Asia – Aufhebunga Bunga

/544/ Iran War: Rogue State USA ft. Arash Azizi

by Alex__1789April 14, 2026Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-n46yy-1a99d69 On the brave new world we have entered. Historian Arash Azizi is back on the pod, talking to Alex H and Lee Jones about the ongoing war. We try to draw out some firm consequences, beyond the immediate situtation.…

/528/ The Heroic Bourgeoisie in the Democratic Post-Colony ft. Sandipto Dasgupta

by Alex__1789January 13, 2026Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-n3vgs-1a17db1 On the making of independent India – and its lessons. Assistant professor of politics at The New School, Sandipto Dasgupta, talks to contributing editor Alex Gourevitch about this new book, Legalizing the Revolution: India and the Constitution of the Postcolony. Why…

/512/ Reading Club: Middle-Class Dreams & Nightmares

by Alex__1789September 26, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-24ps9-19774f8 On Göran Therborn's article, "Dreams and Nightmares of the World's Middle Classes". The penultimate episode of this block on the middle class, we discuss the differing fortunes and politics of the global North and South middle-classes – as well…

/504/ Vietnam’s Victory: American War to Globalisation ft. Sean Fear

by Alex__1789August 5, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ambtw-1924ee1 On resistance and reform in southeast Asia. Historian Sean Fear talks to Alex H and Lee Jones about Vietnam on the 50-year anniversary since the end of the war. How is Vietnamese identity wrapped up with the notion of…

/482/ The Philippines’ Dynasty & Duterte’s Arrest ft. Walden Bello

by Alex__1789April 22, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-2qgun-1888e68 On Filipino politics and geopolitics. Renowned public intellectual Walden Bello talks to Alex and contributing editor Lee Jones about his recently published memoirs, former president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest, warring political dynasties and more. What's behind Duterte's arrest? Is it…

/465/ Quick Coups & Post-Development in Korea ft. Jamie Doucette

by Alex__1789January 28, 2025Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-783zs-17d5981 On the martial law crisis in South Korea. For the full episode: patreon.com/bungacast Jamie Doucette, who researches contemporary political economy and Korea's development at the University of Manchester, talks to Alex and George about December 2024's coup attempt and…

/456/ All Chips on Taiwan ft. James Lin

by Alex__1789December 10, 2024Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-8urxc-1765f54 On Taiwan, semiconductors, and war. [Full episode for subscribers only] James Lin, Assistant Professor of International Studies at the University of Washington at Seattle, talks to Phil about Taiwanese politics and the country's place in the world, in terms…

/431/ The Myth of Monolithic China ft. Lee Jones & Shahar Hameiri

by Alex__1789August 15, 2024Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-kcxxi-16a0424 On the structure of the Chinese state and its external relations. [Patreon Exclusive: for the full episode, go to patreon.com/bungacast] We welcome back Lee Jones and Shahar Hameiri to reflect on the outcome of the recent plenum of the…

/420/ Fertility Freefall & Gender Strife in South Korea ft. Hyeyoung Woo (sample)

by Alex__1789June 25, 2024Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-snk4y-163c23b On baby bust, feminism and male resentment. [Patreon Exclusive] Alex and regular contributor Leigh Phillips call up Korean sociologist Hyeyoung Woo, director of the Institute for Asian Studies at Portland State University, to talk about demography, family and gender…

/417/ Has India passed peak Modi? ft. Achin Vanaik

by Alex__1789June 11, 2024Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-nu6ci-163395b On India's election and a blow for the BJP. Esteemed writer and social activist Achin Vanaik is back on Bungacast to unpick India's monumental, seven-week-long electoral process in which over 600m people took part. How did the ruling Hindu…