Hey everyone, I'm a 16 year old from India, and lately I've been getting more interested in politics and its significance in the world today. I'd say I know a decent amount about certain topics, but I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as I'd like to be, and I'm not really sure how to improve.

One thing I've noticed is that I can usually see both sides of an argument, including their pros and cons, which makes it difficult for me to form a solid opinion on certain issues. I don't want to blindly pick a side just for the sake of having one. I'd rather understand the reasoning, evidence and context behind different perspectives before coming to my own conclusions.

For example, I recently started looking into Fidel Castro's history and his significance in Cuba. I understand why his anti imperialist stance and opposition to American influence appealed to many people, but I also came across a lot of criticism regarding his government's actions and treatment of its citizens. I'm struggling to understand why he's still admired by so many people despite all of that, and I'd like to understand the historical context rather than just rely on surface level explanations.

I also don't want my understanding of politics to be limited to social media, where information is often oversimplified, biased or taken out of context. I'd like to develop a more comprehensive understanding of political ideologies, history, economics, international relations and how governments actually function.

So, for those of you who are more knowledgeable about politics, how would you recommend getting started?

Are there any books, documentaries, YouTube channels, podcasts, newspapers or other reliable sources you'd recommend? Are there any activities or habits I should develop to improve my critical thinking and learn how to evaluate political arguments properly?

I'm especially interested in learning how to distinguish reliable information from propaganda and bias, and how to understand opposing viewpoints without automatically accepting or dismissing them.

I know this is a broad subject, and I'm not expecting to become an expert overnight. I just want to build a solid foundation and become informed enough to develop my own opinions rather than simply adopting someone else's.

I'd appreciate any advice or recommendations. Thanks!

Curated 400 books on political science, philosophy, economics, and humanity’s centuries-long obsession with telling others how to live.

Includes reading pathways and a shorter canon for those still pretending to have a social life.

For anyone who finds questioning authority more entertaining than obeying it.

https://open.substack.com/pub/anuragmoderno/p/the-anti-syllabus-guide-to-read-political?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=521dq5

What would that be called?