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In this episode of Unequal Worlds, host Wesley Maraire speaks with Tomas Salem, PhD fellow at the University of Bergen’s Department of Anthropology, about the rise of the far right in Brazil. The conversation explores the political, economic, social, and religious forces fueling this movement, focusing on its deep connections to corruption, economic inequality, and the militarisation of police operations.
Salem discusses how political cosmology, populism, and religious movements, particularly Pentecostal churches, have shaped Brazil’s far-right rhetoric, while social media platforms like WhatsApp spread misinformation and mobilise support. The episode also delves into the Pacification project in Brazil’s favelas, examining its racial and economic implications, authoritarian policing practices, and complex relationships with drug gangs and residents. Finally, the discussion highlights the global relevance of these dynamics, especially in relation to inequality, spirituality, and discontent among marginalised populations.
Tune in for a deep dive into Brazil’s political landscape and the broader implications of far-right movements worldwide.
You can read Tomas’ new book titled ‘Policing theFavelas of Rio de Janeiro’ for more insights. It is free and open access!
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In this episode of Unequal Worlds, we dive deep into the pressing challenges and innovative solutions surrounding the global green transition. Host Wesley Maraire and guest Michael Grubb explore the evolving landscape of climate finance, political solutions, and the critical role of private investment in advancing low-carbon projects in developing countries.
Key Topics Covered:
The transformation of office buildings in South Africa into independent power producers through solar energy, reflecting a global shift towards renewable energy. The political and financial intricacies of the $100 billion climate finance goal for developing countries, including the role of public and private investment. How leveraging windfall profits from the energy crisis can significantly boost climate finance and accelerate clean energy investments. The potential impact of debt forgiveness and the critical need for targeted solutions in the fight against climate change. Strategies for transferring renewable energy technology to regions rich in resources but lacking in technology infrastructure, focusing on Africa’s potential.🎧 Listen Now: Join us as we navigate these crucial topics and uncover how new political solutions and visionary initiatives can reshape our approach to climate finance and ensure a fair green transition for all.
Subscribe to Unequal Worlds on your favourite podcast platform and leave a review to let us know your thoughts!
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In this episode of Unequal Worlds, we speak with Alpa Shah, an anthropologist and lecturer at the London School of Economics, about the complex issues of inequality, democracy, and activism in India.
Shah begins by discussing the importance of democracy in protecting minority rights and questions whether this ideal is being upheld in India. She also highlights the complexity of the term "decolonisation" and warns against its potential hijacking by extremist forces.
The conversation then turns to the challenges of labour unionisation in India, particularly in representing informal sector workers. Shah notes that unions often focus on formal sector labour, leaving out a significant portion of the workforce.
Shifting to the intersectionality of various forms of inequality, Shah introduces the concept of "conjugated oppression." She emphasises the need for mobilisation efforts that address multiple forms of inequality simultaneously.
Shah also discusses the impact of her research on both academic and public audiences. She notes that her work has raised awareness of inequality and discrimination in India, particularly among the Indian diaspora. She also mentions that her research has reached higher levels of policymaking, such as the United Nations.
The conversation concludes with a mention of Shah's upcoming book, "Incarcerations," which is set to be released in March 2024.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the challenges of inequality and discrimination in India, the importance of intersectional mobilisation, and the impact of academic research on raising awareness and influencing policy changes.
Subscribe to Unequal Worlds on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to let us know what you think!
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In this episode of Unequal Worlds, Divine Fuh explores the complex relationship between decolonisation and the pursuit of human dignity. Joining Fuh are Ouma Ba & Yumba Kakhobwe who respond to the address as well as questions from the audience at the recently held Bergen Exchanges on Law Social Transformation. The keynote was chaired by Satang Nabaneh.
Fuh argues that the decolonial movement in South Africa has shifted its focus from the decolonisation of knowledge to addressing the suffering and inequality experienced by poor black South Africans. He introduces the concept of "sh*t" to emphasise the suffering and predicament of poor black South Africans living in shacks and townships while the white population experiences growing opulence.
Fuh emphasises the importance of recognising and acknowledging suffering as a catalyst for the decolonial project. He discusses the concept of "seeing" suffering, which involves empathy, transformation, and understanding. He also discusses the challenges in conceptualising suffering, especially when different languages and conceptual frameworks have limited vocabulary for it.
Fuh views decolonisation as an exercise in human dignity and suggests embracing concepts like conviviality, rethinking the human, and ethical cohabitation to address inequalities and find new ways of thinking. He argues that breaking free from dominant conceptual regimes is essential to understanding and addressing suffering and inequality effectively.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the decolonial movement, human rights, and the pursuit of a more just and equitable world.
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This episode of the Unequal Worlds explores how labour unions can address inequality, especially in the context of authoritarian regimes. Elina Troscenko (GRIP, University of Bergen) moderates a panel discussion during the 2023 Bergen Exchanges on Law & Social Transformation. The panel is comprised of three scholars from different parts of the world:
Volodymyr Artiukh (University of Oxford, UK) Çağatay Edgücan Şahin (University of Ordu, Turkey) Kerstin Hamann (University of Central Florida, USA)The scholars share insights and perspectives on the conditions of labour in their respective contexts, focusing on labour mobilisation against authoritarian regimes, the challenges faced by labour unions, and the strategies they employ. They discuss issues such as labour rights, unionisation rates, collective bargaining, and the effectiveness of unions in influencing political change.
The scholars also touch upon the potentialities and shortcomings of labour unions in changing political realities and addressing inequality. They discuss the different strategies and repertoires of resistance employed by unions and how they adapt to evolving political landscapes. They address questions about the democratic nature of unions and their role in promoting democracy in their respective countries.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in labour unions, inequality, and authoritarian regimes. It provides a nuanced and insightful look at the complex relationship between these three forces, and it highlights the importance of labor unions in the fight for social justice.
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In this episode, we speak with Divine Fuh, an anthropologist and professor at the University of Cape Town. The conversation revolves around knowledge-based inequality and African knowledge systems - canvassing historical, contemporary and future challenges.
Divine discusses the need to decolonise these systems, the role of African youth, and the potential they hold for addressing global issues like climate change, poverty, and inequality. We also explore the importance of reshaping education and research to embrace African knowledge.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in African knowledge systems, decoloniality, and the future of Africa.
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Dive into the world of socialism and labour movements in the GRIP Annual Lecture 2023. Join us for an enlightening discussion as esteemed global labour historian Marcel van der Linden takes the stage to share invaluable insights into the historical trajectories of socialist and labour movements.
In this inaugural lecture, delivered on May 31, van der Linden provides a deep exploration of the challenges faced by these movements and the strategic choices they have made throughout history. Engage with van der Linden's vast knowledge and research as he unravels the complexities of 200 years of socialism.
Joining the conversation are renowned scholars Göran Therborn, Svati Shah, and Ernesto Semán, who provide insightful commentary, further enriching the lecture. Together, they offer a comprehensive understanding of the past and present dilemmas of socialist and labour movements.
Don't miss this thought-provoking lecture that sheds light on the historical lessons that can guide the future of socialism. Tune in to the GRIP Annual Lecture 2023 and deepen your understanding of socialism and labour movements.
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Join host Wesley Maraire in a captivating episode of "Unequal Worlds" as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Max Lawson from Oxfam. In this podcast, they explore Oxfam's report on global inequality, wealth disparities, and the urgent need for systemic change.
The episode begins by delving into the key findings of the report, highlighting the alarming escalation of wealth concentration among billionaires, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They shed light on the disproportionate distribution of wealth, with the richest 1% accumulating an overwhelming share while poverty rates increase globally.
Max Lawson presents a compelling case against billionaires, questioning their legitimacy and advocating for their abolition due to the harm their concentration of power and resources inflicts on society and the planet. The discussion covers the responses of billionaires, examples of extreme inequality, and the absence of the term "capitalism" in the report.
They also address the impact of COVID-19 on wealth disparities, emphasising the disastrous consequences for developing countries and the unequal access to vaccines. The episode concludes with the understanding that while COVID-19 exacerbated wealth disparities, the core issue lies in the concentration of power and resources in the hands of a few, necessitating systemic change to address global inequality.
Tune in to this compelling episode of "Unequal Worlds" as Wesley Maraire and Max Lawson challenge wealth concentration, advocate for progressive taxation, and explore the path towards a fairer and more equitable world.
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If you're looking for insight into the global crisis of inequality, this episode of Unequal Worlds is a must-listen. Host Wesley Maraire interviews Katja Hujo, a senior research coordinator at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, about their flagship report, "Crisis of Inequality, Shifting Power for a New Social Contract." Hujo shares her thoughts on the systemic and structural challenges that perpetuate inequality and proposes eco-social policies as a way forward.
The episode covers everything from the need for a new social contract to the contentious inclusion of a goal on reducing inequality in Agenda 2030. Hujo also discusses the report's proposed seven principles for building a new ecological social contract, which are based on the analysis of past and present social contracts. Along the way, she touches on many topics related to inequality, including citizen engagement, political processes, and community-level processes.
The conversation also explores some of the challenges associated with implementing these ideas and the need for a deliberative process at different levels. The report calls for global citizens to hold governments and other actors accountable for their promises and commitments to ensure progress is made towards a new eco-social contract that prioritises justice and sustainability. If you're interested in learning more about this important issue, be sure to check out this thought-provoking episode of Unequal Worlds.
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In this episode of Unequal Worlds, host Wesley Maraire interviews Vivian Price, a professor of interdisciplinary studies in the Department of Arts and Humanities at California State University. Vivian discusses her background in blue-collar jobs, her interest in film-making, and her involvement in making documentaries about women construction workers, migrant workers, and the intersection of labor and climate change.
The conversation centers around just transition, which entails addressing the impacts of transitioning to a greener economy on workers, communities, and the economy. The episode includes discussions on the importance of including representatives from different communities in the negotiations, the role of the state in addressing inequality, and the value of strong unions. The conversation also explores the challenges faced by countries heavily dependent on oil and the possibility of unions and oil companies working together to mitigate the risks of workers losing their jobs. The episode concludes with the importance of listening to workers and recognising their stake in the green transition.
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In this episode of Unequal Worlds, we explore the topic of citizenship and its current state in diverse political contexts. The episode was recorded at a Breakfast Seminar at Bergen Global as part of the joint GRIP and Chr. Michelsens Institute (CMI) project Political Protests and New Forms of Citizenship. The discussants included Mari Norbakk from CMI and Giorgi Cheishvili from Tbilisi State University, moderated by Elina Troscenko from GRIP.
Citizenship is in crisis due to the rise of populist and authoritarian governments, and its inability to tackle challenges such as climate change, refugee crisis, and the pandemic. The commodification of citizenship and the closure of spaces for protest have also raised concerns among scholars. However, large-scale political protests are taking place, challenging authorities in instances where they seem to be losing legitimacy and people's trust.
Citizenship may appear static, but it is constantly negotiated. The panelists shed light on different practices and understandings of citizenship in diverse political contexts, and how the dynamics of negotiating the relationship between the state and society take place under different political regimes.
The episode reveals how people are maneuvering a changing landscape and changing relations between the state and the people by drawing on examples from mainly Qatar, Egypt and Georgia and with references to Bahrain and Latvia.
The Panel:
Giorgi Cheishvili is a social anthropologist and his research covers topics such as state, nationalism, citizenship and borders. He has conducted extensive ethnographic research in Georgia and Turkey. He holds a PhD in social anthropology from the University of Bergen (Norway) and is currently a visiting lecturer at Tbilisi State University (Georgia).
Mari Norbakk is social anthropologist at Chr. Michelsens Institute and her work is focused on the Middle East, specifically Egypt and Qatar as well as migrant communities in Norway. Research interests include masculinities, marriage, gender, women’s rights, revolutionary practice, class, capital and migration.
Elina Troscenko (moderator) is the Head of the GRIP Secretariat. In her academic work she has been focusing on Soviet legacies in the Baltics, the Caucasus and Central Asia exploring issues relating to borders, citizenship and bureaucratic practices of the state in relation to marginalized populations.
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This episode’s guest is dr Zarina Patel, Associate Professor of Human Geography in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town. In conversation with GRIP’s Maria Bakke Ulvesæter, dr Patel discusses, among other things; the ways urban developments can be just and sustainable; epistemic inequalities and the importance of trans-disciplinary work; the significance of Africa’s future urban development; and how urban development and inequality are intrinsically linked.
Dr Patel’s research addresses the politics and practices of achieving just and sustainable urban transitions. The distinctive focus of her scholarship is the use of transdisciplinary approaches to navigate alternate insights and responses to complex urban issues in southern contexts.
Mentioned in this episode:
Research and knowledge centre Mistra Urban Futures
The New African Urban University
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This episode is a recording of GRIP affiliate Svati Shah's keynote at the 2022 Bergen Exchanges. Here, Dr Shah sets the issues of gender, land rights and political enfranchisement as well as postcolonial queer and trans theory into the broader context of anti-democratic governance and battles over historical memory in India.
Svati Shah is a feminist anthropologist who works on questions of sexuality, gender, migration and caste capitalism in India. They hold adjunct appointments in the Departments of Anthropology and Afro-American Studies at UMass-Amherst. Dr Shah’s ethnographic monograph, Street Corner Secrets: Sex, Work and Migration in the City of Mumbai, discussed sex work as an aspect of labour migration that is mediated by the politics of space, urbanization and caste. They are currently researching the rise of authoritarianism and the histories of new left social movements, queer feminist critique, and anthropology in South Asia.
You can read more about Svati Shah and their work at their webpage: Svati P. Shah
This event was a part of the LawTransform Queer Lawfare seminar series (sponsored by Fritt Ord), a collaboration with GRlP (Global Research Programme on Inequality), Centre on Law & Social Transformation and Centre for Women’s and Gender Research at UiB.
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We are happy to be able to share a recording of this keynote session with you as an episode of our podcast Unequal Worlds. This keynote address was given by Prof. Leandro Rodriguez Medina (Department of Sociology, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, Mexico) and entitled: “On epistemic decentralization: challenges for knowledge infrastructures”.
GRIP affiliate Dr. Susanne Koch (STS Department/Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy, Technical University of Munich) together with Prof. Nelius Boshoff (Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University) convened the workshop “Science as a Site of Inequality: An Exploratory Workshop for Sharing Evidence and Experience from Environment-Related Research Fields” (11.–13. May 2022).
The hybrid event brought together scholars from all across the world to discuss how science itself is shaped by inequality – and how it could become a more inclusive space of knowledge production. The workshop was hosted by the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studyand funded by the DFG Programme Point Sud.
If you are interested in hearing more from the workshop, you are welcome to listen to this talk given by Nelius and Susanne as part of the CWTS Diversity and Inclusion Seminar Series.
Keynote: Leandro Rodriguez Medina
Moderator: Susanne Koch
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Cover photo by Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash
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2020 marked the start of several global crises the consequences and impact of which we are still attempting to comprehend and deal with, and inequalities are again on the rise worldwide.
In this episode we dive into the newly published book The Long Year, edited by Caitlin Zaloom & Thomas Sugrue, which brings together some of the world’s leading scientists and incisive thinkers who grapple with the implications of the various crises of 2020, providing a sobering and critical analysis of the pre-existing conditions that lead to these crises, exposing the way inequalities have exploded and also offering suggestions for the ways forward – ways to reform, reconnect and rebuild a more equal future for us all.
To talk about this book, we are lucky to have one of the editors, Caitlin Zaloom, with us. Caitlin is a professor of Social & Cultural Analysis at New York University. She studies the cultural dimensions of finance, politics, technology, and economic life. She is also the author of books Indebted: How Families Make College Work at Any Cost and Out of the Pits: Traders and Technology from Chicago to London.
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Food is at the core of the UN's development agenda for the 21st century and several SDGs explicitly focus on food system challenges. Food production, distribution and consumption are linked to inequalities in a myriad of ways, and in this episode we explore inequality through the lens of food. In this discussion GRIP's Elina Troscenko is joined by Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv Engebretsen; Professor, Centre for International Health at the University of Bergen and Hanne Rosendahl-Riise, Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen.
Hanne and Ingunn led the course Food Security for 8 Billion; Closing the gap with commitments, sustainable measures, and research during Bergen Summer Research School 2022. Bergen Summer Research School is a partnership of NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Chr. Michelsen Institute, and NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, under the leadership of the University of Bergen. Every year, 100 PhD candidates are welcomed to take one of six parallel PhD-level courses, all based in some of Bergen’s best research groups, and each addressing important global challenges.
Follow Bergen Summer Research School on Twitter to get notified of next year's course!
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Photo by Tomas Hertogh on Unsplash
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The SANORD 2021 conference was hosted by the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and the University of Bergen. The conference focused on how SANORD partners can use and strengthen partnerships - with the aims of meeting the needs of the UN 2030 Agenda. GRIP was a contributor to the sub-theme “Epistemic challenges, intellectual labour and South-North partnerships” and we are now lucky enough to be able to publish the keynote by Maria Paula Meneses as a podcast episode.
Keynote "Food as knowledge, interconnecting the Global South" by Maria Paula Meneses
Discussant: Pamila Gupta
Moderator: Bjørn Enge Bertelsen
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The Centre for International Health (CIH) at the University of Bergen (UiB) hosted the 12th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health in Bergen, Norway 2021. GRIP’s executive director, Bjørn Enge Bertelsen, led the plenary session “ Will global health survive its decolonisation? “ and we are happy to be able to share the recording of the session with all of you.
Keynote “Power, privilege and coloniality in Global Health” Dr Madhukar Pai
Participants:
Tammam Aloudat
Lioba A. Hirsch
Themrise Khan
Bjørn Enge Bertelsen (moderator)
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Johnny Miller is a photographer and multimedia storyteller based in South Africa and the USA. He is interested in exploring social justice issues from the ground and from the air, and his photographic project Unequal Scenes has garnered widespread praise and been featured in many of the world’s top publications. He is also the photographer behind many of the images we use in our material!
Few capture the contrast of inequality, and the way it some places is literally part of the infrastructure, as well as Johny Miller and his Unequal Scenes project. Photographs taken by drones clearly show us the borders between the wealthy and the poor - borders that, even though we know they are there, are not always immediately visible from the ground.
Mentioned in this episode:
GRIP's project Imaging Inequality and an open call for visual artist.
The NPO africanDRONE that seeks to empower local drone pilots.
Miller's project Unequal Scenes.
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We are happy to announce a new publication in the CROP book series International Studies in Poverty Research entitled “Why Some Development Works. Understanding Success” by Meera Tiwari.
This podcast episode is a recording of the webinar book launch of the book, that GRIP hosted on the 30th of September 2021.
Using case studies from countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Tiwari’s innovative approach offers a multi-layered understanding of poverty which provides insights into causal, enabling and impeding factors. A unique study based on extensive empirical research, Why Some Development Works will make essential reading for students and researchers studying international development across the social sciences, as well as humanitarian and development practitioners and policymakers.
Participants were:
Meera Tiwari, University of East London
Rohini Mukherjee, Naandi Foundation
Adnan Khan, London School of Economics
Diana Skelton, ATD Fourth World
Bjørn Enge Bertelsen (moderator), GRIP
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- Näytä enemmän
