Democracy in Question?

Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Democracy

Capitalism

Populism

Climate Change

Human Rights

European Union

Ukraine

Islamophobia

China

Austria

Techno-Feudalism

Cloud Capital

Direct Action

Neoliberalism

Corruption

Poland

Right-Wing Nationalism

Feminism

United States

Social Justice

Today, liberal democracies are under unprecedented strain from within and without. In each episode, renowned social anthropologist Shalini Randeria invites a leading scholar to explore the challenges and dilemmas facing democracies around the world. They investigate what needs to be done to ensure the future well-being of our democratic institutions and practices.

56 ratings

Publishes	Monthly	Episodes	105	Founded	5 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	GovernmentHistory

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Latest Episodes

Reproductive Agency vs. Authoritarian Demographics

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky... more

10 Dec 2025 • 56 min

Quinn Slobodian on the “New Fusion” of Neoliberalism and the Far Right (Part 2)

Our guest: Quinn Slobodian

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

• Central Europea... more

12 Nov 2025 • 1 hr 2 min

Quinn Slobodian on Capitalism, Democracy, and the Politics of Zones (Part 1)

Our guest: Quinn Slobodian

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

• Central Europea... more

8 Oct 2025 • 58 min

Arjun Appadurai on Universities, Autonomy, and the Future of Democracy

Our guest: Arjun Appadurai

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• Central European University: CEU

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio

• Central Europea... more

10 Sep 2025 • 59 min

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Recent Guests

Quinn Slobodian

Professor of International History at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and author of Hayek's Bastards.

Boston University

Episode: Quinn Slobodian on the “New Fusion” of Neoliberalism and the Far Right (Part 2)

Arjun Appadurai

Cultural anthropologist and professor emeritus of media, culture and communication

New York University

Episode: Arjun Appadurai on Universities, Autonomy, and the Future of Democracy

Michael Ignatieff

Public intellectual and Professor of History at Central European University

Central European University

Episode: Michael Ignatieff on the Contradictions of Liberal Democracy

Luiza Bialasiewicz

Professor of Political and Economic Geography at the Carfoscari University of Venice, Italy

Carfoscari University of Venice

Episode: Luiza Bialasiewicz on the Dilemmas of Academic Freedom

Samuel Eli Bagg

Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of South Carolina, whose research focuses on reimagining democratic ideals and practices.

University of South Carolina

Episode: Samuel Bagg on Resisting State Capture

Ivanka Popović

Professor at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, and an active member of ProGlass

University of Belgrade

Episode: Ivanka Popović on the Serbian Protests (Part 2)

Soli Özel

Prominent Turkish political scientist and public intellectual.

Institute of Human Sciences, IWM

Episode: Soli Özel on Turkey's Political Protests

Cara New Daggett

Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Virginia Tech and Senior Fellow at the Research Institute for Sustainability at the Helmholtz Center in Potsdam, Germany, focusing on energy politics and feminism.

Virginia Tech

Episode: Cara Daggett Unpacks Petro-Masculinity

Nacim Pak-Shiraz

Professor of Cinema and Iran at the University of Edinburgh, expert on contemporary Iranian cinema and socio-political contexts

University of Edinburgh

Episode: Nacim Pak-Shiraz on Cultural Contradictions in Iran

Host

Shalini Randeria

Host of Democracy in Question and a prominent social anthropologist, exploring the challenges facing democracies.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 56 ratings

Azadeh Miaveni
Azadeh Moaveni is obviously on pay roll from Islamic Republic
Apple Podcasts
1
Nilphar
Germany3 years ago
An excellent podcast for these difficult times
Erudite conversations with some of the leading thinkers of our day. Ms Randeria hosts this podcast through thoughtfully-posed questions and her unique voice and perspective. Highly recommended for anyone who would like to know more about the challenges that global democracy currently faces.
Apple Podcasts
5
Gary E from DC
United States5 years ago
Brilliant conversations
Fascinating podcast with some of the greatest political thinkers of our time. Lots of inspirations to dig deeper and get active. Love the host’s voice.
Apple Podcasts
5
Tzerteffo
Austria5 years ago
Fascinating guests - important questions
These are the profs you wish you’d had! A brilliant insightful host, discussing some of the most pressing issues of the day in a new way. I really look forward to listening this when it comes out!
Apple Podcasts
5
TizTea
United Kingdom5 years ago
Convergence of academia and the real world!
I enjoy the unique convergence of academia and real world that this podcast bring.
Apple Podcasts
5
Mademoiselle Gibbs
United States5 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host is praised for her engaging interview style and thought-provoking questions.

Listeners appreciate the academic depth and clarity of discussions.

Many find the topics urgent and relevant, particularly in contemporary global contexts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#172	Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts	#19	Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts	#129	Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts	#171	Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts	#233	France/Government
Apple Podcasts	#8	Chile/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ivanka Popović on the Serbian Protests (Part 2)

Q: What could the European Union do to better engage with the situation in Serbia?

The EU needs to assert its presence and prioritize democratic values to regain the trust of Serbian citizens who feel alienated by the current leadership.

Ivanka Popović on the Serbian Protests (Part 2)

Q: How did Vucic manage to win the last election despite dissatisfaction with his government?

He capitalized on the discontent with previous governments and initially presented a pro-European agenda, manipulating national pride to maintain control.

Ivanka Popović on the Serbian Protests (Part 2)

Q: Could you explain why the students are so hesitant about involving political parties and inviting them to the table?

Students are hesitant to involve political parties because they fear co-optation and corruption based on their past experiences with the political system and leaders.

Soli Özel on Turkey's Political Protests

Q: Does the current protest mobilization in Turkey indicate a possible path toward democratization, or is Erdoğan's regime simply waiting for the protests to subside?

Soli Özel argues that the CHP's response to the protests indicates a political channeling of social movements that could lead to democratization, though it remains uncertain.

Soli Özel on Turkey's Political Protests

Q: What role does the Istanbul mayor and his party play that is suddenly perceived by the government as such a major threat to the president's power?

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, has continuously defeated Erdoğan in elections, making him a significant threat to the president's authority given the CHP's recent municipal election successes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy in Question?

What is Democracy in Question? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series provides an in-depth examination of the various challenges faced by liberal democracies today. By engaging with prominent scholars, it facilitates discussions around critical themes such as neoliberalism, state capture, academic freedom, and the implications of authoritarianism. The episodes frequently focus on the intersection of political, social, and economic factors affecting democratic societies, making it an essential resource for those interested in understanding contemporary democratic dilemmas and exploring pathways for future resilience. Notably, the series combines rigorous academic analysis with urgent practical implications, inviting listeners to reflect critically on the state of democracy in their own contexts.

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Which podcasts are similar to Democracy in Question??

These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy in Question?:

1. GZERO World with Ian Bremmer
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. EU Confidential
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. The Political Scene | The New Yorker

How many episodes of Democracy in Question? are there?

Democracy in Question? launched 5 years ago and published 105 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Democracy in Question??

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What guests have appeared on Democracy in Question??

Recent guests on Democracy in Question? include:

1. Quinn Slobodian
2. Arjun Appadurai
3. Michael Ignatieff
4. Luiza Bialasiewicz
5. Samuel Eli Bagg
6. Ivanka Popović
7. Soli Özel
8. Cara New Daggett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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