logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
27m 37s

The Intelligence: Mandela’s vision, test...

The Economist
About this episode

Thirty years of democracy have not led to uniform prosperity, and nearly everyone disagrees about the equality of opportunity. How will the disenchantment manifest at the polls? How two small Texas towns became the patent-law centre of America (12:16). And a tribute to Eleanor Coppola, mastermind of the award-winning behind-the-scenes look at her husband’s epic, “Apocalypse Now” (19:26).


Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Emission creep: a contentious COP closes
<p>It is telling and troubling that the annual climate talking-shop’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2025/11/22/cop30-ends-with-a-whimper?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownote ... Show More
25m 51s
Nov 21
Flee country: Britain seeks to slash migration
<p>Britain’s home secretary Shabana Mahmood proposed a big shift in <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/11/20/will-britain-copy-asylum-policy-from-a-place-with-poor-integration?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discov ... Show More
23m 22s
Nov 20
War graft: scandal engulfs Ukraine
<p>Pentagon officials are meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss a <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/11/19/a-terrible-american-russian-proposal-to-end-the-war-in-ukraine?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_con ... Show More
25m 24s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
The Intelligence: Mandela’s vision, tested
<p>Thirty years of democracy have not led to uniform prosperity, and nearly everyone disagrees about the equality of opportunity. How will <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/05/02/why-south-africans-are-fed-up-after-30-years-of-democracy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium= ... Show More
27m 37s
Feb 2024
The Intelligence: A former general, elected in Indonesia
<p><a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2024/02/14/prabowo-subianto-will-be-indonesias-next-president?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopene ... Show More
26m 45s
Apr 2024
The Intelligence: America’s deeply divided electorate
<p>We have combined polling data to make a detailed portrait of the American electorate. Have a tinker with <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-2024-election/build-a-voter?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery ... Show More
27m 53s
May 2024
The Intelligence: Going back to raid school
<p>A dramatic overnight raid in New York City was just one sign that protests at American universities are set <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/04/30/escalating-protests-expose-three-fault-lines-on-american-campuses?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast. ... Show More
27m 11s
Mar 2024
The Intelligence: when Sall tempted Faye
<p>Bassirou Diomaye Faye was little-known before this election. Despite the incumbent president’s attempts to thwart the process, the anti-establishment politician has soared to victory. Why preparing Turkey for future <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/03/18/earthqua ... Show More
22m 13s
Apr 2024
The Intelligence: Rwanda’s genocide 30 years on
<p>The 1994 <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/03/25/three-decades-after-rwandas-genocide-the-past-is-ever-present?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_artic ... Show More
27m 13s
Jan 2024
The Intelligence: Milei’s laborious reforms
<p>For decades, Argentina’s labour unions have seemed like they can’t be touched. But the country’s new radical, libertarian president is <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2024/01/14/the-fightback-against-javier-mileis-radical-reforms-has-begun?utm_campaign=a.io&utm ... Show More
24m 20s
Jan 2024
The Intelligence: 2024 is a big year for democracy
<p>Citizens across more than 70 countries will be heading to the polls over the next twelve months. It’s a <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/the-world-ahead/2023/11/13/2024-is-the-biggest-election-year-in-history" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">record year ... Show More
23m 38s
Oct 2023
Blown speaker: Kevin McCarthy is out
<p>Another shutdown standoff, funding worries for Ukraine, more leadership chaos: the <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/10/04/the-sacking-of-kevin-mccarthy-will-make-supporting-ukraine-harder?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintellig ... Show More
22m 51s
Sep 2023
When politics dictates policy: China’s faltering economy
<p>&nbsp;During past economic downturns, officials have been both swift and bold. This time not so much—because their hands are tied by <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2023/09/28/politics-hamper-chinas-efforts-to-stimulate-the-economy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.p ... Show More
25m 11s