Synthesising what we learned about neoliberalism (ep74), discussing some concrete examples and drawing out the broader importance of it all.
-What gets called 'neoliberal' but actually isn't? And vice-versa?
-Was the postwar social-democratic state more racialised than the neoliberal one?
-Should we bring back 'rationalisation'?
-Are Orban, Trump and Bolsonaro 'neoliberals'?
-Is the EU peak neoliberal? Is Brexit necessarily anti-neoliberal?
2019-06-13 05:00:01 +0000 UTC
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On the unexpected origins of neoliberalism. We talk to Quinn Slobodian, author of Globalists, about how neoliberals look back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the League of Nations. Why does neoliberalism talk about freedom, but promote order? Is neoliberalism about more or less state - or is it about what kind of state?
Plus why the genuine neoliberals didn’t care about the Cold War and how Murray Rothbard laid the ground for Trump.
Readings:
...
2019-06-06 06:00:02 +0000 UTC
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On the European Parliamentary elections. Is this the day the 20th century truly died? Traditional social democratic and conservative parties took a pounding. The Greens surged. The populists didn't surge - but are now entrenched. And the radical and populist Left has not capitalised. What's the meaning behind what are often purely symbolic euro elections?
Readings:
[pieces by Anton & Catarina coming shortly]
2019-05-27 21:59:13 +0000 UTC
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On 'Fully Automated Luxury Communism'. We talk about being pro-technology without being determinist. Does full automation mean the end of work? How do we craft a practical utopian vision? Plus some stuff about wolves and also Brexit.
Reading:
Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Verso Books
2019-05-23 06:01:00 +0000 UTC
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2019-05-16 05:52:41 +0000 UTC
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Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed up till now. This has allowed us to plan our expansion. We are now launching new subscriber tiers and will be putting out more content. Everyone who signs up will gain access to bonus episodes + more.
Two episodes a month will remain free to all.
$1 and $3 tiers will be abolished next month but will have access to bonus episodes over June. Thanks for your support. #ForzaBunga
2019-05-15 19:54:42 +0000 UTC
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On Peterson vs Zizek. Did the 'debate of the century' live up to its billing? More importantly, what explains Peterson's appeal - and Zizek's? Why did the debate have such an odd, out of time feel?
References:
The Fool and the Madman, Jacobin critique of the debate
2019-04-27 12:08:54 +0000 UTC
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On the links between economic liberalism and fascism. Ishay Landa talks to us about the "Apprentice's Sorcerer": how political liberalism enfranchises the masses, to the disgruntlement of economic liberals, who then have to turn to an authoritarian or fascist 'daddy' to save capitalism. What does the liberal divorce between economic and political liberalism tell us about the conflict between democracy and private property? How does the fascist "principle achievement" relate to today's fondnes...
2019-01-10 20:11:25 +0000 UTC
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On the cult of the entrepreneur. Alex Gourevitch talks to us about the "special kinds of assholes we get in our economy" and the dangers of the heroic capitalist icon. How does the earlier ideal of meritocracy differ from entrepreneurship as an ethos? Does celebrating the special creative genius of the disruptor actually mean glorifying tyranny?
Plus: the right to strike, domination in the workplace, and campy Trump.
Readings:
