The Identity Trap of Modern Politics

Intelligence Squared

News Commentary, Arts, News, Society & Culture

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 13 November 2023

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For this episode, Yascha Mounk, the writer and political scientist discusses his recent book The Identity Trap, which explores what Mounk refers to as the modern world’s counterproductive obsession with group identity in all its forms. Joining Mounk in conversation is writer Tomiwa Owolade, author of the book This is Not America. Want the hear the full extended conversation right now? Become a supporter of Intelligence Squared to get access to all of our longer form interviews and members-only content. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series, wherever you get your podcasts - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events - Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series ... Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more The Full Length Video is here: https://www.intelligencesquaredplus.com/videos/yascha-mounk-on-the-identity-trap-with-tomiwa-owolade ... Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ ... Get in touch with any feedback and guest or debate ideas by emailing us at podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and
0:02.0	Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet.
0:05.0	I'm producer Faye Adubita.
0:07.0	Our guest on the podcast coming up is Yasha Monk.
0:09.0	The writer and political scientist is here to discuss his book, The Identity Trap, which
0:14.0	explores what monk refers to as the modern world's counterproductive obsession with
0:18.3	group identity in all its forms. Joining monk in conversation is writer Tomiwa L'Owale, author of the book This is not America.
0:26.7	Did you know that if you're an Intelligence Squared member you can get even more of this discussion.
0:31.0	Head to Intelligence Square.com, forward slash membership to sign up and
0:34.6	you'll get the extended version of this chat plus a ton of extra content including
0:38.8	our series on AI, Power Trip, add free listening and updates on all our live events to, or hit
0:44.7	subscribe on Apple for just the audio. Now let's join Tommy Wah O'Aliday speaking to
0:49.8	Yasha Monk. The very first question I want to ask you, Yasha, is with the current war in Ukraine, with Israel's
0:59.2	conflicts with Gaza, with the climate crisis. Do you think writing about identity issues is a distraction from what some people
1:10.3	might consider the more salient issues affecting us in the world today.
1:14.4	Well thanks for that question and I don't think it is I like to say that I'm a
1:19.7	democracy crisis hipster I've been worried about the crisis of democracy since before it was cool. I made my name in books like the people versus democracy warning about the rise of populism, especially if not exclusively on the right, and what it would do to our
1:36.0	democratic systems.
1:37.8	And I remain very concerned about that.
1:39.7	I'm coming to you virtually, I'm sad not to be able to be in person with everybody from New York City,
1:46.3	and Donald Trump is running next to neck with Joe Biden in polls for the 2024 elections,
1:51.8	and I'm worried about that too. So why write a book about what I see as the
	...

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