Pankaj Mishra links modern political anger to Enlightenment and empire in Deja Vu episode

The cultural podcast series *Deja Vu* announced that its forthcoming episode will feature historian and essayist Pankaj Mishra, who will examine the roots of contemporary political anger. The episode, slated for release next week, is positioned as part of the series’ ongoing exploration of historical forces that shape present‑day public discourse.

Mishra will argue that the surge of populist discontent and ideological polarization can be traced back to the intellectual legacy of the Enlightenment and the expansion of European empires. Drawing on his previous work on colonial modernity, he contends that the promises of universal reason and progress, coupled with the structures of imperial domination, created contradictions that continue to fuel resentment toward perceived elites and institutions. The program will situate these historical dynamics within current debates, offering listeners a contextual framework for understanding the persistence of political anger.