Episode
Anton Jäger
- Published
- May 12, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3348
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Summary
Now that classes are over and the end of the semester is near, we’re back for several weeks of podcastmaxxing. So stay tuned for some great episodes in the coming weeks, dear listeners! Here to help us understand our current political moment and to diversify David’s reading list is Anton Jäger, a Departmental Lecturer in the History of Political Thought and Political Theory at University College, Oxford. Jäger joins the pod this week to discuss his new book, Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization without Political Consequences , where he offers a European’s perspective on the American political moment. This episode begins with an explanation of what, exactly, hyperpolitics is and how it differs from other, older forms of politics. Jäger suggests that hyperpolitics is characterized by a high degree of political involvement but a corresponding deinstitutionalization of politics. Sam queries whether our current moment might be more continuous with the past, with both characterized by a quiescent politics. And David asks about the degree to which our politics has been causally determined by economic forces. Along the way, we also discuss whether it’s helpful to label the Trump movement as fascist, whether hyperpolitics is the product of liberalism’s failure, and whether the smartphones are really to blame for everything. We hope you enjoy! Referenced Readings The Hollow Parties , by Daniel Schlozman and Sam Rosenfeld Bowling Alone , by Robert Putnam The Dark Side of Democracy , by Michael Mann The Project-State and its Rivals , by Charles Maier A Running List of Nominations for the Canon of American Legal Thought (1975-2025) A Matter of Interpretation , by Antonin Scalia [Grove] “ A Neo-Federalist View of Article III ”, by Akhil Reed Amar [Grove] “ The Anticanon ”, by Jamal…