SocDem Asia Podcast: Recent Episodes
SocDem Asia
This is the official podcast of the Network for Social Democracy in Asia (SocDem Asia).
The Network for Social Democracy in Asia (SocDem Asia) is a regional grouping of political parties, platforms, and movements who share social democratic values and works to combat inequality and ensure human dignity for all. SocDem Asia is composed of 14 social democratic political parties across 10 countries in Asia. Together we aim to promote the values and practices of social democracy and fight for alternatives to elitist politics and neoliberal capitalist economic organization.
We look back on the past year and share our key takeaways and points of reflection. From elections to learning to appreciate comradeship, we talk about what the past year means for us as progressives.
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia, email us at ca.vargas@socdemasia.com
Music: https://www.bensound.com
24 years since the end of the Suharto regime, Indonesia has been able to successfully embrace democratic governance. While social and political challenges remain, the country has largely have had peaceful elections and stable governments. In this episode, with Sondang Tampubolon, an Indonesian legal expert to talk on the successful transformation of Southeast Asia’s largest country from an authoritarian regime into a stable democracy in Asia.
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia, email us at ca.vargas@socdemasia.com
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode we discuss the political terrain in Nepal going into their general elections with Nepali journalist Yubaraj Ghimire. We discuss the political players and actors in the elections as well as the issues and concerns of voters that will play a pivotal role in their choice. We also discuss the prospects of the Nepali Congress in this election.
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia, email us at ca.vargas@socdemasia.com
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Is there a resurgence of progressive politics in Latin America? We talk with Esteban Paulon, Coordinator of the Progressive Alliance of the Americas (APLA) on the recent trend of electoral victories of progressive candidates such as Gabriel Boric in Chile and Gustavo Petro in Colombia, and the first place finish of Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round of the Brazilian presidential elections. We also break down how authoritarian and populist rightwing currents are making headway in the region and what kind of social vision is being offered by Leftwing parties and candidates to counter rightwing politics not just in Latin America but also across the globe.
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia, email us at ca.vargas@socdemasia.com
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Howard Lee to talk about the ramifications of the conviction of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on the country's politics, its effect on the people's trust in government and anti-corruption efforts. We also discuss how this will affect the upcoming Malaysian General Elections.
Howard is a member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly for the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and a former President of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY).
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia, email us at ca.vargas@socdemasia.com
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with our Akbayan Citizen's Action Party President Rafaela David on the current context of the Philippine elections, what's at stake, the issues that voters will consider heading to the polls, and the grass-roots and volunteer-led campaign of the democratic opposition led by Vice President Leni Robredo and the prospects for the democratic left led by Akbayan in the Lower House of Parliament and by Senator Risa Hontiveros in the upper house.
We recorded this episode on the eve of the elections.
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia, email us at ca.vargas@socdemasia.com
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Our guest Prof. Nathan Quimpo, a Filipino activist and academic, discusses with us the challenges that today's social democrats and progressives in Asia face today and the different factors that impede our movement to bring about progressive change in the region. We also talk about the possibilities that the changing political climate can bring about.
Prof. Quimpo is an associate professor of political science and international relations at the University of Tsukuba in Japan. He is author of Contested Democracy and the Left in the Philippines after Marcos.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Wan Hamidi Hamid, a veteran of journalism and political communications and media advisor to and has been conducting basic political education on behalf of the Democratic Action Party. In this episode, we talk about the Malaysian politics and the influence of communal groups in its development. We also talk about the DAP's history as a progressive party and its journey in the past decades as the progressive political party and as an opposition to the long dominant United Malays Nationalist Organization (UMNO) Party. We also touch on more contemporary issues such as the historic victory of the Pakatan Harapan coalition of opposition parties and the current political system currently faces.
*This episode was recorded in 2021.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode we sit down with Robert Francis Garcia author of the books "To Suffer Thy Comrades" and "Of Maps and Leapfrogs", he is also a peace advocate and transitional justice advocate. He has led organizations such as Popular Education for People's Empowerment and Peace Advocates for Truth, Healing and Justice. We reflect on the legacy of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines that overthrew the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. what it means for Philippine society today, its shortcomings and possibilities. We also talk about the Philippine left movement and progressives' role in bringing this revolution about. Lastly, we confront the present dangers to the revolution's legacy, the growing nostalgia for the Marcos dictatorship and the upcoming presidential elections where the dictator's son is a candidate.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We speak with Olle Törnquist, author of In Search of New Social Democracy: Insights from the South - Implications for the North and Professor of Political Science and Development Research at the University of Oslo. We talk to him regarding the fundamentals of social democracy especially its manifestation in the Asian region and the challenges it faced in the region, the diversity of groups that fall under the umbrella of social democracy and the experiments that succeeded in Asia. We also talk about why social democracy as movement continues to face huge challenges today.
You can buy In Search of New Social Democracy at www.bloomsbury.com. Use this code: GLRTW9UK for a discount on your purchase.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this last episode for 2021, we talk with Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for the Asia-Pacific of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on the current state of Asian democracies and some key observations from the Global State of Democracy Report. We also discuss countries in the region that are able to strengthen democratic institutions and promote greater citizen’s participation and try to answer the question: Is there a place for regional or international cooperation in promoting democratization?
Visit International IDEA and learn more about their work: www.idea.int
You can download the Global State of Democracy 2021 Report here: https://www.idea.int/gsod/
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We will hear from lawyer and transitional justice advocate Ruben Carranza discuss the functions, scope of the International Criminal Court or ICC. We will talk about the challenges that victims and survivors face in relation to availing of the processes for seeking justice in the ICC as well as the limitations the court faces in exacting accountability. We will also discuss the various criticisms of the ICC itself and how the quest transitional justice goes beyond the framework of the court.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
After almost two years of a COVID pandemic, Japanese voters headed to the polls to vote for the government post-Shinzo Abe. As expected, the center-right Liberal Democratic Party or LDP once again dominated the polls with Fumio Kishida as the new Prime Minister. Despite the LDP’s electoral victory, opposition parties maintained a sizable number with the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) as the second largest party. Interestingly, the rightwing populist Japan Innovation Party also won additional seats.
We talk with academic of Japanese history Sven Saaler to discuss the historical context of Japan’s political parties to better understand how the LDP has maintained a strong grip over the country’s politics and why opposition parties especially those from the center-left or progressive segments of Japanese politics have largely failed to undermine the LDP’s hegemony. We also try to understand how Japan’s progressives can make a bid to win power in the country.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We are joined by Dr. Sustarum Thammabosadee, Assistant Associate Professor in International Relations, College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University. He is also the Director of the University's Welfare State and Justice Studies. We discuss Thailand's turbulent political history and social democracy's role in shaping democratic institutions in the country from the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in the 30s to the current fight to end the military's control over politics and the reform the monarchy. We also talk about the political and military elite's role in suppressing leftwing ideas and how such opposition from powerful forces affects current moves by social democrats especially those belonging to parties such as the Move Forward Party.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the terror attack on the World Trade Center in New York, Afghanistan sees the Taliban now back in power. We are joined by Richard Heydarian, a geopolitical analyst, academic, columnist and author, to take a look back at the legacy of America's War on Terror and how the policies set by the United States and its allies continues to affect us today.
We also discuss how the world, especially Asia Pacific has been shaped and is to be shaped by the legacy of the War on Terror.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Dr. Minendra Rijal, a former Minister of Communication and member of the Central Working Committee of the Nepali Congress (NC) to talk about the legacy of B.P. Koirala and how he was also inspired by Koirala's principles.
B.P. Koirala who led the NC, served as the country's first democratically elected Prime Minister after leading the movement to end the authoritarian rule of the Rana regime. His name and memory continues to inspire Nepalis to continue his struggle for social democracy in the country.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We have a talk with Teo Nie Ching, Former Deputy Minister of Education, Member of Parliament and the International Secretary of the Democratic Action Party of Malaysia. We discuss the background leading up to the collapse of the government of former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the appointment of his successor, Ismail Sabri Yakob. We talk about the dynamics within the ruling coalition and the Pakatan Harapan as well as the political crisis in the context of an economic crisis and health crisis due to the COVID pandemic.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We have a talk with Sabina Dewan, Executive Director of Just Jobs Network about the Fourth Industrial Revolution or also known as "Industry 4.0" about what that means for societies, economies and workers in Asia. We also talk about the impacts of advancement in technologies on our education system, governments, workers' rights, and also on issues of privacy.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode we talk with Dr. Chamindra Weerawardhana, a human rights activist, political and international affairs analyst, academic, and educator to discuss issues about transfeminism, gender identity, sexuality, and intersectionality especially from the perspective of communities in the Global South. We also talk about existing issues regarding inclusion and acceptance of transgendered persons especially in the context of the broader feminist movement.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia Music: https://www.bensound.com
We publish a Political Management Training for Young Progressives of Asia (PMT) Podcast episode we created in 2020 for our inaugural online PMT. On this episode, we talk with Yudi Latif, renowned Muslim scholar and former head of the National Agency for the Enculturation of Pancasila (Badan Pembinaan Ideologi Pancasila), formerly on the Presidential Working Unit for the Enculturation of Pancasila (UKP-PIP) in 2017. We talk about the background leading into the creation of Pancasila as a philosophy that binds Indonesian society amid its diversity. We also discuss its relation to the development of the modern Indonesian nation and state as well as its ties to social democracy and progressive thought. Guest Host: Sergio Grassi
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia Music: https://www.bensound.com
We publish a Political Management Training for Young Progressives of Asia (PMT) Podcast episode we created in 2020 for our inaugural online PMT. On this episode, we talk with Kasper Sand Kjær, a Member of Parliament for the Social Democratic Party of Denmark and a longtime member of the party and the progressive movement having started with the youth movement. We discuss the importance of having a strong relationship with mass movement and civil society such as the youth, workers, and women's sectors for social democratic parties. We also talk about the importance of Unions especially in the context of the Danish social democratic movement. Host: Cassie Deluria --- To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Lim Yi Wei, state assemblyman for Kampung Tunku in Selangor, Malaysia and an mental health advocate, and Alyannah Lagasca, the National Chairperson of Youth for Mental Health Coalition, Inc, a youth-led, non-government, volunteer organization whose main goal is to fight the stigma on mental health in the Philippines. We discuss issues surrounding Mental Health advocacy and policy, challenges they face from policy-makers and government leaders all in the current context of global pandemic.
Host: Cassie Deluria
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To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
You can visit also visit our guests social media accounts to learn more about their advocacy in mental health and other policy work
Lim Yi Wei (facebook.com/LimYiWei.MY)
Youth for Mental Health Coalition, Inc. (facebook.com/YouthForMentalHealth)
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Filipina feminist Sabrina Gacad. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Department of Women and Development Studies and co-founder of the Lunas Collective. We talk about issues of women's empowerment and liberation and the intersection of the struggle for women's rights with other struggles such as fighting for economic justice and equality. We also discuss how Patriarchy functions to oppress not just women but also men. Host: Cassie Deluria
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia You can visit the Lunas Collective at https://www.facebook.com/LunasCollective Music: https://www.bensound.com
Since the February 1, when the Myanmar military overthrew the newly elected government and representatives of Parliament, massive street protests have erupted in cities across the country. These protests have taken on a civil disobedience character to force the military out of power. Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, the military has used violence to stop the protests with March 3 being the bloodiest with 38 protesters killed by military forces. We speak with Sai Sam Phon Seng, international secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) to discuss the ongoing protests in his country, where it is headed, and how people outside the country can show their support for this democratic and popular movement.
Host: Cassie Deluria
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Indian farmers have now been protesting for over 6 months since August of last year against three farm laws passed by Parliament in September of 2020. Instead of dissipating, the farmers and their organizations have stepped up their campaign while support within and outside the country is mounting. The farm laws have been condemned as granting huge concessions for corporations to determine prices of agricultural goods to the detriment of farmers. Modi and the BJP has defended the laws as creating a free market for farmers to sell their goods. We talk with Dr. Angkita Dutta, Vice President of the Indian Youth Congress - Pradesh to discuss the details of the laws and how this protest movement is building momentum.
Host: Cassie Deluria --- To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Evin Incir, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), for a discussion on the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. She has been serving on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs of the European Parliament. Incir is a Swedish politician and member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. In December 2020, Incir received the Best Newcomer award from The Parliament Magazine. The Action Plan is a human rights sanctions mechanism that targets human rights violators anywhere in the world by banning them entry into European Union member states, freezing their assets, and prohibiting them from accessing funds from Europe. This mechanism has been called Europe's version of the Magnitsky Act a United States law that puts travel bans and sanctions on violators of human rights passed in 2012 in remembrance of the Russian lawyer and tax advisor, Sergei Magnitsky, who died while in detention after he being abused and denied medical treatment.
Host: Cassie Deluria
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com Learn more about Evin Incir's work here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197392/EVIN_INCIR/home You can also follow her on twitter (@EvinIncir) Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Joshua Kurlantzick, a senior fellow for Southeast Asia for the Council on Foreign Relations to discuss the rise of populism across the globe and the conditions that have precipitated its rise in many countries. We also discuss the characteristics of today's populist leaders and the parallelisms their movement and political projects have with previous illiberal and autocratic movements, and the prospects for the future especially with the current pandemic and the urgent task of democrats in defeating populism Host: Cassie Deluria --- To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com You can learn more about Joshua Kurlantzick's work by visiting the Council on Foreign Relations webpage (https://www.cfr.org/expert/joshua-kurlantzick) Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode, we speak with Sanjay Kapoor, owner and editor of Hard News Magazine in India. We discuss the rising popularity of the Hindutva movement and its origins and the implications the BJP's (Bharatiya Janata Party), the country's main hindu nationalist political party, current dominance has for India's secular democracy. We also talk about the current opposition to the BJP and its sister organizations and what needs to be done in order for progressives and social democrats to successfully confront this trend of a rising popular support for BJP's political project.
Host: Cassie Deluria
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To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode, we talk with Kunthida Rungruengkiat from the Progressive Movement of Thailand to understand the ongoing protests in the country and how issues surrounding the military and the monarchy are pushing young people to the streets to demand change.
Host: Cassie Deluria
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To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Antonia Verstappen, a member of the Governing Council and the International Committee of the New Zealand Labour Party with more than 10 years experience in community and civil society governance in the country. We discuss the Labour Party's historic win in the country and what it means for progressives working for change, how progressives can win elections, the reforms the Labour Party will push with its new mandate and the popular support for the brand of governance exemplified by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Host: Cassie Deluria
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia Music: https://www.bensound.com
On our next podcast episode we're joined by Antonia Verstappen from the New Zealand Labour Party to discuss the Party's recent election victory.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
We talk with Martin Manurung, a Member of Parliament in Indonesia about how progressives can win political power. He also shares his experience as a youth activist and as a progressive entering the electoral arena, his experience as a youth activist and the challenges faced by progressives entering government. We also talk about the prospects for the future and youth engagement in politics.
You can learn more about Martin by visiting his website: https://martinmanurung.id/
Host: Carlo Angelo Vargas
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode we talk with Scot Nakagawa, a Senior Partner at Changelab to discuss the upcoming United States Elections this November, the intersection of racial, gender, and class issues that will affect the elections, and what are at stake. We also discuss the prospects of change after the elections and its ramifications to the international community.
Scot is a community organizer, activist, cultural worker, and political writer. He has spent the last four decades exploring questions of racial injustice and racial formation and effective forms of resistance and strategies for change through community campaigns, cultural organizing, popular education, writing, and direct political advocacy.Scot’s primary work has been in the fight against vigilante white supremacist groups, white nationalism, Nativism, and authoritarian evangelical political movements.
You can learn more about Changelab at: https://www.changelabinfo.com
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this special episode for October 2, International Day of Non-Violence and the Birth Anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (better known globally as Mahatma Gandhi), we discuss the legacy of the Father of Indian Nation and his contributions to philosophy of active non-violence which has inspired millions to fight for social change. We also discuss Gandhi's role in the transformation of India's social, economic and political life and his contribution to modern socialist thought.
For this episode, we talk with esteemed academic and activist Professor Anand Kumar, a Senior Fellow of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and a member of the Presidium of the Samajwadi Samagam (a socialist organization in India). Prof. Kumar presents a colorful and complex way of understanding Gandhi and how his thoughts can inspire us in confronting the multiple crises we face today.
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Marc Saxer head of the Asia-Pacific Department of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung to discuss the importance of building a compelling narrative for political parties in their political communications and reform work. We also discuss how to create a change narrative that can be used by progressives to push for societal changes.
This episode is hosted by Cassie Deluria
Excerpt of "Transformative Change Making" from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaaGwS6uxMU
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
On our inaugural episode of the SocDem Asia Podcast we talk with Francis Isaac, Editor-in-chief of the SocDem Asia Quarterly and discuss how the fight for socialism and democracy are intertwined, their history here in the Asian region, social democracy's principles and how they are actualized in the past and present times, and social democracy's relevance today and social democrats' role in the struggle to build a more just and humane future.
This episode is hosted by Cassie Deluria
To know more about SocDem Asia, you can visit our website: https://socdemasia.com
Like and follow us at facebook.com/SocDemAsia
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Check out SocDem Asia's podcast available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Radiopublic, and other podcast platforms.
Music: https://www.bensound.com