Best Dr Alice Evans Podcasts (2024)

1
The Islamic Revival: Professor Aaron Rock-Singer 1:29:12

2d ago1:29:12

1:29:12

Aaron Rock-Singer is a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative. He has published two fantastic books, “Practicing Islam: Egypt’s Islamic Revival” and “In the Shade of the Sunna: Salafi Piety in the Twentieth-Century Middle East”. Aaron is truly brilliant, connecting both the macro and the micro. By examining structural shifts …

1
Modern Threats and Religious Backlash 16:28

6d ago16:28

16:28

The Ten Commandments must now be displayed in all Louisiana’s public school classrooms. The law, signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, requires poster-sized copies with easily readable text.Why is this happening? Is it unprecedented?Actually, it echoes the 1970s global religious revival. Threatened by liberal modernity, conservatives worldwide…

1
"Islam And Citizenship in Indonesia": Robert Hefner 2:33:09

16d ago2:33:09

2:33:09

Professor Robert Hefner has a tremendous new book, “Islam and Citizenship in Indonesia: Democracy and the Quest for an Inclusive Public Ethics”. It’s one of my favourite books of the year, drawing on thirty years of ethnographic research. Today, he joins “Rocking Our Priors”. We discuss:Indonesia’s religious historyWhy have Hinduism and Buddhism ha…

1
"A History of the Muslim World": Michael Cook 1:31:26

29d ago1:31:26

1:31:26

Michael Cook's "A History of the Muslim World" is my favourite book of 2024. Together, we discussed:- Did Islamic science weaken due to religious authoritarianism?- Why, in the Middle East and North Africa, were there so few peasant rebellions?- Theologically, how important was Ghazali? - What determined the rate at which people converted to Islam?…

1
What's Driving the Global Decline in Trust? 30:20

1M ago30:20

30:20

Trust is down, worldwide. In India, Iran, Indonesia and Nigeria, less than 15% say that ‘most people can be trusted’. What’s going on? I suggest several likely mechanisms:1) Generalised distrust is correlated with strong family bonds2) Poorer countries have rapidly urbanised at a lower level of income3) Rule of law varies worldwide4) Political cont…

1
What led to the demise of foot-binding? 7:12

2M ago7:12

7:12

What led to the demise of foot-binding? by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Who are the world's most influential philosophers? 22:47

3M ago22:47

22:47

Who are the world's most influential philosophers? by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
What prevents Hindu-Muslim conflict? Saumitra Jha 38:28

3M ago38:28

38:28

Saumitra Jha (Associate Professor of Political Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business) joins me to discuss what prevents Hindu-Muslim conflict.We discuss his paper on "Trade, Institutions, and Ethnic Tolerance: Evidence from South Asia" https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/trade-institutions…

1
Is Pakistan becoming more Patriarchal? 11:35

3M ago11:35

11:35

Over the 20th century, the entire world became more gender equal. Or so I thought. But Pakistan has rocked my priors. Female employment has slightly risen. Meanwhile, young Pakistani women are more sexist than their grandmothers. What is going on?Charts and graphs are on my Substack: https://www.ggd.world/p/is-pakistan-becoming-more-patriarchal…

1
The Patriarchal Political Order: Soledad Artiz Prillaman 1:33:47

3M ago1:33:47

1:33:47

The Patriarchal Political Order: Soledad Artiz Prillaman by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Slave-Raiding, Solidarity and Status in Africa 32:59

3M ago32:59

32:59

Slave-Raiding, Solidarity and Status in Africa by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Sub-Saharan Africa's Economic Stagnation 8:47

3M ago8:47

8:47

Sub-Saharan Africa's Economic Stagnation by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
What Would Reduce Female Genital Cutting? 6:42

3M ago6:42

6:42

What Would Reduce Female Genital Cutting? by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Why is female employment low in India? How might that change? Suhani Jalota & Lisa Ho 1:12:55

4M ago1:12:55

1:12:55

Why is India's female labour force participation so low? And how might that change?Suhani Jalota and Lisa Ho share insights from their brilliant work in Mumbai and West Bengal. This discussion is superbly insightly and great fun. Stay tuned for jokes & data.Paper on Mumbai: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/z3v4gxqpkvc4p9ntjy0ie/h?dl=0&e=1&preview=Jal…

1
Does Egalitarianism enable more Gender Equality? 21:52

4M ago21:52

21:52

If everyone is equal, it’s much more acceptable for women to get to the top.In societies where no one is special, men seem much more accepting of female leadership. Whereas in hierarchical cultures, where subordinates must bow to their bosses, female managers and politicians are more strongly disliked. They may even trigger backlash.This is a novel…

1
Romantic Love is an Under-Rated Driver of Gender Equality 27:51

4M ago27:51

27:51

Patriarchy is reinforced by fraternal solidarity. The Athenian demos, German guilds, Tswana kgotla, Chinese imperial dynasties, Muslim Brotherhood and Indian caste panchayats all reinforced male dominance. As long as men are united, bound in collective loyalty, women are secondary.How might this change?On International Women’s Day, I’d like to high…

1
What’s the Future of the US Labor Movement? Suresh Naidu 54:14

4M ago54:14

54:14

What’s the Future of the US Labor Movement? Suresh Naidu by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Why Do East Asian Firms Value Drinking? 21:13

4M ago21:13

21:13

East Asian businesses often go out drinking. Why is this such an important part of corporate culture, relative to other world regions?A month ago, I didn’t know. Now, after my interviews with people in China and Korea, the answer is very obvious.By Dr Alice Evans

1
Ideals of Collective Harmony 24:40

4M ago24:40

24:40

In some societies, collective harmony is more highly valued than self-expression. If people are reluctant to speak out, prior culture is more likely to persist unchallenged. Caring deeply about social approval amplifies fears of ostracism and motivates quiet conformity. Moreover, where self-assertion is strongly disliked, feminist activism is more …

1
Ideals of Upward Mobility 17:14

4M ago17:14

17:14

What I am about to say may make you feel uncomfortable. Some may even find it offensive. In some circles, it’s still a distasteful taboo. Westerners rarely speak about it publicly, certainly not directly, even though most people definitely want it.As a social scientist, I am not so squeamish. So I’ll say it……

1
How is East Asian culture different? 13:03

4M ago13:03

13:03

East Asian societies tend to idealise:- Meritocracy and reverence for education- Upward mobility and economic prosperity (trumping the afterlife)- Collective harmony.By Dr Alice Evans

1
Hostile Sexism in South Korea: Professor Jouen Kim 9:09

4M ago9:09

9:09

Hostile Sexism in South Korea: Professor Jouen Kim by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
What Prevents & What Drives Gendered Ideological Polarisation? 25:45

5M ago25:45

25:45

Across much of the world, men and women think alike. However, in countries that are economically developed and culturally liberal, young men and women are polarising. As chronicled by John Burn-Murdoch, young women are increasingly likely to identify as ‘progressives’ and vote for leftists, while young men remain more conservative. What explains th…

1
How do Exogamy and Endogamy shape Economics and Culture? 10:43

5M ago10:43

10:43

Exogamy and endogamy aren’t just about who marries your daughter, but with whom you barter, truck and exchange. Marriage was fundamentally about economics.So how did exogamy and endogamy shape economics and culture?By Dr Alice Evans

1
Why are some rich countries conservative? 23:28

5M ago23:28

23:28

In the West economic development spawned individualism and the spirit of ‘68. Modernisation theorists predicted that growth would deliver liberalism worldwide. Inglehart and Welzel argued that post-industrial societies would champion self-expression. But in fact, this has not transpired. Many prosperous places - like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Sout…

1
How East Asia overtook South Asia on Gender 52:24

5M ago52:24

52:24

In 1900, East and South Asia were extremely patriarchal. Men were revered as high status, while female sacrifice was glorified. By socialising women to marry, obey their in-laws and stay put, Asian families consolidated trusted networks of social cooperation. Since chastity was crucial for family honour, women were also tightly restricted. But, ove…

1
Why do Poor Indian Women Reject Office Jobs? 10:27

6M ago10:27

10:27

Why is Indian female labour force participation ultra low? To investigate, Suhani Jalota and Lisa Ho ran a Randomised Control Trial in Mumbai. They find that most women reject high-paying office jobs. This is not due to housework or childcare. Husbands said no. The paper: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/z3v4gxqpkvc4p9ntjy0ie/h?preview=WfH_JMP+(47).p…

1
"Conquest & Rents": Professor Faisal Ahmed 42:05

9M ago42:05

42:05

Muslim societies are more likely to be authoritarian and marred in civil war. The big question is why?Faisal Ahmed presents a new theory: “Conquest and Rents”.He suggests that where Islam spread via military conquest, political authority was consolidated under a dictator. Political authority was then consolidated under a dictator, with elite slave …

1
Jane Hilliard - Why Jane Has An Allergic Reaction To Indoor Garages 31:22

9M ago31:22

31:22

Welcoming Jane Hilliard to our Flow Seekers podcast! Jane is the Founder/Director and Head Desinger at Designful. Designful is a group of down to earth Building Designers who share a passion for making great design available to more people, to support them in leading a healthy, sustainable and meaningful lifestyle. As Designfuls Founder, clearly Ja…

1
Stopping Sexual Harassment 8:16

9M ago8:16

8:16

Stopping Sexual Harassment by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
“The Two-Parent Privilege” 4:44

9M ago4:44

4:44

“The Two-Parent Privilege” by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Can We End Alcohol Abuse? 8:43

10M ago8:43

8:43

One feasible way to massively reduce violence is to tackle alcohol abuse. It is one of the single largest predictors of gender based violence worldwide, and it is not inevitable. Religious prohibitions, government bans and higher taxes can substantially reduce consumption.Many addicts wish they were not dependent on alcohol. I’m curious to learn wh…

1
The Rise and Fall of the East, Professor Yasheng Huang 1:00:05

10M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

A conversation with MIT Professor Yasheng HuangWhy is the CCP so resilient?How did the keju imperial examinations shape Chinese autocracy and culture?What does South Korea tell us about growth, democratisation and culture?Discussing his new book: https://yalebooks.co.uk/page/detail/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-east/?k=9780300266368…

1
How to Study the Rise of the Far Right? 10:42

10M ago10:42

10:42

Why do a quarter of European young men say they’ll vote for the far right?It’s not just men. In France, The Netherlands and Belgium, the far right is equally popular with women.Existing scholarship has emphasised regional development traps, economic anxiety, and cultural backlash. Quantitative researchers typically regress individual- or place-base…

1
Why are Gender Pay Gaps so Huge in Japan and South Korea? 15:34

10M ago15:34

15:34

All East Asian tigers have converged economically with rich industrialised democracies, but only some have converged culturally, in terms of gender equality. Why is this?By Dr Alice Evans

1
Confidence, Competitiveness and Institutions 13:44

10M ago13:44

13:44

Men comprise 90% of heads of state, 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs, and 90% of applications for patents. Prestigious positions are dominated by men.Why is this? Motherhood, discrimination, social networks and patriarchal institutions all play a role. But there may also be gender differences in personality. Men are typically more confident and competitive.…

1
How does Rural Prosperity affect Marriages in Bangladesh? 5:59

10M ago5:59

5:59

Poverty entrenches cousin marriage and patriarchal controls.What happens when crop yields improve and families become wealthier?Mobabark, Kuhn & Peters's paper is here: https://spinup-000d1a-wp-offload-media.s3.amazonaws.com/faculty/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2019/06/marriage-market2.pdfBy Dr Alice Evans

1
Weird Ways To Die Ep 3 with Comedian Mary Alice McNab 53:31

10M ago53:31

53:31

Another series within a series, welcome to episode three of weird ways to die! In this series my friend Mary Alice McNab and I each write a story about a real life person from history who died in a peculiar or unusual way. Then we tell the other person who hasn't heard the story yet! It's a lot of fun, so we hope you enjoy it! How to support the sh…

1
Extreme Flooding worsens Early Marriage & Early Motherhood 5:13

11M ago5:13

5:13

Monsoon rains can cause enormous damage. Extreme floods are becoming more frequent, alongside global warming. Extreme flooding may increase early marriage and early childbirth, while lowering schooling. This comes from an important new paper in the Journal of Population Economics, by Madhulika Khanna and Nishtha Kochhar.Paper link: https://link.spr…

1
The East Asian Miracle (for women) 5:55

11M ago5:55

5:55

Societies vary in their preference for female seclusion. But regardless of culture, female employment rises with job-creating growth. Singapore provides a perfect natural experiment, we can observe how 3 different ethnic groups responded to industrialisation.By Dr Alice Evans

1
Does Emigration foster Conservatism? 6:53

11M ago6:53

6:53

Panel data provides useful information about attitudinal change in that place. But even if certain countries show persistent traditionalism, we cannot assume this is due to culture. It’s possible - as in Eastern Europe - that many liberals have simply left.By Dr Alice Evans

1
Alice Hansen - Passion, Tourism And Writer's Flow 29:10

11M ago29:10

29:10

Welcoming Alice Hansen to our Flow Seeker's podcast, and what a wonderful conversation this was! Alice's career has had many successful facets, including being a travel writer and publishing 9 books. Her books span from children's to her highly successful 'Tailored Tasmania'. Tailored Tasmania and its sister website has become a trusted Tasmanian v…

1
Postpartum Anxiety with Dr. Stephanie Collier 37:42

11M ago37:42

37:42

Postpartum depression gets a lot of press but there's also postpartum anxiety. Beyond the simple fact that having a baby is an anxiety inducing situation itself. In this episode I interviewed Dr. Stephanie Collier about postpartum anxiety, its causes, its effects, and what people can do when. they or their loved one are going through postpartum anx…

1
How can rich countries promote gender equality in development cooperation? 5:46

11M ago5:46

5:46

The UK government will publish a white paper on international development by the end of 2023. It will set out their approach to international development to 2030. How can they best support gender equality?I have 7 evidence-based suggestions - relating to jobs, climate, lead-poisoning, culture and migration.…

1
Does Fiction Foster Empathy? 6:23

11M ago6:23

6:23

By immersing ourselves in another person’s trials and tribulations, are we better able to recognise diverse perspectives and constraints?Might reading fiction, viewing plays and watching television have helped Americans become culturally looser - more open-minded and tolerant?By Dr Alice Evans

1
Can Social Media Campaigns undo Sexism? 9:02

11M ago9:02

9:02

Egypt is one of the most patriarchal countries in the world. 90% of men say that ‘a woman should tolerate violence to keep the family together’. A new paper in Nature examines whether these attitudes can be changed through social media messaging. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01665-y?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=na…

1
Culture and Jobs in Asia 7:00

11M ago7:00

7:00

A new NBER paper by Barbara Fraumeni sheds light on how culture mediates gender gaps in education and employment. https://www.nber.org/papers/w31535My Substack: https://draliceevans.substack.com/p/culture-and-job-in-asiaBy Dr Alice Evans

1
"Freedoms Delayed": Timur Kuran (review) 16:16

11M ago16:16

16:16

Why does the Middle East rank poorly for rule of law, trust, civil liberties and corruption? Waqfs and apostasy rules are the root causes, argues Timur KuranThis podcast reviews his new book, "Freedoms Delayed".By Dr Alice Evans

1
"Outsourcing Repression": Professor Lynette Ong 52:40

11M ago52:40

52:40

How has the CCP maintained control?- Coercive violence is outsourced to thugs, enabling the state to maintain legitimacy.- Respected social networks engage in ideological propaganda & persuasion (sometimes via shaming).Tremendous new book by Professor Lynette OngBook: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/outsourcing-repression-9780197628768?cc=g…

1
Hugh van Cuylenburg - How Finding Flow Helped Hugh Survive Covid-19 33:23

11M ago33:23

33:23

Welcome to our third season of the Flow Seekers podcast! We're delighted to bring you the first episode of season three which is a conversation with Hugh van Cuylenburg. If you don't know Hugh, here are a couple of achievements to his name: Founder of The Resilience Project Author of two books 'The Resilience Project - Finding Happiness' and 'Let G…

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