Metapolitics - Conversations

In this episode, we sit down with political scientist Lamprini Rori to unpack Greece's unexpected journey from the brink of collapse to becoming one of Europe's more stable democracies. Dr. Rori, who teaches at the University of Athens, offers an insider's perspective on how Greece defied all predictions of democratic breakdown despite facing conditions far worse than countries that did slide into authoritarianism.

Our conversation reveals the unique character of Greek universities, where every political party—from New Democracy to the Communist Party—maintains active student organizations that serve as training grounds for future political elites. With 70,000 stud...

In this continuation of our conversation with Jeffrey Murer, we shift from the specifics of Hungarian politics to examine how violence operates at the deepest levels of human consciousness.

The conversation centers on Murer's concept of "psychic violence"—the unconscious processes that precede and enable both symbolic and physical violence. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, particularly the work of Ferenczi and Klein, Murer argues that we internalise messages about who constitutes a threat through superego development, and we experience pleasure when we correctly identify these "threats"—even when they pose no actual danger.

Mustafa offers an anal...

In this episode, we sit down with political violence expert Jeffrey Murer to examine how collective trauma shapes contemporary Hungarian politics. Dr. Murer, who brings a rare psychoanalytic perspective to international relations, guides us through Hungary's complex political landscape—from the 1919 White Terror to Viktor Orbán's current illiberal regime.

Our conversation reveals how Hungary's loss of two-thirds of its territory after World War I created what psychoanalyst Vamik Volkan calls a "chosen trauma"—a frozen mourning that successive generations refuse to work through, instead using it as the core of political identity. Murer explains how Orbán has...

What's it actually like to be an MP? Beyond the theatrical performances of Prime Minister's Questions and the endless media commentary about Westminster drama, how does Parliament really function? Jessica Toale, Bournemouth West's first Labour MP, takes us behind the scenes of an institution that's both deeply traditional and slowly modernising.

Jessica's journey from international development consultant to first-time MP offers a fascinating window into contemporary British politics. She describes the surprisingly entrepreneurial reality of becoming an MP—receiving a budget and essentially being told to set up a business from scratch, complete with hiring staff, finding of...

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 challenges everything we think we know about free trade by revealing its forgotten progressive history. While today's free trade is associated almost exclusively with right-wing economics and corporate globalisation, Palen's groundbreaking research uncovers...

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 lives, making core democratic values feel abstract and irrelevant. We discuss the role of technology in fragmenting social bonds, the paradox of fighting authoritarianism while maintaining respect for political opponents, and whether liberal democracy can rene...

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 Chartier explaining his preference for the term "liberalism" over "libertarianism" or "anarchism," emphasizing his commitment to human variety and diversity within a broad liberal tradition rooted in Aristotelian concepts of human flourishing. He argues that states are inherently illegitimate due...

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.

The conversation examines three key manifestations of this hybrid formation. First, they analyze Trumpism as the most prominent example, showing how Trump simultaneously embodies the autocratic leader demanding idealization while modeling extreme libertarian individualism. The January 6th Capitol attack serves as a...

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.

The conversation explores the distinctive characteristics of lone actors compared to group-based terrorists: they tend to be older (averaging 33 years), overwhelmingly male (95%), well-educated but professionally underachieving, and dramatically more likely to have di...

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 to constitutional checks and balances. They consider how these systems require not just cognitive competence from citizens but also a specific kind of emotional maturity: the ability to prioritise collective interests, tolerate uncertainty, and maintain trust...

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 this timely conversation, recorded during a period of significant student protests in Turkey, Professor Lüküslü provides valuable insights into the current political turmoil and places it within the broader context of Turkey's complex h...

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 photography, and the changing dynamics of news media in the digital age.

Episode Summary

In this thought-provoking conversation, Professor Allan helps us navigate the complex evolution of news media and its implications for democracy and...

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 landscape.

Episode Summary

In this thought-provoking conversation, Professor Sobolewska unpacks the complex social and demographic changes that have transformed British politics, particularly in relation to Brexit and recent elections. She discusses how educ...

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 development and influenced their presidencies. Dr. Frank is currently working on a new book examining the collective American psyche.

Episode Summary

In this compelling interview, Dr. Frank...

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 career, he continues to practice as a psychotherapist in Bristol.

Episode Summary

In this episode, we engaged in a profound conversation with Paul Hoggett about psychological responses to the climate...