BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  What’s Politics #13 - Maintaining Hope in Dark Times

What’s Politics #13 - Maintaining Hope in Dark Times

Peter Beattie, Political Economist & Political Psychologist, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

04-Apr-24 14:00

What’s Politics #13 - Maintaining Hope in Dark Times

Growing up, we read about the Holocaust and the Nazis and we think “How did people of that generation ever let this happen?” “How did the world stand and watch?” 

Well, we’re living through a massive genocide right now. Since last October, Israel has killed more than 30 000 people, half of whom are children. This is on top of the illegal occupation, settler colonialism, dispossession, ethnic cleansing the Palestinians have faced at the hands of the State of Israel for the past 70 years. 

We’re watching massacres happen live. 

Yet, the most influential media companies in the world, from the West, still take the Pro-Israel stance. There are millions of people protesting all over the world, including in the US and the UK. Hundreds of thousands of people march against their governments in DC and London, yet the political class of the Western Empire do not budge from their Pro-Israel stance. 

Many people around the world are feeling hopeless. There’s a sense of doomerism, understandably so. It feels like no matter what we do, we can’t defeat the bad guys. 

So, how do we make sense of all of this?


Image credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  politicsinternationalgovernment

Tags:  hope in dark timesnews on social mediathe bigger picturebeyond the ballot boxwhat's politicscurrent affairs





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Laurent Lequeu, Independent Market Analyst & Writer, The Macro Butler Newsletter tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Hj. Ihsan Zainal Mokhtar, Registered Town Planner talks about AI adoption in Malaysian cities.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Sri Murniati Yusuf, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Research Director, IDEAS Malaysia on the AG 2025 report and its findings

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia discusses Malaysia's ambitions in space, AI as well as politics within PKR.

8:30 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia discusses Malaysia's ambitions in space, AI as well as politics within PKR.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies on the deepening turmoil in the Middle East

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Laurent Lequeu, Independent Market Analyst & Writer, The Macro Butler Newsletter tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

Aidan YAO, Senior Investment Strategist, Asia, Amundi, discusses the resilience of Asian equities in the face of tariff uncertainties

9:35 AM

The Property Show

Entomologist Lim Say Piau and Regine Lim of the Malaysian Pest Management Association shares practical insights into how to address bed bugs.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

From mentalist to wellness entrepreneur, Warrior Plunge founder David Lai shares how he built a multi-million ringgit D2C business selling experiences featuring ice baths and saunas.

11:00 AM

The Workplace

EY’s Adeel Qaiser on why generative AI is reshaping the workplace faster than we can adapt, the tension between empowerment and replacement, and how leaders can make the tech a trusted ally—not a threat.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Dr Paul Anthony on how Malaysia’s deindustrialisation is fuelling household debt, weakening income stability, and why urgent reform is needed to avoid a looming economic crisis.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia discusses Malaysia's ambitions in space, AI as well as politics within PKR.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

The Malaysian Food Sovereignty Forum warns against proposed changes to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act and the Plant Seed Quality Bill, citing a lack of engagement with farmers and civil society. FKMM Coordinator Nuritri Amir Bin Muhammad joins us to explain.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Most rare disorders have no treatment at all, and even in cases where there is one, access to it is often limited in LMICs. Two mothers share why and how they fight for better equity for all children.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Good Things

This World Brain Day, we explore the mysteries of the brain, and celebrate what makes every person’s brain unique.

7:00 PM

Made in Malaysia

We speak to an orchidologist about the unique species of orchids found across Malaysia and how we can protect them from poachers.

8:00 PM

Cruise Control

If you're in the market for a used, old school sports sedan, should you consider the Mitsubishi Lancer GT, or the Proton Inspira? Daniel Fernandez from dsf.my shares his thoughts!