The Economist Asks

In a polarised world, the opportunities to disagree are plentiful – and frequently destructive. In one of our favourite episodes of 2022, host Anne McElvoy asks Adam Grant, an organisational psychologist and the author of “Think Again”, why he thinks the key to arguing well is to be open-minded. They discuss whether social media erode reasoned argument, and the new breed of powerful political communicators. Plus, how does the psychology of resilience help those who are “languishing”?

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The pursuit of happiness continues to puzzle everyone from philosophers to politicians. But how can science help the search? Host Anne McElvoy asks Tal Ben-Shahar, an expert in positive psychology and the author of “Happier: No Matter What”, how evidence-based research can improve well-being. Plus, what’s the best way to make new year’s resolutions stick? 

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Host Anne McElvoy asks the historian and writer Simon Sebag Montefiore why he believes the story of human history has been shaped by the family unit. The author of "The World: A Family History" considers what all dynasties have in common and what the future holds for monarchies in Britain and beyond. Plus, do men and women hold onto power differently?

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After her brother died fighting in Luhansk in 2017, the historian and author Olesya Khromeychuk channelled her grief by writing “The Death of a Soldier Told by His Sister”. Host Anne McElvoy asks her how war and resistance has shaped the identity of Ukraine and Ukrainians and what the country could look like once the conflict ends.

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Days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, announced a radical shift in the country’s foreign and security policy. Host Anne McElvoy asks Christoph Heusgen, a former advisor to Angela Merkel, whether the Zeitenwende (“turning point”) will be delivered or derailed. The veteran diplomat, who now chairs the Munich Security Conference, also assesses Germany’s China policy and how to mend fences with European allies.

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Ben Hodges, a former commanding general of US Army Europe, believes that Ukraine has achieved “an irreversible momentum” since the liberation of Kherson. He predicts the country could declare victory against Russia by the summer. Host Anne McElvoy asks him how Ukraine could pull it off. He assesses whether Western countries will hold their nerve as the conflict drags on and what could happen if Vladimir Putin loses on the battlefield.

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As the end of COP27 nears, US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm talks to Anne McElvoy from the climate summit in Egypt. They discuss the impact the global energy crisis is having on Joe Biden’s green agenda, whether the hype around hydrogen will endure and if the president is willing to put aside a tussle with China for the sake of climate cooperation. Plus, Vijay Vaitheesawaran, The Economist’s global energy and climate innovation editor, measures the ambitions declared at COP27 against what is achievable.

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Binyamin Netanyahu is set to return to power in Israel, after winning a majority in last week’s general election. His coalition is likely to include Religious Zionism, a far-right bloc. Host Anne McElvoy asks Anshel Pfeffer, The Economist’s Israel correspondent and a biographer of Mr Netanyahu, what the partnership could mean for Israel’s democracy. And David Makovsky of the Washington Institute assesses how the change in government could affect Israel’s alliance with America and burgeoning relationships in the Middle East.

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Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, grew up on the verge of homelessness. Now he’s in charge of fixing the city’s housing crisis. Host Anne McElvoy asks him how he plans to do it. They discuss how an influx of 20,000 migrants, many from the southern border, adds to the problem. Mr Adams, a former police captain, defends his record tackling violence and relays his concerns about the Democrats’ pitch ahead of the midterms.

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On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak became Britain’s new prime minister–its third in two months. Host Anne McElvoy speaks to Matthew Holehouse, The Economist’s British political correspondent, about the new leader’s first few days in office and the shape his premiership could take. Mr Sunak inherits a fractured Conservative Party that’s taken a pummelling in the polls. Anne asks Matt Goodwin, a pollster and professor of politics at the University of Kent, if the Tories can restore their image in time for the next general election.

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