Very Fine People

Drain the Swamp

Episode 7 – Corruption In this episode of Global Takes on Trump, Synne is joined by Matthew Price and Prof. Dan Hough to discuss corruption and the second Trump presidency. Matthew Price is a PhD researcher at Sussex, in the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, and has previously worked for international organisations like the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, which focus on accountability and oversight. Dan Hough is a Professor of Politics, and the former director of Sussex’s Centre for the Study of Corruption. [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-study-of-corruption/] Synne, Matthew and Dan examine the different types of corruption, how they play out locally, nationally and internationally, and take a look at Trump’s place in the long history of scandal and intrigue. To stay immersed in the murky waters of corruption, check out these additional resources:

USAID through the woodchipper - part 2

Welcome back to Part 2 of our doubleheader on Trump and his sweeping cuts to USAID. Last time round, Synne and Paul spoke to Suda Perera about the interest groups underpinning the international aid sector. This time, they’re joined by Cathy Schutt, a development practitioner with over 30 years’ experience delivering aid. Join our experts for a zoomed in look at the real-life impact that Trump’s cuts have had on both the people in the aid sector, and those they’re working to help. Sussex is the best place in the world study in International Development, and if you’re interested in learning to blend cutting-edge research with real-life practice, click here [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/schools/global-studies/about/international-development]. Further Reading Cavalcanti, C. et al. (2025) in The Lancet [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext] on USAID Cuts Torres-Raposo, F. et al. (2025) Survey Data on Attitudes Towards Foreign Aid & Development in France, Germany, Great Britain, and the U.S., [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05135-0] in Nature

USAID through the woodchipper - part 1

Welcome to part 1 of a special double episode of Global Takes on Trump, where we’ll be tackling Trump’s huge impact on the world of development. This episode sees Synne joined by Paul Gilbert and Suda Perera to discuss the international aid, whose interests aid serves, who it benefits, and how we might build a fairer system. Paul Gilbert is a Reader in Development, Justice and Inequality. His research looks at the production of inequality and how marginalised knowledge can help us achieve justice. Dr Suda Perera is a Lecturer in International Development, focusing on conflict and armed groups, especially in the African Great Lakes. Both Paul and Suda’s amazing research helps make Sussex the top-ranked International Development department in the world. To find out more about what makes ID at Sussex special, click here [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/schools/global-studies/about/international-development]. Stay Tuned for Part 2...

Very Fine People

On this episode of GTOT, Synne is joined by Josh Bowsher and Tom Cowin for a look at Trump’s role within the far-right’s surge. Josh Bowsher is Assistant Professor of Sociology in the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, working on the relationship between human rights and digital infrastructures. He teaches cutting-edge modules like Technology and the Human [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/sociology-ba]. Tom Cowin’s work examines elite power and the mainstreaming of the far-right. He is a research associate at the Centre for Global Political Economy. To learn more about the Research Centre, and study with our experts, click here [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-global-political-economy/]. Today’s conversation was particularly wide ranging, and (unsurprisingly) there is so much excellent scholarship on the far-right at the moment. Some of Tom and Josh’s favourites are: Alberto Toscano. (2023). Late Fascism. [https://www.routledge.com/Humanitarianism-in-the-Home-Hosting-at-home-and-the-Politics-of-Hospitality/Daoust-Dyvik/p/book/9781032631646] Tuori, K., & Karjalainen, I. (2024). The European far right and human rights language. The International Journal of Human Rights, 29(1), 1–21. [https://www.routledge.com/Humanitarianism-in-the-Home-Hosting-at-home-and-the-Politics-of-Hospitality/Daoust-Dyvik/p/book/9781032631646] Wendy Hui Kyong Chun. (2021) Discriminating Data. [https://www.routledge.com/Humanitarianism-in-the-Home-Hosting-at-home-and-the-Politics-of-Hospitality/Daoust-Dyvik/p/book/9781032631646] Mondon, A., and Winter, A. (2020) Reactionary Democracy. Dangerous Speech Project, 2024 Election Research [https://www.dangerousspeech.org/2024-election]

Drill, Baby, Drill!

Welcome to Global Takes on Trump, a podcast from the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex, based in Brighton, UK, where we ask what Trump’s second term means for global politics today. Join our regular host, Dr Synne Dyvik and a range of experts from across Sussex as we take on Trump 2.0. In our first episode, Synne is joined by Prof Peter Newell and Dr Will Lock to discuss Trump’s determination to drill, baby, drill. Together, they explore Trump’s disastrous environmental programme, what America’s retreat from green policies means for the wider world, and where we can find hope in our struggle to navigate the climate emergency. Guest Host Peter Newell is Professor of International Relations, the co-founder and research director of the Rapid Transition Alliance and author, most recently, of States of Transition [https://www-cambridge-org.sussex.idm.oclc.org/gb/universitypress/subjects/earth-and-environmental-science/environmental-policy-economics-and-law/states-transition-governing-environment-transforming-society?format=PB&isbn=9781009590112] (CUP, 2025) This episode’s expert is Will Lock, Assistant Professor in International Development and Anthropology. Will’s research explores carbon offsetting, reforestation and food systems, and he is the co-convenor of Sussex’s new BA in Climate Justice, Sustainability and Development.. To learn how to fight the climate crisis with Will, Pete and more of Sussex’s world-leading researchers, click here [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/climate-justice-sustainability-and-development-ba#:~:text=Climate%20justice%20focuses%20on%20the,development%2C%20sustainability%20and%20social%20justice.]. Global Takes On Trump is brought to you by the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex, based in Brighton, on the south coast of the UK. Join host Synne Dyvik and our Global experts as we ask what Trump 2.0 means for international politics today. During today’s discussion, Synne, Pete and Will drew on a wide range of scholarship, reporting and, yes, other podcasts. You can keep this conversation going by reading, watching and listening to some of those resources: Climate Justice BA * Climate Justice, Sustainability and Development BA (Hons) [https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/climate-justice-sustainability-and-development-ba#:~:text=Climate%20justice%20focuses%20on%20the,development%2C%20sustainability%20and%20social%20justice.] Additional Reading * Petro-Masculinity: Fossil Fuels and Authoritarian Desire, by Cara Duggett [https://journals-sagepub-com.sussex.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1177/0305829818775817] * The Great Driving Right Show, by the Zetkin Collective [https://salvage.zone/the-great-driving-right-show/] * No Is Not Enough, by Naomi Klein [https://naomiklein.org/no-is-not-enough/] * Feminist Ecologies by Diana Ojeda, Padini Nirmal, Dianne Rocheleau and Jody Emel [https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-environ-112320-092246] * Dining Across the Divide, in the Guardian Magazine Podcasts * Drilled [https://drilled.media/] * Red Media [https://redmedia.press/red-media-podcasts/]