Act Globally, Think Locally!

Act Globally, Think Locally!

The looming military conflict between the US and North Korea contains a double danger. Although both sides, the US and North Korea, are for sure bluffing, not counting on an actual nuclear exchange, rhetoric never functions as mere rhetoric but can always run out of control. Furthermore, as many commentators have noticed, the weird thing… Continue reading Act Globally, Think Locally!

How did Trump really end up clashing with North Korea? By pursuing two contradictory foreign policies at the same time

How did Trump really end up clashing with North Korea? By pursuing two contradictory foreign policies at the same time

The looming military conflict between the US and North Korea contains a double danger. Although both countries are for sure bluffing, and not anticipating an actual nuclear exchange, rhetoric never functions as mere rhetoric but can always run out of control. Furthermore, as many commentators have noticed, the weird thing is that Trump decided to… Continue reading How did Trump really end up clashing with North Korea? By pursuing two contradictory foreign policies at the same time

Refugees, Conservatism, and Cultural Incompatibility

[Transcript below video.] We who try to be decent people are bombarded by some kind of moral political pressure from two sides. First there is the worst one, of course, this anti-immigrant populist side; like, ‘why should we even allow refugees in; it’s their fault; third world travel and so on, there are enough poor… Continue reading Refugees, Conservatism, and Cultural Incompatibility

Brexit, the crisis of the Left, and the future of Europe (with Benjamin Ramm)

Brexit, the crisis of the Left, and the future of Europe (with Benjamin Ramm)

Slavoj Žižek is animated about Brexit. “You know, popular opinion is not always right”, he insists. “Sometimes I think one has to violate the will of the majority”. This sentiment may surprise some of his admirers, but our discussion highlights his long-standing ambivalence about democracy. The despair and confusion of the past week has only reinforced his outlook. Reflecting on… Continue reading Brexit, the crisis of the Left, and the future of Europe (with Benjamin Ramm)

Philosopher Slavoj Žižek talks to Gary Younge (Podcast)

'Trump is really a centrist liberal'

In a new book, [amazon asin=0241278848&text=Against the Double Blackmail], in response to Europe’s refugee crisis, philosopher Slavoj Žižek argues that the left must shed its liberal taboos in favour of global, class solidarity. At a Guardian Live event, Gary Younge sat down with Žižek to discuss the immigration crisis, the response of the liberal left,… Continue reading Philosopher Slavoj Žižek talks to Gary Younge (Podcast)

The Non-Existence of Norway

The flow of refugees from Africa and the Middle East into Western Europe has provoked a set of reactions strikingly similar to those we display on learning we have a terminal illness, according to the schema described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her classic study [amazon asin=1476775540&text=On Death and Dying]. First there is denial: ‘It’s not… Continue reading The Non-Existence of Norway

Greece gives Europe a chance to awaken

The unexpectedly strong NO in the Greek referendum is a historical vote, cast in a desperate situation. I was informed that in Athens people are telling a new version of a joke that originally circulated the Soviet Union in its last decade about Rabinovitch, a Jew who wants to emigrate. In the new version a… Continue reading Greece gives Europe a chance to awaken