Poli Sigh

In the 21st century, the political environment and ecological environment might as well be the same thing. But if the planet is so important to everything, then why do we have trouble enacting sustainability?

On episode 6, we talk with Dr. Emily Ray about how and why environmentalism still faces difficult hurdles, even in the face of impending doom.

Humanity today has the technological means to annihilate itself ten times over. How do we make sure that doesn’t end up happening?

We sit with Professor John Emery to discuss just that! Covering his research on war ethics, we list the ways in which war has become simultaneously dehumanized and never-ending within the 21st century. Considering the United States’ conceptualization of “enemy”, its interventions across the Middle East, and a growingly belligerent and nuclear armed Russia, could “feelings” maybe hold the answer?

We zone out with Netflix, HBO, etc. to get away from politics, right? But where is the line between political and apolitical?

To close off season 2, we hear from Professor Lilly Goren about the relationship between popular culture and politics. We cover examples across television, cinema, and literature to illuminate what political themes we often consume in our everyday lives without even realizing. We work through themes of nostalgia, gender construction, and “the anti-hero” to begin considering how we should treat popular media and its appropriate role in politics today.

Communication is as simple as talking, right?

This month we hear from Professor John Barry Ryan about polarization in the United States and its significance to communication and compromise in politics today. Specifically highlighting the issues of gun violence and climate change, we explain why Americans appear so far apart and how this often results in policy inaction. We discuss the nature of American democracy and its limits in order to sort out its potential to mitigate collective action problems.

It’s been over 4 months since Russia invaded and initiated war against Ukraine. How much longer will it last?

To kick-off Season 2, we hear from Eastern European Politics scholar, Sarah Wilson Sokhey. Outlining Russian politics and citizenship, we discuss just how immune the Russian state is from public opinion. By examining past protest within Russia, we breakdown current public opinion in Russia and explore its potential to force an end to the war.