Why We Fight
Why We Fight
Podcast Description
A 'Dictators v Democrats' program. Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues. From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault. But, there are those who resist. In 'Why We Fight' we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that's everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians. We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on the defense of democracy against authoritarian regimes, highlighting personal accounts of resistance with episodes featuring topics like activism in Ukraine, the role of religious leaders in democratic movements, and the impact of populism on political systems, exemplified by the episode with Sheikh Said Ismagilov discussing his experiences in battle and faith.
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Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues.
From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault.
But, there are those who resist.
In ‘Why We Fight’ we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that’s everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians.
We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.
How is China shaping Africa's media landscape? Are Western democracies making strategic mistakes across the continent? And what happens if Africa becomes the next major battleground in the global struggle between democratic and authoritarian models of governance?
In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We speak with scholar, journalist, policy analyst and author Emeka Umejei about misinformation, media influence, China-Africa relations and the future of democracy in Africa.
Drawing on decades of experience across journalism and academia, Umejei explains how China uses media partnerships, journalist training programmes and influence networks to advance its interests in Africa, while arguing that Western governments often misunderstand both African priorities and their own shortcomings.
The conversation explores the growing threat of AI-driven misinformation, the competition between China and the West for influence on the continent, the future of internet freedom, and why Africa's leaders must ultimately take responsibility for building democratic resilience and economic independence.
Topics discussed:
- China's media strategy in Africa
- Misinformation and AI-generated propaganda
- The future of democracy across the continent
- Digital sovereignty and internet fragmentation
- Journalism, accountability and democratic culture
- Why Western policymakers misunderstand Africa
- China's economic influence and African manufacturing
- Freedom, human dignity and political pluralism
Guest:
Emeka Umejei is an academic, journalist, policy analyst and entrepreneur whose work focuses on journalism studies, misinformation, digital rights, data governance, China-Africa relations and the future of the internet in Africa. He is the author of Chinese Media in Africa: Perception, Performance, and Paradox and China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization.
Follow Emeka Umejei
- Website: Blenders & Dealers
- Latest book: China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization
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- YouTube: @DictatorsvDemocrats
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- Substack: tamullis.substack.com
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