In this revealing interview, journalist Vincent Bevins discussed his newly released book If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution, based on his research of a wide range of social movements between 2010 and 2020. Beginning with an analysis of the "Yellow Vest" protests in France, the discussion focusses on the challenges, nuances, and lessons of building broad social movements—with particular lessons for the climate movement. Vincent highlights the transformative power of social media but also its limitations in fostering genuine, long-lasting change. He underscores the drawbacks of decentralized movements and ambiguous goals identifying potential pitfalls. Drawing from his on-the-ground experiences in Brazil, Vincent emphasizes the significance of recognizing the worldwide repercussions of local endeavors. He also stresses the need for activists to work with governments and state institutions rather than rejecting them, emphasizing that radical change does not necessarily always mean being anti-government.
Vincent Bevins is an award-winning journalist and correspondent. He covered Southeast Asia for the Washington Post, reporting from across the entire region and also served as the Brazil correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, also covering nearby parts of South America. He has written for are the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, the New York Review of Books, the New Republic, and more. His previous book is the Jakarta Method: Washington’s Anticommunist Crusade And The Mass Murder Program That Shaped Our World.
Episode 131: Interview with French anthropologist Professor Philippe Descola on our relationship with nature
Episode 130: Interview with Professor Stephen Macekura exploring critiques of economic growth across the twentieth-century
Episode 129: Interview with James Cameron, a Friend of COP26, about the prospects for COP26
Episode 128: The Geopolitics of Climate Change: interview with Gerald Butts, Vice Chairman of the political risk consultancy, Eurasia Group
Episode 127: Innovation Forum Founder Toby Webb on building resilient smallholder supply chains and sustainability trends within the food industry
Episode 126: Nigel Topping, the UK's High-Level Climate Action Champion, on COP26
Episode 125: Interview with Jeremy Lent on finding our place in the universe by integrating science and traditional wisdom
Episode 124: Interview with Professor Daniela Gabor on funding the transition to a low carbon economy
Episode 123: interview with economic anthropologist Dr Jason Hickel about his most recent book Less is more: How Degrowth will save the world
Episode 122: Interview with Professor Wendy Brown, author In the Ruins of Neoliberalism: The Rise of AntiDemocratic politics in the West.
Episode 121: Interview with Kevin Starr, the founder of the Mulago Foundation--which funds high-impact organizations working on alleviating poverty
Episode 120: Interview with Joanna Pocock, author of Surrender, exploring the changing landscape and cultures of the American West
Episode 119: Interview with Dr Jeffrey Kiehl, climate scientist and Jungian analyst
Episode 118: Interview with Professor Rupert Read, former XR spokesperson, author of Parents for a Future
Episode 117: Interview with Dale Jamieson, Professor of Environmental Studies and Philosophy, New York University on environmental justice.
Episode 116: Interview with Johan Frijns, the director of BankTrack, whose mission is to stop banks from financing harmful business activities.
Episode 115: Interview with John Clark, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University, director of La Terre Institute for Community and Ecology
Episode 114: Professor Tim Lenton discusses Gaia 2.0
Episode 113: Interview with Jagdeesh Rao, Curator - Promise of Commons initiative, and former CEO FES
Episode 112: Interview with Dr. David Loy, Zen teacher, Author of EcoDharma
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