On the achievement of democracy and the 'impartial' state.
We speak to sociologist Dylan Riley about his new book Microverses, a series of aphorisms on social theory and politics.
The rational-legal state seems to be under threat by politicians who have no sense of the division between public and private – patrimonialists like Donald Trump, or Silvio Berlusconi. What are we to make of this attack on the notion of office?
Anti-corruption politics is often the response, but what happens when the left positions itself as the defender of the 'impartial' bourgeois state – rather than its overthrower? And was democratic capitalism the achievement of a militant working class – or a concession made after the working class had already been disciplined by fascism and war?
The second half of the interview, and our After-Party, is available at patreon.com/bungacast
Readings:
/228/ Three Articles: Popular Backlash in Chile, India, Europe
Excerpt: /227/ Reading Club: All That Is Solid
Excerpt: /226/ Science Says: No Woke
/225/ Wokeistan & Lebanonworld ft. Karl Sharro
Excerpt: /224/ Three Articles: Labour Revolts?
/222/ Nukes 4 Kids ft. Emmet Penney, pt. 1
Excerpt: /221/ Reading Club: Truth About Class
Excerpt: /220/ Aufhebonus Bonus
Excerpt: OK Bunger! The Problem of Generations, pt. 5
OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 4
Excerpt: OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 3
/218/ Stability Über Alles ft. Wolfgang Streeck
OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 2
Excerpt: /217/ Reading Club: Intersectional Stalinism
/216/ Goodbye Mutti! Election Preview ft. Dominik Leusder
OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 1
Excerpt: /215/ Organize the Incels?! ft. Alex Gendler
/213/ The Leopard Lockdown ft. Adam Tooze
Excerpt: /212/ Three Articles: Middle-Class Anxieties
/211/ Unlocking the Lockdown Left ft. @galexybrane
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