Contested Meanings, Competing Nationalisms

Today, many look unfavourably at the impacts of globalisation. One of the many ills, they say, is the threat it poses to state sovereignty. In this episode, I will look at whether the nation-state will endure in the face of rapid economic, political and cultural globalisation.

The ballot box promises that the ‘will of the people’ will be expressed, in the form of policies and mandates that closely reflect what the citizens want. But what if this ideal of democracy is now increasingly divorced from the reality? In this episode, I talk about how we really vote, including our inevitable irrationality and our attachment to social identity and what this means for the future of modern-day democracy. Many ideas in this episode are inspired by Joseph Schumpeter’s 1942 book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy as well as Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels eye-opening book Democracy for Realists.

In this episode of The Antarapologist, I am delving into the complex nexus between nationalism and hegemonic masculinity. From the genderisation of the state to sexualised warfare to the preservation of patriarchal traditions, masculinised nationalism is all around us. Listen to this episode to find out how masculinity intertwines with the nationalist fervour of India's Hindu nationalists.

In this episode of "The Antarapologist," I delve into the complex interplay between consumerism and cultural appropriation, examining how traditional cultural practices and symbols are increasingly commodified for mass consumption, from gua shas, to dream catchers, to 'boho' outfits and more. It's vital we preserve the cultural integrity of what we consume and I also offer examples of how to engage with diverse cultures more respectfully and deliberately.

What does it mean to be Indian? - A question loaded with controversy, both historical and modern. Although India is constitutionally secular, Hindutva, the ideological combination between nationalism and religion, aims to redefine India as a Hindu nation. Modi's BJP party has tapped into the widespread anger and fear in Hindu nationalists that a secular India will discriminate against them. In this episode, I look into what secularism means in India and why people believe it has gone so wrong.

Liberalism seems to be one of those words that is thrown around in politics. But what actually is it? How does it play out today? And given that so many countries and communities are refusing to follow the 'liberal world order' or comply with liberal ideas, what are some shortcomings of liberalism? This episode will answer these questions and look at how one can find fault with liberalism's universalistic, individualistic and rational base. Some of these ideas have come from Francis Fukuyama's 'Liberalism and Its Discontents', a fantastic book that sheds light on different perspectives on this issue, whilst still defending liberal ideas.

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe is a fantastic piece of postcolonial literature, looking retrospectively at the horrors of colonialism and how it destroyed myriads of rich, native cultures, for example, the Igbo community in Nigeria, within the fictional clan of Umuofia. The Igbos have an intricate and beautiful culture, replete with rituals and traditions that are imbued with spirituality and meaning. Yet this is denounced by white missionaries who impose Western government, trade and Church. In this episode, I revisit this book, one I had studied for my GCSE English Literature Exam. I look at this novel through an anthropological lens, given that the discipline emerged during colonialism. The cultural richness conveyed through Achebe's writing, reflects the common objective of modern anthropology of staying true to the people you are studying and covering the parts of their culture with respect and focus. Further, I look at how the ideas of 'civilisation' emerged from traditional anthropological work and how it is important to abandon ideas that all communities must reach the same destination of Western 'civilisation'.

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that people in the democratic age ‘have an ardent, insatiable, eternal, invincible passion’ for equality. They will ‘tolerate poverty, enslavement, barbarism, but they will not tolerate aristocracy’. It is indisputable that the value we give democracy, or ‘rule of the people is rooted in the allure of the ballot box its promise of freedom and equality for all, and its method of ascertaining whatever we mean by the ‘common good’. But, is democracy an end in itself? When, if ever, does it fail to deliver on its promise of universal autonomy and liberation? Is there such a thing as too much democracy? This episode consists of an essay I wrote for the John Locke Essay Competition entitled, 'Is there such a thing as too much democracy?'

Suicide is one of the most heartbreaking, often incomprehensible realities of life. In this episode, I look at suicide from a sociologist's perspective to illuminate the social and cultural factors that drive incidents of suicide. I draw on Durkheim's theories of suicide and then offer further ideas about identity and emotion.

In a world where far-right populism, and sometimes populist authoritarianism seem to bloom, understanding how identity politics facilitates this is crucial. In this episode, I'll be looking at what has generally shaped the identity of rural white voters, given the importance of this demographic to politicians like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage.