from free elections and independent media...

Demet Lüküslü is Professor of Sociology at Yeditepe University in Istanbul. Her research focuses on Turkish youth, particularly their political engagement and social experiences. Professor Lüküslü has conducted extensive studies on how young people navigate Turkey's complex political landscape and has published widely on youth movements, political participation, and generational identity in contemporary Turkey.

Episode Summary

In thi...

Professor Stuart Allan is a distinguished scholar of Journalism and Communication at Cardiff University. He is the author of the influential book "News Cultures," which has shaped many people's understanding of news production through multiple editions, and editor of the "Routledge Companion to News and Journalism." Professor Allan has published extensively on various aspects of journalism, including citizen journalism, war photogr...

Professor Maria Sobolewska is Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on the ethnic profile of the British public and how changes in this profile have influenced electoral politics in Britain. She is co-author of the influential book "Brexitland," which examines how two major social trends—the expansion of higher education and increased immigration—have reshaped Britain's political lands...

Dr. Justin Frank is a renowned psychoanalyst based in Washington DC, where he maintains a clinical practice and serves as a professor at George Washington University. He is the author of a unique series of psychoanalytic studies of American presidents, including "Bush on the Couch," "Obama on the Couch," and "Trump on the Couch." Each book provides a deep analysis of how early experiences shaped these leaders' psychological develop...

Paul Hoggett is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the University of the West of England, as well as an active psychotherapist and co-founder of the Climate Psychology Alliance. Author of "Paradise Lost," Hoggett has been a pioneering figure in the development of psychosocial studies in UK universities. His notable works include "Politics, Identity and Emotion," a landmark contribution to the field. Alongside his academic caree...