As the world seems to stumble from crisis to crisis, be it conflicts or economic woes or ethnic violence, it sometimes seems as if we are living through the 1930s again — but in a rogue AI version. Whilst specific crises can be analysed and rationalised, there is a constant sense of déjà vu, be it in the rise of fascism, the total disrespect for any kind of rules, and the adoration of power for itself.

Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, may have led the field in all three categories, and at the same time it has long pursued the goal of demolishing democracy, everywhere. More worrying is the rise of these inclinations in the US, undoubtedly fuelled by Russian interference but also entirely self imposed.

To understand the severity of the moment, as well as how we got here, there is no-one more qualified than Marci Shore, Chair in European Intellectual History at the University of Toronto. An expert in fascism, as well as a keen observer of reality, she helps put past and present in perspective in a conversation that covers a fascinating range, from Chekov through Sarah Palin and Ratko Mladic.

This episode was recorded on 24 September 2026

Chapters

  • Diplomatic language and the return of political bluntness
  • Trump and the rejection of rules
  • Does history repeat? The 1930s, patterns, and what is new
  • Post-truth politics and how the internet floods the zone
  • American democracy and structural weaknesses with the rise of the new right
  • Europe’s far right and the danger of normalising the abnormal

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