University of Cambridge

The episode explores the topic of political legitimacy in a polarized world. The guests discuss the psychological and cognitive components of political beliefs, the impact of polarization on journalism, and the importance of understanding the perspectives of people on the ground. They emphasize the need for flexible thinking, reevaluating our own dogmas, and engaging in meaningful conversations with others. Practical actions include supporting reliable news organizations, encountering different cultures through literature and media, and rethinking our own biases.

Takeaways

Political legitimacy is not just a sociological or political issue, but also has psychological and cognitive components.

Polarization poses challenges to journalism, and it is important to support news organizations that provide reliable information.

Engaging with people on the ground and encountering different perspectives can lead to a better understanding of political legitimacy.

Flexible thinking is crucial in navigating a polarized world and reevaluating our own dogmas.

Practical actions include supporting reliable news organizations, encountering different cultures through literature and media, and rethinking our own biases.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction: The Challenge of Political Legitimacy in a Polarized World

05:04

Understanding the Psychological and Cognitive Components of Political Legitimacy

11:16

The Impact of Polarization on Journalism and the Media Environment

15:59

Engaging with People on the Ground to Understand Political Legitimacy

29:48

Practical Actions to Strengthen Political Legitimacy

In this episode of Crossing Channels, Rory Cellan-Jones talks to experts, Dr Stephanie Diepeveen and Prof Jordanna Matlon about the enduring legacies of colonialism on global economic inequalities, the climate crisis, and the digital space.

Dr Stephanie Diepeveen and Prof Jordanna Matlon share tangible examples and critical insights into a nuanced understanding of how colonial legacies continue to shape global power relations. The two experts debate actionable perspectives on how policymakers can address these challenges and the ongoing effects of colonialism.

This episode is hosted by Rory Cellan-Jones (former technology correspondent for the BBC), and features guest experts Dr Stephanie Diepeveen (Bennett Institute for Public Policy) and Prof Jordanna Matlon (IAST).

With thanks to:

Audio production by Steve Hankey

Associate production by Stella Erker

Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Kevin Sortino

More information about our host and guests:

Rory Cellan-Jones was a technology correspondent for the BBC. His 40 years in journalism have seen him take a particular interest in the impact of the internet and digital technology on society and business. He has also written multiple books, including “Always On” (2021) and his latest “Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC” which was published in 2023. @ruskin147

Stephanie Diepeveen is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and a Senior Research Fellow (Digital) in the Politics and Governance Team at ODI (formerly the Overseas Development Institute). With an interdisciplinary background in politics, digital media and monitoring and evaluation, her research is focused on how digital technologies and the use of data transform democratic politics, inclusion and inequalities. Stephanie’s work brings a global perspective, having explored the nature and effects of digitalisation across diverse political and linguistic contexts, including around pressing issues of mis/disinformation, algorithmic bias and harmful content. Her book Searching for a New Kenya: Politics and Social Media on the Streets of Mombasa (CUP, 2021) looks in-depth into the politics and possibilities of discussion in the streets and online. @sdiep

Jordanna Matlon is an urban sociologist interested in questions of race and belonging in Africa and the African diaspor. She looks at the ways “Blackness” operates as a signifier, intersects with gender norms, manifests in popular culture, and illuminates our understanding of political economy. Her multiple award-winning book, A Man among Other Men: The Crisis of Black Masculinity in Racial Capitalism (Cornell University Press) investigates the relationship between masculinity, coloniality, and work in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Her new book, Blackness as Being: Black Survival in the Age of Climate Catastrophe (under contract, Polity Press), bridges literatures on surplus populations, climate change, and racial capitalism to theorize the possibilities and precariousness of species survival in the anthropocene. It offers Blackness as an analytic to think with the paradox of precarious possibility – of past and present modalities of survival and of futures alternatively devastating or laboratory.

The conversation delves into the urgency of addressing concerns about artificial intelligence, the impact of AI on society, and the need for ethical considerations. We explore the challenges of bias, misinformation, and the environmental impact of AI. The guests discuss the role of academia, big tech, and the public in shaping the future of AI. They also highlight the importance of transparency, regulation, and public awareness in navigating the complexities of AI.

Keywords

artificial intelligence, AI ethics, bias, misinformation, environmental impact, academia, big tech, public awareness, transparency, regulation

Takeaways

· The urgency of addressing concerns about artificial intelligence and the need for ethical considerations

· Challenges of bias, misinformation, and the environmental impact of AI

· The role of academia, big tech, and the public in shaping the future of AI

· Importance of transparency, regulation, and public awareness in navigating the complexities of AI

Chapters

00:00 The Urgency of AI Ethics

10:13 Challenges and Considerations in AI Development

30:30 Transparency, Regulation, and Public Awareness in AI

This is the third interview with Mrs Charity (Cherry) Hopkins, Life Fellow of Girton College, University of Cambridge. Mrs Hopkins was interviewed for the third time on 14 February 2024 in the Squire Law Library.

For more information, see the Squire Law Library website at:

http://www.squire.law.cam.ac.uk/eminent-scholars-archive

This is the second interview with Mrs Charity (Cherry) Hopkins, Life Fellow of Girton College, University of Cambridge. Mrs Hopkins was interviewed for the second time on 16 October 2023 in the Squire Law Library.

For more information, see the Squire Law Library website at:

http://www.squire.law.cam.ac.uk/eminent-scholars-archive

Why is the world protesting so much? How has protesting changed over the years? And what impact are mass protest movements having on policymaking? To explore these questions, Rory Cellan-Jones talks to Dr Felix Dwinger (IAST), Dr Giacomo Lemoli (IAST) and Dr Lauren Wilcox (University of Cambridge).

Dr Lauren Wilcox, Dr Felix Dwinger, and Dr Giacomo Lemoli talk to Rory Cellan-Jones about why the world is protesting so much, how protesting has changed over time, and what impact protest movements are having on policymaking.

This podcast episode is hosted by Rory Cellan-Jones (former technology correspondent for the BBC), and features guest experts Lauren Wilcox (University of Cambridge), Felix Dwinger (IAST) and Giacomo Lemoli (IAST).

Season 3 Episode 8 transcript: https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.u...

Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform: https://pod.fo/e/2390ec

For more information about the podcast and the work of the institutes, visit our websites at https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/.

Tweet us with your thoughts at @BennettInst and @IASToulouse

With thanks to:

Audio production by Steve Hankey

Associate production by Stella Erker

Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Kevin Sortino

More information about our host and guests:

Rory Cellan-Jones was a technology correspondent for the BBC. His 40 years in journalism have seen him take a particular interest in the impact of the internet and digital technology on society and business. He has also written multiple books, including “Always On” (2021) and his latest “Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC” which was published in 2023. @ruskin147

Dr Felix Dwinger is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study in Toulouse. His research focuses on autocratic politics and democratic backsliding using game theory and causal inference from observational data. He holds a PhD from the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. While pursuing his PhD, he was a Visiting Assistant Researcher at Yale and a Guest Doctoral Researcher at the University of Konstanz, Germany. @DwingerFelix

Dr Giacomo Lemoli is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse. He holds a PhD in Politics from New York University and a MSc in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University. His research studies the construction and change of group identities, and their implications for political competition, mobilization, and development in contemporary societies. He is particularly interested in how political elites and mass media shape the salience of ethnic and linguistic boundaries, and in how collective memories affect behavior. He uses econometric tools for causal inference on contemporary and archival data, as well as original surveys. His research has been funded by UNU-WIDER and the Institute for Humane Studies. @giacomolem

Verity Harding, Gina Neff and Lawrence Rothenberg talk to Rory Cellan-Jones about whether nations competing for AI supremacy can really collaborate to slow down dangerous developments and what are the tradeoffs.

In this episode, Rory Cellan-Jones (former technology correspondent for the BBC) chats with Verity Harding (Bennett Institute for Public Policy), Gina Neff (Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy), and Lawrence Rothenberg (IAST and University of Rochester), about artificial intelligence (AI) and the fine balance between innovation and regulation. Together, they explore what makes ‘good’ regulation and the crucial role of global collaboration in shaping the future of AI.

They share the latest developments of AI regulation in the UK, US and EU, emphasising the need for effective regulation to address the risks of AI. They also discuss what regulators can learn from past tech revolutions, like in vitro fertilisation, and highlight the critical importance of collaboration to ensure AI improves people’s living and working conditions.

Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform

Season 3 Episode 7 transcript

For more information about the podcast and the work of the institutes, visit our websites at https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/

Tweet us with your thoughts at @BennettInst and @IASToulouse

With thanks to:

Audio production by Steve Hankey

Associate production by Stella Erker

Visuals by Tiffany Naylor and Kevin Sortino

More information about our host and guests:

Rory Cellan-Jones was a technology correspondent for the BBC. His 40 years in journalism have seen him take a particular interest in the impact of the internet and digital technology on society and business. He has also written multiple books, including “Always On” (2021) and his latest Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC which was published in 2023.

Verity Harding is a globally recognised expert in AI, technology and public policy. She is currently Director of the AI and Geopolitics Project (AIxGEO) at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy. She is also Founder of Formation Advisory Ltd, a tech consultancy firm. Her debut book is AI Needs You: How we can change AI’s future and save our own (Princeton University Press 2024).

Professor Gina Neff is the executive director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the effects of the rapid expansion of our digital information environment on workers, workplaces, and our everyday lives. Her books include Venture Labor (MIT Press 2012), Self-Tracking (MIT Press 2016) and Human-Centered Data Science (MIT Press 2022).

Lawrence Rothenberg is a member of the Scientific Council of the IAST and has been a member of the faculty at the University of Rochester for roughly three decades (1989-2002, 2005-present). He began his career in the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Tech, and from 2002-2005 was the Max McGraw Distinguished Professor of Environmental Management in the Department of Management and Strategy and the Co-Director of the Ford Center for Global Citizenship at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.

The episode explores the topic of extreme weather and its impact on communities and asks: What does extreme weather mean for us?

The speakers highlight the importance of connecting research to real-world impacts and the need for collective action. They discuss the devastating losses of climate disasters, the challenges of adaptation and the power of nature. They also emphasise the importance of empowering marginalised communities and amplifying their voices in climate action.

In addition, the episode explores innovations in policy, including capacity building, local action and storytelling - getting local communities affected by climate change to tell their stories.

We conclude by encouraging listeners to ask questions, take climate action, and connect to local initiatives.

Takeaways

Extreme weather events have devastating consequences, including the loss of traditions, cultures, and intangible heritage.

Collective action and collective intelligence are crucial in addressing climate change and its impacts.

Youth empowerment and inner well-being are essential for building resilience and creating a sustainable future.

Data, responsible AI, and storytelling play a significant role in tackling misinformation and driving climate action.

Innovations in climate policy include capacity building, community empowerment, and inclusive decision-making.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Climate Reality

01:19

Experiences in Extreme Environments

04:01

Impact of Extreme Weather Events

05:56

Bringing People and Voices into Climate Action

06:26

Unseen Consequences of Extreme Weather

09:49

Loss of Traditions and Indigenous Knowledge

10:12

Finding Balance and Adapting to Extreme Weather

12:36

Challenges in Super Tanker Countries

13:31

Proving the Urgency of Collective Action

14:59

Leveraging Data and Responsible AI

16:27

Innovation in Climate Policy

20:33

Recognizing the Importance of Nature

22:46

Inner Development Goals and Wisdom

25:11

Tackling Misinformation and Polarization

27:31

Innovation in Policy and Climate Action

32:46

Taking Action and Asking Questions

Rory Cellan-Jones talks to Emmanuelle Auriol, Nina Jörden and Francesca Barigozzi about the underrepresentation of women in certain sectors, the persistence of the motherhood wage gap, and the impact of flexible work arrangement on women’s careers.

This episode asks why are women disadvantaged in the workplace? Experts explore why women are underrepresented in certain professions. Why is the motherhood wage gap so persistent? How does flexible work impact women's careers? And what does policy need to do to reduce gender inequalities in the workplace?

Podcast host, Rory Cellan-Jones (former technology correspondent for the BBC), discusses these issues with leading academics Emmanuelle Auriol (IAST), Nina Jörden (Bennett Institute for Public Policy) and Francesca Barigozzi (University of Bologna).

Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform

Season 3 Episode 6 transcript

For more information about the podcast and the work of the institutes, visit our websites at https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/.

Tweet us with your thoughts at @BennettInst and @IASToulouse.

Audio production by Steve Hankey

Associate production by Stella Erker

Visuals by Tiffany Naylor

More about our host and guests:

Rory Cellan-Jones was a technology correspondent for the BBC. His 40 years in journalism have seen him take a particular interest in the impact of the internet and digital technology on society and business. He has also written multiple books, including “Always On” (2021) and his latest “Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC” which was published in 2023. @ruskin147

Emmanuelle Auriol is a full professor at Toulouse School of Economics. Her work, which combines theoretical and empirical approaches, focuses on industrial organization and development economics. She studies market failures, whether they are caused by the rent-seeking behavior of agents with market power, or by cognitive biases such as intrinsic motivations, religious beliefs, or discriminatory social norms, especially against women.

Francesca Barigozzi is a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics of the University of Bologna. She is an applied microtheorist, and her fields of research include family economics, public economics, information economics, health economics, and behavioral economics. She holds a PhD in Economics from Toulouse School of Economics. She has been a visiting professor at Ecole Centrale Marseille, Boston University, and Toulouse School of Economics. Her current research activity focuses mainly on family economics, gender issues, and personnel economics.

Nina Jörden is a research associate at the Bennett Institute. Her work focuses on questions around the future of work: What do employees need to be resilient and productive? What will “good work” look like in the future? How can work be meaningful and meet societal needs? Nina addresses these questions in both the private and public sectors. Nina holds a PhD in Organisational Studies from Loughborough University, an MSc in Human Resource Management from Loughborough University and a BA in Psychology and Management from the International School of Management, Germany. @jorden_nina

This podcast, hosted by Gaia Dratwinska, looks at Nicholas Ong’s research into the life and music of Russian composer, Valentia Serova (1846-1925), the creator of the first opera by a woman to be performed at the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow.

Produced by Claire Watt.