In this episode Rafael Behr speaks to celebrated Irish author and journalist Fintan O'Toole about their shared fascination with nationalism and the myths of foreign oppression that fired a very English revolution. Also featuring digressions on the Scottish independence movement, Irish attitudes to Brexit and the Italian Job. Fintan O'Toole is a historian, critic and cultural commentator; author of many books that range across questions of culture, identity, nationhood in Ireland and Britain. He is one of Ireland's most prominent and eminent political writers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit and the revolutionary mentality, with Fintan O'Toole

Rafael Behr examines how our minds respond to politics and how politicians mess with our minds.
In each episode an expert from the world of politics, psychology, history or philosophy joins Raf on our 'couch' to discuss what's driving our political thought and behaviour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In this edition host Rafael Behr talks to Nichola Raihani, Professor of Evolution and Behaviour in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland.
She's also the author of, 'The Social Instinct: How Cooperation Shaped the World'
Professor Raihani has unique insight into a problem that has appeared in various forms on this podcast over the years.
It's a question of collective action, solidarity, and cooperation. What motivates people to form units of political organisation or cooperation?
Tribes, parties, whole nations—what holds them together and what drives them apart? Why do some societies tend to be democratic and some go despotic? Is it an accident of history? Climate? Culture? Religion? Evolution. This is the fabric of politics, the very stuff societies are made of at the most fundamental level, and Professor Rehani shines an evolutionary light on it all.
This podcast is produced by Philip Berman of Larchmont Productions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going Ape - a conversation about evolution, morality and political cooperation


 In the wake of October 7th and Trump's bid to become US President again, Rafael Behr sits down with fellow Guardian columnist and friend - Jonathan Freedland - to discuss the current state of geopolitics, liberal politics, Israel and Jewish identity.
Events featuring Rafael Behr
Shoreham, West Sussex, Wed 24 April
An evening with Guardian columnist Rafael Behr and television producer Rob Burley in conversation with Ayesha Hazarika MBE, political commentator and broadcaster, and former special adviser to Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband.
More details
Central London, Thursday 25th April
What Everyone Knows About Britain* Except The British: Michael Peel in conversation with Rafael Behr
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J Freeland links
Award-winning edition of Unholy podcast 
The latest edition of the Guardian's weekly US politics podcast
Jonathan Freeland and Israeli author Amos Oz
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman

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Doom audit - a conversation with Jonathan Freedland about America, Israel, liberal angst and the unravelling West

Rafael Behr talks to Tom Gray from Gomez about his bid to become a Brighton MP.
Tom's had a hugely successful career in music with Gomez rocketing to fame in 1998, beating Pulp and Massive Attack, among others, to the Mercury Prize.
More recently he launched the Broken Record campaign, calling for a fairer deal for musicians from streaming services, among other industry reforms.
And now, having banged on the doors to demand political change from the outside, Tom wants to get on the inside.
He's on the shortlist to be selected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Brighton Pavilion constituency
That's the only seat in the country with a green MP right now, Caroline Lucas, although she's standing down at the next election.
Raf asks Tom what makes someone want to swap what looks like the perfect job, recording and performing music for eager fans, for the grim, and potentially thankless life of a politician where I think it's safe to say the audiences are less than adoring.
https://twitter.com/MrTomGray
https://twitter.com/TG4Pavilion

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Moving the needle - Tom Gray of Gomez on swapping the recording studio for the campaign trail, and what being in a band teaches you about politics.

In a departure from our normal format Rafael Behr (host) and Philip Berman (the show's producer) agreed to press record when they met yesterday (Thursday 28 September) to discuss a new series idea for Politics on the Couch.
And this podcast is the end result, instead of a meta-cast talking about what we could talk about this Autumn, it's more of a casual ramble around Phil's break from Twitter, his despair about the state of political discourse and Raf's one-stop solution for all.
Topics covered (in no order of importance):
Twitter Laurence Fox GB News Sunak's postion on net zero The mood in Westminster State capture Democratic back-sliding The preface to the paperback version of Rafael's new book. https://rafaelbehr.com 
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Bonus Couch Chat'

Raf Behr talks to journalist, author and broadcaster David Aaronovitch about his recent visit to the National Conservatives conference, and what it taught him about state of the Tory party.
They discuss:
Was there really a re-alignment in British politics post-Brexit?
What do the Nat Cons have to offer us Brits apart from hardline anti-immigration vibes?
Why do some parts of the commentariat spend so much time talking about 'culture wars' when there are so many other issues to cover?
If, as expected, the next government is Labour and inherits an economic mess, will it be possible for them to make all the necessary hard decisions about taxation and spending, and stay in power?
David Aaronvitch's substack - https://davidaaronovitch.substack.com
Politics on the Couch has been chosen by Feedspot as both one of the Top 25 UK Psychology Podcasts and Political Science Podcasts on the web.
https://blog.feedspot.com/uk_psychology_podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/political_science_podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit and the revolutionary mentality, with Fintan O'Toole

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