Show notes
On the latest episode of the Stepwell podcast, Patrick French and renowned Harvard historian Maya Jasanoff explore themes of globalisation, imperialism, identity and how these factors shape the modern world. Jasanoff explains why novelist Joseph Conrad's early life gave him a unique perspective on globalisation and imperialism (1:25), what his writing perspective was ( 7:47) and how Jasanoff has contextualised him in her award-winning book 'The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World' (10:24). French and Jasanoff then dive into how the spread of liberalism is connected to the spread of the empire (12:18) and why the unification of India was a contentious process (17:35). Last, Jasanoff discusses the book she is currently writing on ancestry, how it impacts society and her own Indian heritage (22:37).
