Alex Aragona moderates a discussion with Ryan Thorpe and Matt Bufton about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and its relevance in today’s world. They explore the CBC’s historical mission to promote Canadian culture and information, its struggles to meet its mandate, and the challenges posed by media fragmentation and perceived biases. The conversation also touches on the roles of private media, government funding, and the rise of independent outlets as alternatives to a state broadcaster.

References

1. Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism by George Grant https://www.amazon.ca/Lament-Nation-Defeat-Canadian-Nationalism/dp/077353010X

2. Peter Mansbridge Quote on CBC’s "Toronto Bias" https://youtu.be/8c0HWFg9dpw?si=3Uo8DXe7MPMNRWyY

3. Canadaland https://www.canadaland.com/

4. The Hub https://thehub.ca/

5. The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/

6. The Tyee https://thetyee.ca/

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

In this episode, host Matt Bufton interviews historian Steve Davies about the political realignment happening across the Western world. Steve explains how traditional divisions in politics, such as socialism versus capitalism, have been replaced by a new axis centered on nationalism versus globalism. He critiques both "national collectivism" and "technocratic liberal progressivism" while discussing the implications for classical liberalism. The conversation also touches on the influence of leaders like Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, and Emmanuel Macron, and explores what the future holds for liberal ideas in a shifting political landscape.

References

1. "The Great Realignment: Understanding Politics Today" by Steve Davies (Cato Institute) https://www.cato-unbound.org/2018/12/10/stephen-davies/great-realignment-understanding-politics-today/

2. Steve Davies' talk at the IEA's THINK event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVMnQ4-_cQ

3. "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553

4. "Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy" by Joseph A. Schumpeter https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061330086

5. "The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution" by Francis Fukuyama https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Political-Order-Prehuman-Revolution/dp/0374227349

6. "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes https://www.amazon.ca/Leviathan-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950

7. "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

In this conversation from 2021, Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about Montesquieu's role in shaping contemporary political science, the American revolutionary project, and the role of the separation of powers as a bulwark against despotism.

References

1. “Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rationalism-Pluralism-Freedom-Jacob-Levy/dp/0198808917

2. “The Multiculturalism of Fear” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Multiculturalism-Fear-Jacob-T-Levy/dp/0198297122

3. “Montesquieu’s Constitutional Legacies” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1117087

4. “Beyond Publius: Montesquieu, Liberal Republicanism, and the Small-Republic Thesis” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=739447

5. “The Spirit of Laws” by Charles Baron de Montesquieu

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Spirit-Laws-Charles-Baron-Montesquieu/dp/1616405287#:~:text=The%20Spirit%20of%20Laws%2C%20first,by%20the%20Roman%20Catholic%20Church.

6. “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes

Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm

7. “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke

Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm