The Year Unwrapped: Safety, Kenya and Marx reborn
Would we rather be safe than free? Is Kenya finally realising its potential? And is Generation Z really dabbling with Marxism?
Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code: pod25
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Marxism today
Members of Generation Z - people younger than millennials - seem to be more open to Marx than their predecessors. Penguin has seen a 30% increase in physical sales of The Communist Manifesto - as well as a 1,366% increase in audiobook streams. This, alongside the big TikTok trends and Marxist meme accounts suggest that the pandemic may have encouraged young people - especially those less aware of the violent consequences of Marxism - are rethinking ideas of work and collective action.
Kenya on the rise
As Covid-19 began spreading around the world, apocalyptic predictions about how the pandemic could devastate Africa were not hard to find. But it was Europe and the US who bore the brunt of the pandemic. Kenya has seen more than 94,000 cases, but just 1,600 deaths. The third largest economy in Africa looks set to make an impressive economic recovery in 2021, but has been criticised by human rights groups for its harsh restrictions. So can it be considered a surprise Covid success story?
Safety vs. freedom
In 2020, “safety” seems to have emerged as a priority at the expense of freedom, on multiple fronts. In seeking protection from Covid, we have readily given up the right to protest, dance and even just see friends and family. But there has also been a trend towards safety from ideas and opinions on issues as diverse as trans rights and radical anti-racism.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
'Making Russia pay for its aggression with its own assets has undeniable moral and practical appeal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
'Christie performed a needed service for American democracy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published