Paris is like Marmite – you either love it or you hate it. But it’s changing. Physically, through massive expansions in social housing and transport and a €40bn shot of investment, but also politically and psychologically. People are even smiling in the streets these days. Ros Taylor talks to Simon Kuper, Financial Times columnist and author of Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century, about how the French capital is transforming in the lead up to this year’s Olympics.
• “One thing that globalisation does is it removes these weird localities – and in Paris, that locality was rudeness.” – Simon Kuper
• “Paris is trying to become London with the bad bits left out.” - Simon Kuper
Buy Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.
We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.
www.patreon.com/bunkercast
Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson and artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Extra: A taster of American Friction
“I watched Fox News for a week… here’s what I found out.”
Why Donald Trump is truly a cult leader
Having a laugh? Why satire won't die – with impressionist Jan Ravens
How borders shaped world history – with Jonn Elledge
A local election, for local people – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Jacob Jarvis
From SBF to Elizabeth Holmes – Why do frauds thrive in Silicon Valley?
How did the Tories become the chaos party?
Here's how America's next civil war could happen
Red, white and boo – Can Labour reclaim the flag?
Menzies Behaving Badly – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor and Alex Andreou
Inside Biden's plan to stop Trump stealing the election
Putin Vision – How does Russia see the rest of the world?
Public enemies: Britain’s greatest political rivalries
The world at war? – Start Your Week with Alex Andreou and Hannah Fearn
Can Jesus help Donald Trump win in 2024?
Can we really grow the economy forever? – with Daniel Susskind
Hitler – Why are we still obsessed with him?
“I watched GB News so you don’t have to” – Gavin Esler on his TV nightmare
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free