How Humanists Push Back Against Populism And The Politics Of Division

Sign up for the Humanists International NewsletterThis week Gary and Leon zoom out from day-to-day advocacy to reflect on the wider global climate shaping freedom of thought. From rising populism and religious nationalism to legal battles and cultural shifts, the episode explores how political, legal, and social trends are reinforcing division, and what that means for humanists globally.They revisit key Humanists International declarations, discuss pressures on courts and human rights systems, and examine how anti-rights actors coordinate across countries. We then turn to culture, including the “quiet revival” controversy, the rise of the manosphere, and what these trends reveal about meaning, identity, and the challenges facing young people today.In this episode we cover:Growing Humanists International’s advocacy team The enduring relevance of the Auckland Declaration against the politics of division How anti-rights actors coordinate across law, lobbying, and international advocacy The “quiet revival” controversy and why bad religion data matters The manosphere, nihilism, and the search for meaning among young menReferencesAuckland Declaration against the Politics of Division - Humanists InternationalLondon Declaration on Secularism - Humanists InternationalStatement on upholding the independence of the ECtHR - NorwegianNGO Forum for Human RightsBible Society retracts false Quiet Revival claims - Humanists UKDobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization - WikipediaLouis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere - NetflixAdolescence - IMDBAlmost a third of Gen Z men agree a wife should obey her husband - Kings College LondonFollow Humanist InternationalSign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live.Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live🎶Music: Horizon by Simon FolwarPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.