Slavoj Žižek ~ "What does it mean to be a Marxist Revolutionary Today?"

[CHE with an AK]

A speech/lecture by Slavoj Žižek at Marxism 2009 on the issue:
"What does it mean to be a Revolutionary Today?"


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(1) Thoughts?
(2) In your view what does it mean to be a [Marxist] revolutionary today?

[Tim Finnegan]

1) I'm relatively sympathetic to Zizek compared to a lot of users here, but this is the sort of thing that really shows his failings as a political commentator. He's good at poking holes in ideological bullshit, but when actually asked what we're supposed to do instead, he can't offer much more than "social democracy, but, like, angrier". No matter how many times he calls himself a "Leninist", he really doesn't bring anything to the table that you couldn't get from a Die Linke party conference.

2) The same thing it always did: to be a class strugglist. (And that, unfortunately, is something which Zizek seems to forget.)

[pluckedflowers]

1) I'm relatively sympathetic to Zizek compared to a lot of users here, but this is the sort of thing that really shows his failings as a political commentator. He's good at poking holes in ideological bullshit, but when actually asked what we're supposed to do instead, he can't offer much more than "social democracy, but, like, angrier". No matter how many times he calls himself a "Leninist", he really doesn't bring anything to the table that you couldn't get from a Die Linke party conference.

2) The same thing it always did: to be a class strugglist. (And that, unfortunately, is something which Zizek seems to forget.)

I've only read one of his books, "In Defense of Lost Causes," and, while not earth shattering, I thought it was at least worth reading. I would agree with you, though, that he has very little to offer in the way of concrete recommendations for fighting capitalism. On the other hand, I think there are a lot of people (at least amongst my friends) who share the kind of liberal psuedo-leftism Zizek loves to attack, so I don't think it hurts to have him out there doing his thing.

[pluckedflowers]

(1) Thoughts?

This is probably my favorite Zizek video on youtube. Like I said to Tim, I recognize that Zizek comes up rather short in terms of concrete class struggle, but I think he says things that need to be said. When I talk politics with my friends most of them can't even affirm the French Revolution, let alone the idea of a communist revolution. So having someone out there reminding us that we need to cut the balls off the ruling classes is a positive thing in my book.


(2) In your view what does it mean to be a [Marxist] revolutionary today?

I can't say I know. But I think there is still a lot of work to be done to prepare people subjectively to accept both the need for a fundamental break with capitalism and the possibility of achieving such a break.