DeepSummary
The episode discusses Singapore's upcoming change in leadership, with Lawrence Wong set to become the country's fourth prime minister since independence. Wong, interviewed by The Economist's foreign editor, discusses his vision for Singapore, including strengthening its democracy while maintaining economic success and navigating relationships with China and the West.
Climate change's impact on archaeology is also explored, with sites around the world being threatened by rising sea levels and extreme weather, while new discoveries are simultaneously being unearthed. The challenge lies in deciding which sites to preserve with limited resources.
Additionally, the episode examines the story behind Maurice Ravel's famous classical piece 'Bolero' and its repetitive nature, which a new French biopic suggests may have been influenced by the composer's brain disease. The piece's enduring popularity and lucrative royalties are also discussed.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Lawrence Wong, Singapore's incoming prime minister, faces challenges in strengthening democracy, maintaining economic success, and navigating relationships with China and the West.
- Climate change poses a threat to archaeological sites worldwide, with rising sea levels and extreme weather eroding and exposing historical treasures.
- The repetitive nature of Maurice Ravel's famous classical composition 'Bolero' may have been influenced by the composer's brain disease, according to a new French biopic.
- Singapore's political system is becoming more contestable, with the opposition gaining a foothold in parliament, but the ruling party remains dominant.
- Balancing Singapore's position between the US and China is a delicate task for the small island nation, given its economic and cultural ties to both superpowers.
- Archaeologists face difficult decisions about which sites to prioritize for preservation due to limited resources and the increasing threat of climate change.
- The popularity and lucrative royalties of 'Bolero' have led to legal disputes over the expiration of its copyright.
- New technologies like laser scanning are being used to create digital records of threatened archaeological sites for future generations.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “With climate change, the storminess is increasing, the sea level is definitely increasing and so erosion is getting faster and so it's important that we look at these sites before they go.“ by Stephen Dockrell
- “Ravel himself supposedly asked a friend while he was composing it, 'don't you think there is something terribly insistent about the melody?'“ by Matt Steinglass
- “The reality is we are still a very tiny little island in a vast and dangerous world, which is going to get more dangerous in the coming years.“ by Lawrence Wong
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Episode Information
Economist Podcasts
The Economist
5/9/24
Lawrence Wong will only be the city-state’s fourth leader since its independence. Our foreign editor asks him how he hopes to balance diplomatic relationships with America and China, maintain economic success, and strengthen the country’s democracy. The impact of climate change on archaeology (11:31). And, a new biopic takes on one of the most lucrative, distinctive pieces of classical music (17:26).
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