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
/180/ Bunga Bunga (but Gay) ft. Mark Simpson & River Page
Excerpt: /179/ The Hobbyist Left ft. David Swift
/173/ Reading Club: Left Case for Brexit (UNLOCKED)
Excerpt: /178/ Reading Club: Societies of Control
Excerpt: /177/ AufheBonus Bonus ft. Catherine Liu
/176/ The Worst Class ft. Catherine Liu
Excerpt: /175/ Psychoanalysis Against Adaptation ft. Benjamin Fong
/174/ Social Ungluing ft. Benjamin Fong
Excerpt: /172/ Three Articles: Elite Production
Excerpt: /171/ Fukuyama & the End of History ft. Daniel Bessner
Excerpt: /170/ Reading Club: Streeck's Critical Encounters
/169/ Authoritarian Liberalism and Its Discontents ft. Amber A'Lee Frost & Daniel Bessner
/168/ Corona, Climate, Communism ft. Andreas Malm
/167/ The Kingdom of God Is on Main Street ft. Todd McGowan
/161/ Culture is Bad for You ft. Mark Taylor (UNLOCKED)
Excerpt: /166/ Aufhebonus Bonus (December)
/165/ Black Spartacus ft. Sudhir Hazareesingh
Excerpt: /164/ Reading Club: Culture of Narcissism
/163/ Three Articles + Censorship ft. Douglas Lain
/162/ Gaming & Politics ft. Jonas Kyratzes
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