Philosopher spells out how populists defeated liberal democracy | John Gray interview

Comments · 931

• FR

  @fredwelf8650 · 2 years ago

  John Gray should know that in addition to the causes of populism that he mentions, I.e. globalization, wage stagnation and housing shortage/exploitation with a potent dash of property tax, the populists are reacting to immigration. Brexit was basically a reaction to immigration, the FN and the AfD are protesting immigration. In the US where legal immigrants total well over 1M year in year out via a corporate recruiting and vetting process show up in the US as upper middle class and wealthy, whereas the corporations also pull in illegal immigrants for their low wage and subcontracting work.  Where are the immigrants coming from? From nations with autocratic governments or weak states that coerce people to take flight, from war torn nations like Iraq, Afghanistan and especially Syria, several African nations and Latin/South American countries to the tune of 10’s of millions a year.  In general, a South to North shift of population affected by global warming as well.  Populism is a reaction to this demographic shift which is being accommodated by government policies and has fueled a frenzy of gun ownership.

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• WI

  @williamhuband7913 · 2 years ago

  Grim, but riveting interview. Thank you for this accessible interview - Well done!

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• GE

  @geoffreynhill2833 · 2 years ago

  A brilliant analysis of the snakes & ladders of political economy past & present that deserves millions of viewers. 🤔

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• TH

  @thelanehamartteacher9518 · 1 year ago

  I strongly agree with him in his assertion that if large parts of the population don’t feel listen to, and then you give them a great big button that they can press for attention, then yes, they will press the button.

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• HA

  @hanson666999 · 2 years ago

  A fascinating interview. Thanks for this Joe and John.

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• WH

  @whisperwednesday1 · 2 years ago

  Ollie is absolutely right to let him talk, just as Aaron was. He has a fascinating mind but we don't have to agree with it all.

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• AI

  @aion5837 · 2 years ago

  I&apos;ve read the leading Anarchist thinkers. Not one advocates for chaos. If they do, then a direct quote would refute that claim. Anarchism is the only political theory that places Power or Authority as a central theme in its thinking. &nbsp; <br>Liberal democracy is equivalent to Globalism. Economic liberalism - which is hardly ever debated - reduces everything to a commodity - including human labour. When this is juxtaposed with cultural liberalism its internal absurdities are laid bare.

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• MA

  @maxheadrom3088 · 2 years ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSS85bMSnYg&amp;t=2415">40:15</a> That is an excellent point! Bernie Sanders and the late Prof. Stephen Cohen also agree.

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• SH

  @Shocking603 · 2 years ago

  Thank you for letting John talk. It is very frustrating to hear an interviewer constantly interrupting a guest. Very interesting.

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• DA

  @davidmccullough7977 · 8 months ago

  I come to this interview two years after it was made; it has aged remarkably well in a world of such rapid change.

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• MA

  @Mark-zr8nr · 2 years ago

  Great to hear gray mention mimetic theory, although briefly

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• CO

  @cosmaracorosu · 2 years ago

  Thank you, interesting, well measured and balanced talk. definitely not the type of opinion one hears often on TV

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