The fifth and final part of a series on generational consciousness and conflict.

In this episode, we examine the Millennials and Generation Z. Uniquely, generation war today seems to be a conflict over resources more than over values. Is there any basis for this, and what do Millennials actually want? With generational and class conflict seemingly bound together today, we analyse 'Generation Left' and 'Millennial Socialism'. And we ask what the effect of the pandemic may be on the creation of a Gen Z consciousness.

Guests include:

Original music by: Jonny Mundey

Additional music:

The fourth in a special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict.

In this episode, we examine Generation X – the generation of the End of History. How was this generation overshadowed by the Boomer's failures? In the Eastern Bloc, the fall of Soviet regimes was a traumatic moment – how did this shape consciousness? And how did the Iranian Revolution – and subsequent war – shape the political perspectives of Iranians?

Guests include:

Original music by: Jonny Mundey

Additional music:

The second in a special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict.

Guests include:

Original music by: Jonny Mundey

Additional music:

Other Clips:

The first in a special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict.

Guests include:

Original music by: Jonny Mundey

Additional music:

Peter Kuli / OK Boomer / courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group, Inc.

Liru / For the Floor / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

On disruption, disturbance, decline, decay.

We continue our attempt to conceptualise the present moment by looking at Silicon Valley-style disruption, geopolitical disturbances and 'polycrisis', and decline & decay along two axes: normative vs descriptive, and geopolitical and universal.

Then we deal with your questions and comments over the past month on: religious authority; Russia, imperialism, and the USSR; and the limitations to 'the national interest'.

Subscribe for the full episode: patreon.com/bungacast

[Bungacast is on holiday, so we're unlocking/re-releasing a July 2021 episode that was previously only available to higher-tier subscribers]

We discuss Michael Lind's The New Class War.

Lind identifies new lines in the class war, between working class and managerial overclass, between those in the "heartlands" and those in the "hubs". How convincing is this account? What is his critique of technocratic managerialism and its symptom, populism? How convincing - and realistic - is his solution of "democratic pluralism"? And is this only achievable as a result of a new cold war with China?

On The National Interest.

Aufhebunga Bunga co-founder and contributing editor Phil Cunliffe joins us to talk about his new book about politics after the age of globalisation. We ask questions about his book – and then put him on trial for wrongthink.

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Who is the 'national interest' good for? Is it a domestic or a foreign policy concern?

Why did the 'national interest' disappear from our political vocabulary?

Is the national interest an abstraction anyone can rhetorically claim? Is that not dangerous?

What happens if leading politicians – or elites in general – adopt the national interest? Would this be good or bad?

Will Trump's re-assertion of US interests push others to defend theirs?

Does the national interest stand against class interests? Is this anti-socialist?

Was Stalin-style socialism-in-one-country actually correct? Has Phil come around to supporting Roosevelt-style social democracy?

Links:

The National Interest: Politics After Globalization, Philip Cunliffe, Polity

On image-enhancing drugs.

Jason Myles of This Is Revolution is back on, talking to George and Alex H about his article in Damage on increasing steroid use.

What does the discourse around 'fake natties' tell us about authenticity? Do SSRIs provide "fake happy"?

If steroids are a short-cut, how do we understand the "work" in "working out"?

Is the taboo on drug use completely gone?

Are we medicating to counter the side-effects of other meds?

How do issues such as steroids and trans reveal contradictory attitudes to the body?

Have the links between body, image, sex, and eroticism been erased?

For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

Links:

Self-Catfishing with Steroids, Jason Myles, Damage 

Shedeur Sanders and the Marketization of College Sports, Jason Myles, Damage 

/359/ Apollo Gets High ft. Benjamin Fong

On Franz Jakubowski's Ideology and Superstructure in Historical Materialism.

We focus on a very short section from Jakubowski's 1936 book, and delve into wider questions regarding ideology, social totality, and the middle classes.

Is ideology “false, partial consciousness”?

Is Jakubowski right that capitalism is the least ideological social form so far?

Is it true that the middle classes only come into contact with the commodity when it is in circulation?

How is the middle class' social position reflected in its worldview? How has this changed over 100 years?

For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

Links:

Ideology and Superstructure in Historical Materialism, Chapter: “Ideology and the Classes of Bourgeois Society” (pp. 49-52)

OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations (FULL)

The Middle-Class Leviathan: Corona, the "Fascism" Blackmail, and the Defeat of the Working Class, Elena Lange & Joshua Pickett-Depaolis

The Rise of the Professionals, George Hoare, Compact