People vs Inequality podcast & blog

In this season, we dive into the question of how academics and practitioners can come together at a time in which democracy and rights are under attack in many places. What can we learn from those working across these spaces on doing this well?  In this third episode we have a very inspiring guest that brings a unique perspective on these issues and "refuses to box herself in". Marina Slhessarenko Barreto is a political scientist and writer affiliated with the Law and Democracy cluster at CEBRAP, one of Brazil's largest research centers and a PhD student funded by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Born into a Ukrainian family with a legacy of pro-democracy activism, it may not be a surprise that she ended up writing a book called The Path of Autocracy, which dives into the challenges that Brazilian democracy faces, ánd proposes ways out of the ongoing autocratic cycle across the globe. Marina is a regular contributor to media, including on geopolitical matters that are so high...

  As more and more countries are facing democratic backlash, both civil society and academia are under attack. They are also in a unique position to defend civic space and human rights – especially if they find ways to come together. What can we learn from those working across these spaces on doing this well? How can academics show up for social movements and democracy alike? In this second episode we have another great example of someone who is very effective in bringing together knowledge and practice, and with a sharp eye for power. Harriet Bergman is a philosopher, writer and researcher based in the Netherlands with a long history in social movements and therefore a unique position to bridge these worlds. What does climate obstruction have to do with democracy and what can academia learn from activists?   This and more in our latest episode, so please grab a coffee or tea and listen in on the conversation here or anywhere you get your podcast! We would als...

How can academics and practitioners (better) collaborate in times of autocratization? What are obstacles and opportunities to bridge these worlds, especially now? Are there inspiring examples out there that we can learn from? To start with that last question: yes there are!  And you are hearing some of them in this new series of the People vs Inequality Podcast. Starting with someone who is particularly effective in bringing together knowledge and practice for real change. Liza Mügge is a political scientist at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands who was recently nominated for a prestigious gender equality price. She’s well known for groundbreaking research ánd media impact in her field of gender and democracy. She calls on us to be brave and step into the unknown - because where else would you learn and make change happen? We talk about why collaboration is key, why more and more academics are stepping up, what it takes and what it can look like.  “I had...

  Join us for a special episode in which we explore the role of arts and imagination in changing the script towards a more just and caring economy. It is increasingly recognized that narratives play a key role in how we understand and navigate the world, ánd in how decisions are taken that affect us all. As our economies favor the few and are increasingly unsustainable: How can we challenge the dominant narratives that hold us back (such as "economic growth is THE way")? How can we build and amplify alternatives that work for women and all living species? What are the conversations and approaches that could help us move towards a shared sense of what is also possible, based on diverse voices and knowledges? Building on recent action research for Oxfam GB and decades of experience, Njoki Ngumi (artist, writer and feminist thinker), Rachel Walker (multimedia artist and campaigner), Elizabeth Maina (cultural practitioner and podcast producer) and Barbara van Paass...

  As democracy and civic space are under attack in many places across the globe we explore what solidarity means when basic rights are quickly eroded - or maybe were never really there to begin with. In this final episode of the 'Let's talk about solidarity' series we dive into what solidarity can look like when autocrats and anti-rights groups gain power, and some groups are hit harder or earlier than others?  We have two amazing guests, Akshita Siddula, community organizer and leadership coach from Baltimore, US, and Rafael Barrio de Mendoza Zavallos, researcher and Cambridge Phd candidate from Lima, Peru.  What can we learn from what is happening in the US and Peru when it comes to who is affected and who is standing up? What does solidarity mean in a context of serious attacks on democracy and rights? How can we foster solidarity and what role can it play in defending rights and possibly reimagining democracy altogether? As many look at today's political...

  As great acts of solidarity - and simply being human - are being forcefully stopped and peaceful activists are being detained, we are launching our third "𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲" episode of the People vs Inequality Podcast . 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐚𝐫, 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 1,5 (𝐨𝐫 77) 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐞? No easy questions, but we are exploring them in this episode with three amazing women and invite you to join! Rana Al Qawasmi is a Palestinian nutritionist and public health specialist, Lyla Adwan-Kamara is a ...