Slavoj Žižek

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A grumpy looking Žižek.

Slavoj Žižek (SLAH-voy ZHEE-zhek) is a contemporary leftist theorist. He is notable for his critique of ideology going beyond the work of Louis Althusser, and his efforts to rethink dialectical materialism on a more traditional Hegelian basis, integrating the insights of psychoanalytic theorist Jacques Lacan. Žižek and his work have been criticized by Domenico Losurdo,[1] Noam Chomsky,[2] and others; however, he retains widespread recognition among academics and leftists alike, including for his livestreamed debate against reactionary academic Jordan Peterson, in which he defended his Marxist and Hegelian critiques of capitalist society, and he continues to have a large online following.

Biography

I'm definitely not lamenting the fall of the [Iron Curtain]; if I may boast a little bit, I even participated in it.[3]

Žižek studied philosophy at the University of Ljubljana, developing an interest in Sigmund Freud, Louis Althusser, and French structuralism.

Ideas

Critique of ideology

Rethinking of dialectical materialism

Political views

Communism

Žižek is well known for his emphatic break with the 20th century communist project, calling it “maybe the worst ideological, political, ethical, social (and so on) catastrophe in the history of humanity”[4] and calling Stalinism "at some abstract level of suffering [...] arguably worse than Nazism."[5] His work often criticizes the ideological basis of Stalinism and other 20th century communist movements.

However, Žižek prefers to critique existing formations rather than outlining a specific political program or goal. Contrasting himself with the optimistic Left in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Žižek said that "except [for] some old Keynesian formulas, I'm not aware of any convincing radical left alternatives" to capitalism.[6] When pressed, Žižek tentatively defined his view of 21st century communism as "some form of collective activity which will be neither market nor state bureaucracy"[7] involving a "global organisation that can control and regulate the economy as well as limit the sovereignty of nation states when needed."[8] Žižek argued in the first months of the Coronavirus pandemic that the international response had already begun to resemble a communism of this sort.[8]

Israel and Zionism

Žižek has expressed sympathies towards the State of Israel and its ongoing genocide against the Palestinians. During the war which began in 2023, he said "The barbarism that Hamas has unleashed on Israel should be condemned unconditionally, with no 'ifs' or 'buts.'" and suggested that the Palestinian libertarian movements were anti-Semitic and trying to instigate a genocide on Israeli Jews.[9]

Venezuela

NATO and Ukraine

Public image

Žižek is known across the internet, even by people uninterested in his philosophy, for his distinctive and bizarre mannerisms. He speaks in a heavy Slovenian accent, and has a strong, noticeable lisp that makes his S sounds like SH. He sniffs frequently while talking, and tugs at his shirt. For these mannerisms alone, it is very much worth seeing him speak on video or in person.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Il marxismo occidentale: Come nacque, come morì, come può rinascere. Losurdo, Domenico. Ch. 5: Ripresa o ultimo guizzo del marxismo occidentale?
  2. ↑ Noam Chomsky on Slavoj Žižek, YouTube clip.
  3. ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 1:01.
  4. ↑ ‘20th Century Communism’ by Slavoj Žižek, Interview on BBC Hardball, 2009; At timestamp 2:09.
  5. ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 3:22. His subsequent argument for this view is difficult to parse or paraphrase.
  6. ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 7:39.
  7. ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 19:19.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Pandemic! by Slavoj Žižek review – the philosopher provides his solution, The Guardian.
  9. ↑ Slavoj Žižek (October 13, 2023). "The Real Dividing Line in Israel-Palestine". Project Syndicate.

External links

Materials by Žižek:

Materials on Žižek:

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