William Boyd on spy fiction and the British psyche

Jan-Werner Müller: Can buildings facilitate democracy?

May 30, 202638 minSummary

In this episode of The New Society, host Tanjil Rashid engages in a thought-provoking conversation with political philosopher Jan-Werner Müller about the complex intersection of democracy and the built environment. Drawing from his book, Street Palace Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces, Müller challenges the assumption that specific architectural styles—such as glass structures for transparency—automatically produce democratic outcomes. Instead, he argues that buildings function as symbols of political ideals that are constantly reshaped by public debate and usage. The discussion explores how historical spaces, from the Athenian agora to the Roman forum, established enduring patterns of political interaction, contrasting the deliberative nature of the former with the controlled, block-based system of the latter. Müller also examines contemporary examples, including the Bangladeshi Parliament and the Reichstag, to illustrate how buildings can act as a political conscience or be repurposed by those in power to reflect shifting national identities. Ultimately, the conversation underscores that while architecture cannot guarantee democracy, it plays a vital role in providing the physical stage for the performances of citizenship, protest, and collective assembly that sustain it.

Katja Hoyer: How fascism takes hold of a city

May 23, 202650 minSummary

In this episode, historian Katja Hoyer joins host Will Lloyd to explore the complex history of Weimar, Germany—a city synonymous with both high culture and the fragility of early 20th-century democracy. The conversation moves beyond the typical narrative of democratic collapse, examining why Weimar was chosen as the birthplace of the republic and how it became a unique, though ultimately unstable, cultural laboratory for modernism, including the Bauhaus movement. Hoyer details the turbulent atmosphere of post-World War I Germany, characterized by intense political volatility, hyperinflation, and a constant, pervasive sense of existential threat. The discussion highlights the stark divide between those embracing avant-garde experimentation and a conservative middle class seeking to protect traditional German identity. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the rise of the Nazi Party, illustrating how they exploited societal fear and a high tolerance for political violence to eventually secure power. Throughout the episode, the pair critically evaluates modern comparisons between our current political tensions and the Weimar era, ultimately cautioning against simplistic historical analogies while acknowledging the valuable lessons that can be drawn from such a transformative period.

Munya Chawawa: Trump's presidency is based on WWE

May 16, 202622 minSummary

In this episode of The New Society, host Luke O'Reilly is joined by satirist Munya Chawawa to explore the striking parallels between professional wrestling and the modern political landscape, specifically focusing on Donald Trump’s career. Chawawa, who explores these connections in his documentary Wrestling with Trump, argues that the former president’s communication style is essentially a masterclass in sports entertainment tactics. The discussion delves into key wrestling concepts that have been repurposed for the political arena: the use of choreographed rivalries, the creation of "foreign heel" villains to incite nationalist fervor, and the strategic use of "kayfabe"—the blurring of lines between scripted performance and reality. Chawawa explains how these techniques provide politicians with a form of "political Kevlar," making them seemingly unfalsifiable and immune to traditional accountability. By framing politics as a spectacle rather than policy-driven governance, figures like Trump and other populists cultivate a brand of worship among followers that transcends traditional voter loyalty. Ultimately, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing entertainment over truth in democracy, questioning whether political figures can ever truly return to earnest governance once they have mastered the art of the performance.

James Baldwin would be a leading progressive voice today

May 2, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of The New Society, host Luke O’Reilly sits down with biographer Nicholas Boggs to explore the life and legacy of James Baldwin, the iconic 20th-century writer and moral voice. Drawing on decades of meticulous research and newly uncovered archives, Boggs discusses his book, Baldwin: A Love Story, which reframes the author’s life through the lens of the intimate relationships and unconventional kinship structures that shaped his work. The conversation delves into Baldwin’s complex understanding of love, describing it not as a saccharine ideal but as a difficult, often risky endeavor that fueled his creative output. Boggs highlights Baldwin’s nomadic life between America, Paris, and Istanbul, and explains how these periods of physical distance and alienation were essential for Baldwin to process his fraught relationship with his home country. The discussion also touches on the pivotal roles played by mentors and partners, such as Beauford Delaney and Yoran Kazaç, and how these connections influenced masterpieces like Giovanni’s Room and If Beale Street Could Talk. Ultimately, the episode offers a nuanced portrait of a man who, while grappling with his own identity and public image, successfully forged a life of profound community and enduring artistic impact.