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
Ruling Class Hysteria (Berlin Book Launch - Audio)
/268/ Emergency vs Emergency ft. Geoff Shullenberger
/267/ South Africa Mafia State ft. Benjamin Fogel
Excerpt: /266/ Reading Club: Foucault & Biopolitics
Excerpt: /265/ Three Articles: Inflation!
Excerpt: /264/ Aufhebonus Bonus
/262/ The Useless Past ft. Matt Karp
Excerpt: /261/ Three Articles: Macronistan
Excerpt: /260/ Reading Club: Fear II - Furedi
/258/ Conformist Rebellion ft. Elena Lange & Joshua Pickett-Depaolis
/257/ How to Boil a Frog (2) ft. Chris Bickerton
/256/ How to Boil a Frog (1) ft. Charles Devellennes
Excerpt: /255/ Reading Club: Fear I – Robin
/254/ Three Articles: Ukraine
/252/ Technopopulism & Toxic Politics ft. Carlo Invernizzi Accetti
/250/ Oil & Disorder ft. Helen Thompson
/249/ Dances with Truckers ft. Ashley Frawley
Excerpt: /248/ Aufhebonus Bonus
/246/ Why Isn’t There Revolution? ft. Vivek Chibber
Excerpt: /245/ Reading Club: Emergency Politics II - Agamben
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free