Episode 19: India Modi-fies Citizenship Laws

Episode 19: India Modi-fies Citizenship Laws

Author: Steve Palley, Pete Newsom December 21, 2019 Duration: 28:28
Q: How can a law offering a path to citizenship for religious refugees from neighboring countries lead to nationwide protests?A: When the law excludes Muslims from that path... and there are already 200 MILLION Muslims in your country.This week, Steve and Soumi discuss mass protests in India over Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.Since the law passed last week, Indians of all religions have taken to the streets to voice their displeasure. Social media and news reports showed awful video of police entering one Muslim university's library and beating students who appeared to be doing homework.For his part, Modi, who has his own checkered past vis-a-vis Hindu-Muslim violence, has not done nearly enough to tamp down tensions, adding to suspicions that this is all part of his plan to Make India Hindu Again (even though it already largely is).Further Reading:1.    https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/india/2019-09-11/roots-hindu-nationalisms-triumph-india 2.    https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/12/16/21024306/india-protests-muslim-citizenship-amendment-bill 3.    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50805092 4.    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/citizenship-amendment-act-protest-hartal-live-updates-december-17-2019/article30326650.ece 5.    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-16/india-protests-show-modi-s-hardline-agenda-may-hurt-economy 6.    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/world/asia/india-citizenship-protests.htmlPS: this will be our final show for 2019! See you (perfectly, har har) in 2020, fam.

Navigating the daily deluge of headlines can leave anyone feeling adrift. The Elucidators: Decoding Global News is a weekly conversation designed to provide a compass. Hosts Steve Palley and Pete Newsom don't just recount the events; they unpack the historical context, the political forces at play, and the often-overlooked connections between seemingly disparate stories. Each episode takes a notable global affair and patiently breaks it down, moving beyond the sensational soundbite to explore the 'why' and the 'what next'. You'll hear them analyze the mechanics of government decisions, debate the efficacy of political rhetoric, and offer grounded commentary that prioritizes understanding over alarm. This podcast operates on the belief that being an informed citizen requires more than just consumption-it requires digestion. By tuning in, you're not simply getting a news update; you're getting a framework for thinking critically about power, policy, and the narratives that shape our world. The goal is to leave each discussion with a clearer, more nuanced picture of the forces shaping our collective future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 48

The Elucidators: Decoding Global News
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