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
Excerpt: /335/ AI & the End of the End of History
/334/ Cancellation is Cancelled ft. Norman Finkelstein
Excerpt: /333/ Aufhebonus Bonus (April 2023)
UNLOCKED: /306/ AI Capitalism: Inhuman Power
/331/ The Zone (pt. 1) ft. Quinn Slobodian
Excerpt: /330/ Reading Club: Freedom (2)
/329/ Justice Warriors ft. Matt Bors & Ben Clarkson
Excerpt: /328/ The New Scramble for Africa
/327/ Capitalism on Edge ft. Albena Azmanova
UNLOCKED! /319/ The Dead Left (II) ft. Steve Hall & Simon Winlow
Excerpt: /326/ What Did Capitalism Do Next?
Excerpt: /325/ Reading Club: Freedom (1)
/324/ Reifying Race ft. Kenan Malik
Excerpt: /323/ Tasty Frictionless Convenience
/321/ Covid Dissensus ft. Toby Green & Thomas Fazi
Excerpt: /320/ Aufhebonus Bonus (Feb 2023)
/318/ The Dead Left ft. Steve Hall & Simon Winlow
/316/ From Emergency to Emergency: 2022 Review, ft. Ashley Frawley
/314/ Shallow & Wrongheaded Filmic Squabbles ft. Maren Thom & Alex Dale
/312/ Consolation-Prize Marxism & the Bunga-Bunga State ft. Dylan Riley
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free