Fixing Democracy: Confronting the Strongmen

Past Present Future

D&HR Media Ltd

History, Politics, News, Society & Culture, Philosophy

4.7 • 747 Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For the final episode in this series David talks to historian Ayse Zarakol about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Where did the strongmen come from? How unusual is this kind of politics in the broad sweep of history? Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull? And if not, what happens next? The 4th film in our autumn season at the Regent Street Cinema in London is coming up on Wednesday 5th November: a screening of Derek Jarman’s Wittgenstein followed by a live recording of PPF with writer and philosopher Nikhil Krishnan. Get your tickets now https://bit.ly/47bsJcN Up next: Fixing Democracy Q & A w/David Klemperer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Please stand clear of the gap.
0:01.8	Another morning, another reminder there's a gap to be careful of.
0:04.8	But maybe it's time to bridge the one between your 9 to 5 and your dream of living life on your own terms.
0:10.4	At HSBC, we know ambition looks different to everyone.
0:13.4	Whether it's retiring early or leaving more for your family, we can help.
0:17.0	Because when it comes to unlocking your money's potential, we know wealth.
0:20.7	Search HSBC Wealth today.
0:22.7	HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity.
0:25.7	HSBC UK current account holders only.
0:30.9	Are you stuck in traffic watching brake lights?
0:33.4	And you'd rather be watching the northern lights.
0:37.0	At HSBC, we know ambition looks different to everyone.
0:40.6	Whether it's retiring early or leaving more for your family,
0:43.4	we can help, because when it comes to unlocking your money's potential,
0:47.0	we know wealth.
0:48.5	Search HSBC Wealth today to get your financial future moving.
0:52.4	HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity.
0:55.6	HSBC UK current account holders only.
1:10.0	Hello, my name's David Rundsenman and this is past-present future, the History of Ideas podcast.
1:16.2	And today we have reached the last episode in our fixing democracy series, that is, the last episode before next time,
1:23.5	when David Klemperer and I will try and answer some of the many questions, suggestions,
1:27.8	comments, ideas we've had about how to fix democracy. But today I'm talking to the historian,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from D&HR Media Ltd, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of D&HR Media Ltd and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.