E133| What Is Politics and Why Are We Stuck? w/Benjamin Studebaker & Tim Adalin

Welcoming political theorist and author Benjamin Studebaker, author of Legitimacy In Liberal Democracies and The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way Is Shut. He dialogues with Tim Adalin on the crises of trust and legitimacy in politics and institutions; the impact of technofeudalism on communication; power, intractable disagreement, violence, civil war, and cultural shamanism. Can we envisage pathways toward authentic political change even if the way is shut?

• Shownotes

  The following shownotes are AI generated to give a rough sense of topics covered and to aid with search discovery.

  Keywords

  political theory, legitimacy, intractable disagreement, trust, political change, power dynamics, techno-feudalism, communication, apathy, violence, politics, authenticity, trust, communication, institutional bureaucracy, intractable disagreements, charisma, intellectual life, structural support, esoteric, exoteric

  Chapters

  00:00 Intro

  01:16 Defining politics: intractable disagreement and legitimacy

  07:24 Trust, political change, and the conditions for alternatives

  14:37 Fear, apathy, and where power lies in the global system

  26:22 Technofeudalism and the modulation of communication

  36:37 Recognition of chronic lack and building authentic support

  42:53 Civil war possibilities and cycles of vengeance

  58:40 Trusting ourselves to act politically - a passionate challenge

  01:04:39 Creating theurgic structures and monastic alternatives

  01:21:15 The four P's of support and intellectual independence

  01:32:41 Building sustainable structures vs. mass appeal

  01:50:48 The gaggle of f***ers problem and chronic recognition lack

  Philosophers and Theorists mentioned:

  • Cadell Last - Philosophy Portal, mentioned as previous podcast guest and mutual connection

  • Daniel Garner - OG Rose, also previous podcast guest

  • René Girard - Referenced for his work on violence, sacrifice, and scapegoating mechanisms

  • Max Weber - Cited for his concept of conviction and responsibility in "Politics as a Vocation"

  • Thomas Piketty - Referenced for his work on capital returns vs. economic growth rates

  • Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel - Mentioned via his "Owl of Minerva" metaphor

  • Karl Marx - Referenced through the "Gallic Cock" metaphor

  • William James - Mentioned for his four marks of the mystical experience

  • Forrest Landry - Philosopher and Master Craftsman

  Historical Figures:

  • Vladimir Lenin - Used as example of revolutionary intentions vs. outcomes

  • Winston Churchill - Referenced for his quote about democracy being the worst form of government except all others

  • George McGovern - 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, used to illustrate "McGovernization"

  • Augustine of Hippo - Referenced in contrast with the Donatists regarding Christianity's reach

  • The Donatists - Early Christian sect mentioned in theological/political context

  Contemporary Figures:

  • Yanis Varoufakis - Credited with popularizing the term "technofeudalism"

  • Anton Jaeger - Cited for the concept of "hyper politics"

  Academic Context:

  • Ambicus and the Neoplatonists - Referenced in discussing "theurgic structures"

  The conversation weaves together political theory, philosophy, theology, and contemporary analysis, drawing from both classical and modern thinkers to examine current political and social challenges.

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• Benjamin Studebaker

  Benjamin Studebaker is a political theorist with a PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge. He's the author of two books - The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut, and Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies.

  Find more writing and links to connect with Benjamin at his website: https://benjaminstudebaker.com/

• Tim Adalin

  Tim is the founder of Voicecraft and a philosopher with a focus on the relation between participation and transformation. You can connect with Tim individually @ https://www.timadalin.xyz

  On X @ https://x.com/tim_adalin

  And on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-adalin/

• About Voicecraft

  Voicecraft conversations deepen how the world is known across themes of psyche, culture and nature.

  The Voicecraft Project is comprised of a media & events platform, academy, and participatory membership network.

• Intro Music - 'The Big Break' by Cantrips

  Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qaj-stBL4W0

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