logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
50m 16s

Capitalism: What Makes Us Free? (2021)

NPR
About this episode
What's the role of government in society? What do we mean when we talk about individual responsibility? What makes us free? 'Neoliberalism' might feel like a squishy term that's hard to define and understand. But this ideology, founded by a group of men in the Swiss Alps, is a political project that has dominated our economic system for decades. In the name of free-market fundamentals, the forces behind neoliberalism act like an invisible hand, shaping almost every aspect of our lives.

To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Iran and the Jewish people: An alliance before war
Israel and Iran have been in almost constant conflict for nearly 50 years. Media tends to frame the violence as endemic, and inevitable — but it’s not. Between the creation of Israel in 1948 and Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, the countries cooperated, if cautiously. And the b ... Show More
51m 32s
Mar 3
We the People, Redefined
When the 14th amendment was ratified after the Civil War, it redefined what it meant to be an American. Today on the show, we bring you the story of how the 14th amendment was created, and the intention behind equal protection for all.To access bonus episodes and listen to Throug ... Show More
18m 59s
Feb 26
Why Super PACs have more power than ever in elections
What’s one thing people across the U.S. can agree on? Hint – it’s about money. Voters from all political parties overwhelmingly see unlimited spending in elections as a threat to our democracy. So if most people don’t like all this money in politics, then who does? The answer, on ... Show More
50m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Socialism, Communism, Fascism
What does it really mean when we call someone a socialist, communist, or fascist? Where did these ideologies come from, and why do we have ideologies in the first place? Today we speak with Patrick McGovern, professor of political science at Buffalo State University, and Susan Ka ... Show More
30m 40s
May 2024
Defending Socialism: A Logical Critique of Capitalism
Philosopher Scott Sehon joins Breht to discuss his new book "Socialism: A Logical Introduction". Together they analyze arguments in favor of capitalism, argue against them, and defend socialism as a superior form of socio-economic organization in the process. They discuss differe ... Show More
1h 33m
Feb 2024
Is Capitalism Inevitable?
Capitalism is the system that has helped the world become infinitely more wealthy than it has ever been in human history, but there are problems. A disregard for the drawbacks of production like waste, pollution and inequality are often cited by people who want capitalism to be r ... Show More
16m 20s
Jan 2000
Economic Rights
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss economic rights. Is democracy the truest conduit of capitalism, or do the forces that make us rich run counter to the democratic institutions that safeguard our rights? The economist Milton Friedman once said, “If freedom weren’t so economically ef ... Show More
27m 41s
Nov 2020
Adam Kotsko, "Neoliberalism's Demons: On the Political Theology of Late Capital" (Stanford UP, 2018)
It’s hard to avoid conversations about ‘neoliberalism’ these days. The meaning of the term—indeed its very existence—is hotly contested. Adam Kotsko argues in Neoliberalism’s Demons: On the Political Theology of Late Capital (Stanford University Press, 2018) that self-denial is p ... Show More
1h 18m
Sep 2020
How your personality shapes your politics | Dannagal G. Young
Social psychologist Dannagal Young breaks down the link between our psychology and politics, showing how personality types largely fall into people who prioritize openness and flexibility (liberals) and those who prefer order and certainty (conservatives). Hear why both sets of t ... Show More
9m 25s
Mar 2020
408. Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is?
<p>Trump says it would destroy us. Sanders says it will save us. The majority of millennials would like it to replace capitalism. But what is “it”? We bring in the economists to sort things out and tell us what the U.S. can learn from the good (and bad) experiences of other (supp ... Show More
43m 27s
May 2022
Romaric Godin : “Le macronisme est une forme extrême de néolibéralisme au regard de la France”
Romaric Godin est journaliste économique à Mediapart, et l’auteur de “La guerre sociale en France : aux sources économiques de la démocratie autoritaire”. L’ouvrage permet de mieux comprendre le projet d’Emmanuel Macron et ses fondements idéologiques : comment le macronisme - qui ... Show More
1h 9m
Apr 2022
[BEST OF] The Fundamentals of Marxism: Intro to Political Economy
tail spinning
1h 26m