Democracy in Question?

40 Episodes
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By: Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Today, liberal democracies are under unprecedented strain from within and without. In each episode, renowned social anthropologist Shalini Randeria invites a leading scholar to explore the challenges and dilemmas facing democracies around the world. They investigate what needs to be done to ensure the future well-being of our democratic institutions and practices.

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Lauren Maunus on US Midterm Elections: A Way Forward to Fundamental Change?
#3
Today at 12:00 PM

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• University of Bremen research group on soft authoritarianism and on pro-democracy youth activism: www.woc.uni-bremen.de/research-centers/

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• Nobel Peace Conference: Democracy on the Brink

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

 

 

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks! 


Maria Ressa on Protecting Independent Media in the Age of Disinformation
#2
10/07/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• University of Bremen research group on soft authoritarianism and on pro-democracy youth activism: www.woc.uni-bremen.de/research-centers/

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• Nobel Peace Conference: Democracy on the Brink

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

 

 

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks! 


Gina Romero: Restrictions affecting Right to Assembly and Youth Activism
#1
09/09/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• University of Bremen research group on soft authoritarianism and on pro-democracy youth activism: www.woc.uni-bremen.de/research-centers/

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• Nobel Peace Conference: Democracy on the Brink

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

 

 

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks! 


Marlene Engelhorn on How the Super-Rich Undermine Democracy
#10
06/10/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Pratap Mehta on Promises and Pitfalls of the Civilizational Turn in Political Discourse
#9
05/13/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Zsolt Enyedi on the Hungarian Election
#8
04/22/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

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Aishwary Kumar on Neo‑Democracy, Cruelty, and the Fate of the Vulnerable
#7
03/11/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Jayadeva Uyangoda on Reclaiming Democracy: Struggle against Soft Authoritarian Rule in Sri Lanka
#6
02/11/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Eva Fodor on Illiberal Gender Policies and Pronatalism in Hungary under Orban
#5
01/14/2026

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Reproductive Agency vs. Authoritarian Demographics
#4
12/10/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Quinn Slobodian on the “New Fusion” of Neoliberalism and the Far Right (Part 2)
#3
11/12/2025

Our guest: Quinn Slobodian

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Quinn Slobodian on Capitalism, Democracy, and the Politics of Zones (Part 1)
#2
10/08/2025

Our guest: Quinn Slobodian

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

Follow us on social media!

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!

...


Arjun Appadurai on Universities, Autonomy, and the Future of Democracy
#1
09/10/2025

Our guest: Arjun Appadurai

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!

...


Michael Ignatieff on the Contradictions of Liberal Democracy
#10
06/25/2025

Our guest: Michael Ignatieff

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Luiza Bialasiewicz on the Dilemmas of Academic Freedom
#9
06/13/2025

Our guest: Luiza Anna Bialasiewicz

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!


Samuel Bagg on Resisting State Capture
#8
05/28/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

• Samuel Bagg: @samuel-bagg.bsky.social

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Ivanka Popović on the Serbian Protests (Part 2)
#7
05/14/2025

Our guest: Ivanka Popović

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks! <


Ivanka Popović on the Serbian Protests (Part 1)
#6
04/30/2025

Our guest: Ivanka Popović

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!

G...


Soli Özel on Turkey's Political Protests
#5
04/16/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

• Our guest: Soli Özel

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Cara Daggett Unpacks Petro-Masculinity
#4
04/02/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

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GLOSSARY

Green New...


Nacim Pak-Shiraz on Cultural Contradictions in Iran
#3
03/19/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Our guest: Nacim Pak-Shiraz

Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!

GL...


Steffen Mau on the German Elections
#2
03/05/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

• Our guest: @steffenmau.bsky.social

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Katha Pollitt on Gendered Politics in the United States
#1
02/19/2025

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social

• Our guest: @kathapollitt.bsky.social

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Stephen Walt on the Return of Trump (Part 2)
#10
11/27/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @GVAGrad_AHDC

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Stephen Walt on the Return of Trump (Part 1)
#9
11/13/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @GVAGrad_AHDC

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Glossary

Dobbs v. Jackson

(24:03 or p.7 in...


Johanna Lutz on Identity, Partisanship, and the Vulnerabilities of Democracy
#8
10/23/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @AHDCentre

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Glossary

Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) and Christian...


Raimund Löw on the Dithering Austrian Democracy
#7
10/09/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

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Julia Ebner on How Extremism Threatens Democracy (Part 2)
#6
09/25/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

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• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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Glossary

QAnon

(17:19 or p.5 in the transc...


Julia Ebner on How Extremism Threatens Democracy (Part 1)
#5
09/11/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

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Glossary

Identitarians

(06:49 or p.2 in the transc...


Yogendra Yadav on Democracy in India
#4
07/31/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

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Mark Leonard on the U.K. Elections
#3
07/17/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

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Adam Habib on South Africa's Elections
#2
07/03/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

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Glossary

African National Congress (ANC)

(02:22 or p.1 in...


Ivan Krastev on the European Elections
#1
06/19/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

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• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

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Glossary

Great Replacement Theory

(24:45 or p.7 in the...


Catherine Fieschi on the Rise of Populism
#10
06/05/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @AHDCentre

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Seema Syeda Addresses Islamophobia Across Europe
#9
05/22/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

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• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

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Glossary

The 2015 European Refugee Crisis

(01:57 or p.1 in...


Zsolt Enyedi on the Crises of Liberalism
#8
05/08/2024

****

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!

****


Michael Woldemariam on Challenges Facing African Democracy (Part 2)
#7
04/24/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

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Glossary

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

(10:34 or p.3 in...


Michael Woldemariam on Challenges Facing African Democracy (Part 1)
#6
04/10/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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• Central European University: @CEU

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Glossary

Tigray War

(03:21 or p.1 in the tra...


Vivek Maru on Legal Empowerment for Communities
#5
03/13/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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Oleksandra Matviichuk on Human Rights and Ukraine
#4
02/28/2024

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

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• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

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Glossary

Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity

(05:3...