On the Frontlines of Democracy podcast

Available Episodes

5 of 25

The Political Economy Underlying the US-China Clash with Ho-Fung Hung
Host Sanjay Ruparelia speaks with Ho-Fung Hung, the Henry and Elizabeth Wiesenfeld Professor in Political Economy at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss contemporary understandings of China and how they're shaped and influenced by China's storied past. Their conversation draws on themes from Ho-Fung's upcoming book, The China Question: Eight Centuries of Fantasy and Fear, set for release in February 2026. The two explore how historical perceptions, geopolitical anxieties, and longstanding fantasies about China have shaped global engagement with the country over the centuries. They trace how these dynamics continue to echo in contemporary politics and how foreign notions and policies interact with and influence China. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Ho-Fung Hung, the Henry and Elizabeth Wiesenfeld Professor in Political Economy at Johns Hopkins University. Professor Ho-Fung is also the author of several award-winning books, including City on the Edge: Hong Kong Under Chinese Rule (2022), Clash of Empires: From 'Chimerica' to the 'New Cold War' (2022), and The China Boom: Why China Will Not Rule the World (2015). Additionally, he often contributes analysis and commentary to media outlets such as The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Strait Times and The People's Daily.
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The Making and Unmaking of American Power with Ed Luce
U.S. national editor and columnist at the Financial Times, Edward Luce, joins host Sanjay Ruparelia to discuss the topic of latest book: Zbigniew Brzezinski. They cover his life, legacy, as well as lessons learned from Brzezinski in global affairs and national security. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host Sanjay Ruparelia speaks with Ed Luce, the U.S. national editor and columnist at the Financial Times, about the subject of his recent book, Zbigniew Brzezinski. The two catalogue Brzezinski's life before politics, what motivated him, his tenure as U.S. President Jimmy Carter's security advisor and his disillusionment with contemporary politics later in his career. This conversation eventually circles back to the lessons gleaned from Luce's biography of Brzezinski and how they reflect prevalent ongoing debates. Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Edward Luce, the U.S national editor and columnist at the Financial Times. Luce previously served as the FT bureau chief in Washington and South Asia. He is the author of three highly acclaimed books: The Retreat of Western Liberalism (2017) , Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent (2012), and In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India (2006). Most recently Luce has published: Zbig, The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski: America's great power prophet (2025) a New York Times best seller which chronicles the life and times of Zbigniew Brzezinski. Background Reading: Edward Luce- Zbig, The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski: America's great power prophet
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Globalization and the New Geography of Inequality with Branko Milanović
Economist, professor and author Branko Milanović joins host Sanjay Ruparelia to discuss global economic inequality, the impact of globalization and the role of migration in addressing inequality. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host Sanjay Ruparelia speaks with economist Branko Milanović about the structural forces driving economic inequality around the world. Milanović explains how globalization has narrowed income gaps between countries while widening them within nations. He reflects on the political consequences of these shifts, including the rise of plutocracies and the erosion of middle-class stability. The conversation explores proposals to reduce inequality—such as pre-distribution policies, changes to taxation, and rethinking access to education. It also examines the dilemmas surrounding global migration and the idea of the "citizenship premium." Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Branko Milanović, a leading scholar of global economic inequality. Milanović is a research professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center and a senior fellow at the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality. He previously served as lead economist in the World Bank's research department and has taught at institutions including the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. His books include Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization (2016), Capitalism, Alone (2019), and most recently, Visions of Inequality: From the French Revolution to the End of the Cold War (2023). In 2018, he received the Leontief Prize for his work on measuring global income inequality. Background Reading: Branko Milanović's Visions of Inequality: From the French Revolution to the End of the Cold War
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From Law Student to Chief Justice - The Role of the Judiciary in Democracy with Beverley McLachlin
Host Sanjay Ruparelia speaks with former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin about the role of courts in upholding constitutional democracy. McLachlin reflects on fairness and moral intuition in making judgments. She also discusses the evolution of the "living tree" doctrine and efforts to build consensus and transparency at the Supreme Court. The conversation ends with a look at the balance of power among branches of government and the threats posed by leaders who challenge constitutional norms. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin. Educated at the University of Alberta, where she studied philosophy and law, Beverley McLachlin was sworn in to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989. She was appointed chief justice in 2000—a position she held until 2017—becoming the first woman to do so and the longest-serving chief justice to date. A recipient of more than 35 honorary degrees, McLachlin is a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Commander of the Légion d'honneur, among other awards. Her numerous publications include three bestselling novels—Full Disclosure, Denial and Proof—and a memoir, Truth Be Told, which won the Writers' Trust Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing and the Ottawa Book Award for Non-fiction. Background Reading: Beverley McLachlin's Truth Be Told: The Story of My Life and My Fight for Equality
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Leadership, Diplomacy, and Democracy with Lloyd Axworthy
Host Sanjay Ruparelia and the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy sit to discuss Axworthy's life in politics, which culminated in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Recorded just a day before the 2025 Ontario general election and eleven days ahead of the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, they also discuss how Canada's role on the global stage has evolved over the years and the future of Canadian politics. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Host: Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Guest: Lloyd Axworthy is a Canadian politician, elder statesman and academic. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. In 2000, he retired from politics, returning to western Canada, where he served as President of the University of Winnipeg for ten years. In December 2015 he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. He now chairs the World Refugee & Migration Council and lives with his wife Denise in Ottawa. Background Reading: Lloyd Axworthy's My Life in Politics
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