Žižek’s Left-Wing Case for Christian Atheism
In his new book, Slavoj Žižek advances a provocative understanding of Christianity as a progressive, secularizing force. It’s classic Žižek — by turns brilliant and infuriating.
85 Search Result(s) for: “Nietzsche”
Francis Fukuyama Is Right: Socialism Is the Only Alternative to Liberalism
In Liberalism and Its Discontents, Francis Fukuyama diagnoses the political and psychological malaise caused by capitalism. His analysis makes one thing clear: liberalism is incapable of addressing the social, economic, and ecological crises it faces.
Peter Thiel, Would-Be Philosopher King, Takes on Democracy
Billionaire Peter Thiel insists that freedom and democracy are incompatible, and his portfolio of data mining and political bets puts that belief into practice. His is a program of authoritarian control disguised as innovation.
Zeev Sternhell, 1935–2020
Zeev Sternhell was a historian of nationalism who demolished the myth of French “immunity” to fascism. His focus on the history of ideas allowed him to trace the genealogy of France’s home-grown far right — yet proved less able to understand the social forces that powered fascist movements across the continent.
The White Tiger Is a Window Into India’s Class Society
Movies about class and inequality are back in the mainstream. Ramin Bahrani’s The White Tiger is a powerful interrogation of the injustices of class and caste society.
The Right Without Wrong
For decades, liberals have hoped for the de-Christianization of the American Right. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
Adventures in Marxism
The best of Marx is full of life, full of joy — and above all, deeply human.
How Julius Evola Became the Internet’s Favorite Fascist
The fascist writer Julius Evola is loved by monologuing YouTubers, Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party, and Steve Bannon. The hallmark of his work is a rejection of modernity, and his popularity is owed to the persistence of antidemocratic ideas on the Right.
Hegel Is Still an Important Thinker for the Left
In the last century, liberals claimed that Hegel had inspired fascism, and socialists accused him of having held back Marxist theory. Today the German idealist has drifted into obscurity. A new book makes the case for his contemporary relevance.
Aliens, Antisemitism, and Academia
Alt-right conspiracy theorists have embraced postmodern philosophy. The Left should return to the Enlightenment to oppose their irrational and hateful politics.
Twilight of the Woke
Hegel claimed that wisdom about a historical period often comes only after it has ended. As wokeness loses sway, we can better see its effects on socialist politics.
Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore on Making a People’s Music
Thurston Moore was a founding member of Sonic Youth and is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He spoke to Jacobin about his life in the industry and the power of music to express ideas.
Is Cormac McCarthy “Based”?
Legendary novelist Cormac McCarthy is often hailed by the Right as one of its own. The truth is more complicated.
Why Socialists Shouldn’t Reject Liberalism
The historical shortcomings of liberalism don’t mean that socialists should throw liberalism out wholesale. On the contrary: socialism needs liberalism.
Retranslating Marx’s Capital
The translators and coeditors of a new edition of Karl Marx’s Capital spoke to the political theorist Wendy Brown about the significance of their undertaking and what this historic text has to offer in the 21st century.
Leo Strauss Was a Theorist of Counterrevolution
Born 125 years ago this year, political philosopher Leo Strauss became a patron saint of US conservatism. Strauss was one of the sharpest enemies of equality — and his work is an education in the antidemocratic spirit of the Right.
“Western Marxism” Is Not a Monolith
In Western Marxism, Domenico Losurdo takes 20th-century European and American Marxists to task for unfairly dismissing anti-colonial socialist movements. But his broad-brush condemnation fails to do justice to the rich and varied intellectual tradition he attacks.
Ludwig von Mises Was a Free-Market Ideologue, Not a Hardheaded Thinker
Ludwig von Mises, the influential right-wing economist, thought of himself as a sober, scientific critic of socialism. In reality, he was a free-market ideologue, using dressed-up dogma to prove why workers should bow before their capitalist masters.
Jordan Peterson’s Take on the Bible Is as Bad as You’d Think
In his latest book, right-wing provocateur Jordan Peterson looks to extract existential and political lessons from the Old Testament. Far from probing deep truths, it’s a shallow, self-serving exercise in culture war.
Gillian Rose’s Philosophy Works Through the Left’s Failures
For Gillian Rose, the work of philosophy was to confront the myths and blind spots that sustain capitalism and dignify injustice. The result was a Marxism hostile to political dogmas of all kinds.