Culture isn't a fossil, it's a fist-fight!

Culture isn't a fossil, it's a fist-fight!

Author: Dr Alice Evans July 22, 2024 Duration: 33:29
Culture is not a static inheritance, but a dynamic arena of ongoing struggle. From the mosques of Jakarta to the classrooms of Louisiana, from TikTok feeds to university lecture halls, ideological warfare rages. This podcast explores the complex interplay of several crucial factors shaping our cultural landscape: Contestation: Culture is a battlefield where competing ideologies clash, merge, and evolve. Prestigious actors and institutions are especially influential, as others look to them as successful. No norm is set in stone; instead, we see a perpetual push and pull between progressive and conservative forces, each vying to define societal values. Economic growth, technological advances and political freedoms do not entail cultural liberalisation. These are merely vehicles - to be used by progressives and conservatives alike. Religious and cultural traditions: Deep-seated beliefs shape the receptiveness to change, and the scope of public debate. Drawing on my qualitative research across nine world regions and evidence from multiple disciplines, this podcast examines ideological battles in diverse settings, from the United States to the Middle East, Southeast Asia to Latin America.

Conversations on ROCKING OUR PRIORS begin with a simple, powerful idea: that our deepest assumptions about how societies progress deserve a second look. Host Dr Alice Evans, drawing from her roles at King’s College London and the Harvard Kennedy School, doesn’t just interview leading experts-she engages them in a genuine dialogue. Each episode digs into the interconnected engines of change: economic growth, the nuances of governance, and the persistent structures of gender inequality. You’ll hear discussions that are both academic and accessible, where complex theories are tested against real-world evidence and historical patterns. The aim is to unsettle comfortable narratives and examine how transformation actually happens across different cultures. This isn't a lecture series; it's an ongoing exploration designed to challenge and refine your perspective. Tune into the podcast for thoughtful, evidence-based conversations that might just change how you see the world's most pressing social and economic questions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

ROCKING OUR PRIORS
Podcast Episodes
Are Men & Women Scrolling Apart? John Burn-Murdoch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:16
John Burn-Murdoch (the FT's Chief Data Reporter) and I discuss gendered ideological polarisation. - Does this hold worldwide? - Which groups are most polarised? - Is there a rise in hostile sexism? - Is this due to econo…
What caused the Islamic Revival? Professor Jared Rubin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:23
Professor Jared Rubin has authored two superb books, “Rulers, Religion and Riches” and “How the World Became Rich”. He joined my podcast, to discuss: - Why did the Middle East Fall Behind? - What caused the shift to Scri…
"Raised to Obey": Agustina Paglayan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:17
Professor Agustina Paglayan has a fascinating new book: “Raised to Obey”! She contends that mass primary education systems were primarily established to consolidate state authority and maintain social order. But what abo…
Daron Acemoglu, V4.0: Rebooting Culture & Economics! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:48
Professor Daron Acemoglu is famous for his careful empirical research, demonstrating the economic importance of institutions. But actually, he’s done a 180 to embrace culture! In this podcast we discuss his new theory of…
How did East Asia Get Rich? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:03
Dr Oliver Kim has completed his PhD at Berkeley, recently appointed at Open Philanthropy. He does awesome research, carefully examining the drivers of structural transformation. We discussed: Why do you think East Asia i…
Netflix and Change: Tracking Cultural Flux in Autocracies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
“Vikings is no. 1 from all the Saudi men 😂”. Leila chuckled as we browsed top hits on Netflix. For only 30 Riyals (8 USD) a month, Saudis can tune into stories about uncovered pagans. A global feast of delights are now o…
PRESTIGE BIAS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:18
Imagine: Elon Musk's tweet causes a cryptocurrency frenzy. Kim Kardashian’s outfit becomes an overnight fashion sensation. Daron Acemoglu and colleagues’ paper on settler mortality reshapes economic thinking. The Pope’s…
Why Is Management So Male? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:30
Senior management remains heavily male, and honestly I’m not entirely sure why. Economist Ingrid Haegele finds that junior men are more likely to apply for promotions, primarily due to a greater desire for team leadershi…