Formalized Curiosity

Of racism and criminal justice in America and beyond

In 2020, the Black Lives Matter went international, launching anti-racism movements across the globe. Globally, movements like "Colored Lives Matter" in South Africa and "Las Vidas Negras Importan" in Colombia took root for the first time. In the United States, an estimated 15- to 26 million people participated in protests. These protests focused criminal justice reform, using slogans like "Defund the Police" to highlight the way the criminal justice system has failed Black Americans. This episode, Dina and Manoshi tackle the link between slavery and the modern-day systems of mass incarceration, the prison industrial complex, and the Black Lives Matter movement through a discussion of 13th, a 2016 documentary directed by Ava DuVernay. We discuss questions like: [00:05:25] Why is the film called 13th? [00:06:40] How has racial subjugation morphed over time with changes in historical context? [00:15:48] How many people are currently incarcerated in the United States, and how has mass incarceration disproportionately affected Black Americans? [00:34:31] How did Dina, as an Israeli, feel watching a movie about racism in America? [00:37:51] What is the Conservative response to this documentary? [00:47:21] What are the parallels between America's racial tensions and the movements occurring in other countries? [00:53:43] In Israel, is there tension between racial minorities and the police? To what extent does this parallel what we've seen in the United States? Join us as we explore racism in the United States, its impact on the modern-day criminal justice system, and how this relates to global movements. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. And, if you want to continue the discussion, join us at the discussion forums at formalizedcuriosity.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit formalizedcuriosity.substack.com [https://formalizedcuriosity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why We're Polarized

In 2016, the United States experienced a historic election that brought to light the deep, abiding divisions amongst Americans. Since then, political polarization has been the name of the game, and perhaps THE ultimate source of our political dysfunction. How did we get so polarized? This episode, Dina and Manoshi explore the political, social, and psychological underpinnings of America's political polarization with a discussion of Why We're Polarized, a 2020 book by political journalist Ezra Klein. We discuss questions like: [00:03:54] Where did political polarization originate within America's political system? [00:14:39] Is political polarization solely America's problem? (Or: what did Dina learn from this book that seems to fit Israel's political dysfunction?) [00:29:42] What is the effect of group polarization on logical reasoning? [00:40:21] Why are we so polarized now, as opposed to any other time in history? [00:44:42] What is the influence of technology on political polarization? [00:59:47] Are there structural factors inherent in America's political system that makes it uniquely susceptible to the effects of polarization? [01:00:34] What should we do about polarization? Join us as we explore the reasons why we as human beings can't help but be polarized, in the hopes that we can recognize (and mitigate) signs of polarization in ourselves. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. And, if you want to continue the discussion, join us at the discussion forums at formalizedcuriosity.substack.com. And a quick note: this was the first episode we ever recorded! As such, the sound quality leaves something to be desired, unfortunately. Sorry for any annoyance or discomfort this may cause! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit formalizedcuriosity.substack.com [https://formalizedcuriosity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Part A: A Short Primer on Modern Israeli Politics

In March 2021, Israel held a historic election that changed the nature of Jewish-Arab relations in the political sphere.  For the first time in the country’s 73-year history, a political party representing Israel’s Arab minority gained an unprecedented level of power by entering into Israel’s governing coalition.  What does this mean for Israel’s historically marginalized Arab minority? This two-episode combo, Dina and Manoshi take on Jewish-Arab relations in Israeli politics.  Part A is a background primer on Israeli politics with a particular focus on the political parties representing Israel’s Arab minority.  Part B is an interview - our first! - with Professor Amal Jamal of Tel Aviv University, in which he shares his knowledge and perspective on the March 2021 election.  Be sure to tune in for both! Highlights of Part A: [00:04:12] What is the Knesset?  And what does the word “knesset” mean? [00:06:12] How does it feel when your country holds four elections in two years? [00:11:00] Who are the oft-ignored Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin? [00:13:11] How are the Arab political parties ideologically distinct? Join us as we frolic through the Israeli political scene in preparation for our Part B interview with Professor Amal Jamal.  If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.  And, if you want to continue the discussion, join us at the discussion forums at formalizedcuriosity.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit formalizedcuriosity.substack.com [https://formalizedcuriosity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Part B: Minority Politics Following Majority Rules

In March 2021, Israel held a historic election that changed the nature of Jewish-Arab relations in the political sphere.  For the first time in the country’s 73-year history, a political party representing Israel’s Arab minority gained an unprecedented level of power by entering into Israel’s governing coalition.  What does this mean for Israel’s historically marginalized Arab minority? This two-episode combo, Dina and Manoshi take on Jewish-Arab relations in Israeli politics.  Part B is an interview - our first! - with Professor Amal Jamal of Tel Aviv University.  As a professor of political science, an activist for Israel’s Palestinian Arab minority, and a member of Israel’s Druze community, Professor Jamal offers a unique take on the March 2021 election and its implications.  If you’re not familiar with Israeli politics, you may want to check out Part A before you dive in.  Let’s go! In this episode, you’ll find us discussing: [00:03:25] Arab in Israel are often called “Israeli Arabs,” but why might other terms be better? [00:07:47] Why was Israel’s March 2021 election so different from others? [00:17:52] How did Netanyahu (inadvertently) legitimize Arabs in the political scene? [00:29:15] Why was it Ra’am, the Israeli branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, who decided to join with the Zionist parties in the governing coalition? [00:43:21] How did the rise of the Arab middle-class in Israel shape the results of this election? [00:47:27] What was the effect of the Abraham Accords on the representation of Arabs in Israel? [01:03:45] What should Arab politicians take away from the results of this most recent election?  How about the rest of us? Join us as we do a deep dive with Professor Jamal into Israel’s March 2021 election, Jewish-Arab relations in politics, and how minority populations gain representation.  If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.  And, if you want to continue the discussion, join us at the discussion forums at formalizedcuriosity.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit formalizedcuriosity.substack.com [https://formalizedcuriosity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

And the Tin Foil Hat Award goes to...

Flat Earth. Chemtrails. The real story of who killed JFK.  What do these all have in common? You guessed it!  It's conspiracy theory time. This episode, Dina and Manoshi tackle the psychology of conspiracy theories with a discussion of Behind the Curve, a 2018 film directed by Daniel J. Clarke, which tells the story of America's Flat Earth movement and the people it attracts.  We discuss questions like: [00:13:17] How did YouTube contribute to the rebirth of the Flat Earth movement in the United States? [00:25:14] What percentage of people in the United States believe in Flat Earth? [00:31:12] What characteristics do Flat Earthers often have in common? [00:44:34] How do Flat Earthers use the scientific method to support unscientific conclusions? [00:54:08] Should scientists engage with Flat Earthers?  If so, what should they say? Join us as we explore the psychology and social implications of America's Flat Earth movement, in the hopes that we can understand and minimize the spread of conspiracy theories a little better.  If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.  And, if you want to continue the discussion, join us at the discussion forums at formalizedcuriosity.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit formalizedcuriosity.substack.com [https://formalizedcuriosity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]