In which we discuss the work of the late Domenico Losurdo, especially his brilliant Liberalism: A Counter-History. Part of an ongoing series on the contradictions of liberalism, we debate whether Losurdo is right to point to liberalism's complicity with slavery, racism and colonialism. Why were arguments for self-rule often accompanied by justifications for slavery? Why were some liberal abolitionist arguments in favour of despotism?
We tie these discussions into contemporary paradoxes of liberalism and ask why liberalism is unable to realise its own values.
Reading:
Liberalism: A Counter-History (book) https://www.versobooks.com/books/960-liberalism
Obituary of Losurdo (Jacobin) https://jacobinmag.com/2018/07/domenico-losurdo-italian-marxism-counter-history
RE-RELEASE: /100/ What Was the End of History? ft. Many Guests
Excerpt: /197/ Reading Club: The Breakaway
Excerpt: /196/ Cosmopolitan Dystopia
/195/ No Shock China ft. Isabella Weber
Excerpt: /194/ Anti-Politics & Non-Movements
/193/ The New 20 Years' Crisis
Excerpt: /192/ Three Articles: Pandemic (Dis)Satisfactions
Excerpt: /191/ Reading Club: Ever Closer Union?
/190/ Top 5 Fetishes ft. Elena Louisa Lange
UNLOCKED /183/ Acid Bunga Bunga ft. Mike Watson
/189/ Pink Tide Paradoxes ft. Fabio Luis
UNLOCKED /179/ The Hobbyist Left ft. David Swift
Excerpt: /188/ The Huge Package State pt. 2 ft. Anton Jäger
/187/ The Huge Package State ft. Anton Jäger
/186/ Aufhebonus Bonus ft. Lee Jones
/185/ Discipline-Flourishing Democracy ft. Lee Jones
Excerpt: /184/ Reading Club: The European Coup
Excerpt: /183/ Acid Bunga Bunga ft. Mike Watson
Excerpt: /182/ Three Articles: Sporno-Vaxxo-Techno-Populism
/181/ Juche in North Britain? ft. Cat Boyd & David Jamieson
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