PROKLA - Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialwissenschaft
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Struggles over mining and the potentials for transformation: The case of La Colosa in Colombia
No full textThe article explores the political effects of popular consultations as a means of direct democracy in struggles over mining. Building on concepts from participatory and materialist democracy theory, it shows the transformative potentials of processes of direct democracy towards democratization and emancipation under, and beyond, capitalist and liberal democratic conditions. Empirically the analysis is based on a case study on the protests against the La Colosa gold mining project in Colombia. The analysis reveals that although processes of direct democracy in conflicts over mining cannot transform existing class inequalities and social power relations fundamentally, they can nevertheless alter elements thereof. These are for example the relationship between local and national governments, changes of the political agenda of mining and the opening of new spaces for political participation, where previously there were none. It is here where it’s emancipatory potential can be found.The article explores the political effects of popular consultations as a means of direct democracy in struggles over mining. Building on concepts from participatory and materialist democracy theory, it shows the transformative potentials of processes of direct democracy towards democratization and emancipation under, and beyond, capitalist and liberal democratic conditions. Empirically the analysis is based on a case study on the protests against the La Colosa gold mining project in Colombia. The analysis reveals that although processes of direct democracy in conflicts over mining cannot transform existing class inequalities and social power relations fundamentally, they can nevertheless alter elements thereof. These are for example the relationship between local and national governments, changes of the political agenda of mining and the opening of new spaces for political participation, where previously there were none. It is here where it’s emancipatory potential can be found
Revolutions and Revolts in North Africa revisited: The Importance of the Battles against the Valorisation of Land and Water for the recent Upheavals in Egypt and Tunisia
No full textThe article analyses the revolts in North Africa, namely Tunisia and Egypt. It contradicts the thesis, which is spread above all by the western media, that this is a “Facebook revolution”, which is supported by urban youths of the middle class, who knew how to use the possibilities of new social media. Rather, it deals with the economic background and shows that the connection between the protests in urban centers and those in structurally marginalized rural areas needs to be investigated. The thesis: Without the processes of valorization of land and water, the social struggles before and after the revolts in North Africa in 2011 cannot be understood.The article analyses the revolts in North Africa, namely Tunisia and Egypt. It contradicts the thesis, which is spread above all by the western media, that this is a “Facebook revolution”, which is supported by urban youths of the middle class, who knew how to use the possibilities of new social media. Rather, it deals with the economic background and shows that the connection between the protests in urban centers and those in structurally marginalized rural areas needs to be investigated. The thesis: Without the processes of valorization of land and water, the social struggles before and after the revolts in North Africa in 2011 cannot be understood
Facets of the Digital Work Debate: Challenges for a critical theory of informational capitalism
No full textThis article introduces the reader to the so called ‘digital labor debate’ in the context of the political economy of (new) media and (digital) communication. The political economy of social media is best qualified as surveillance-driven production of culture and as an interplay between distinct modes of production (commons based peer production and commodity production). The latter gives rise to the problem of how to understand the interplay between these modes. The article discusses contributions from different theoretical angels, such as the materialist theory of communication, the theory of cognitive capitalism, the theory of prosumption, and the theory of rent in the informational age. The discussion is organized by three topics: Does the use of social media qualify as work? Are users subsumed to capital control? Are users exploited? The article marks theoretical challenges for a critical theory of informational capitalism.This article introduces the reader to the so called ‘digital labor debate’ in the context of the political economy of (new) media and (digital) communication. The political economy of social media is best qualified as surveillance-driven production of culture and as an interplay between distinct modes of production (commons based peer production and commodity production). The latter gives rise to the problem of how to understand the interplay between these modes. The article discusses contributions from different theoretical angels, such as the materialist theory of communication, the theory of cognitive capitalism, the theory of prosumption, and the theory of rent in the informational age. The discussion is organized by three topics: Does the use of social media qualify as work? Are users subsumed to capital control? Are users exploited? The article marks theoretical challenges for a critical theory of informational capitalism
The Myth of global Capitalism and the Actuality of the National
No full textThis contribution is a critical response to the article “Global Capitalism in a State of Emergency” written by the editorial board and published in PROKLA 185. In contrast to the editors’ analysis, it argues that capitalism does not qualify as a global system with an international form of government and an international ruling class. We are still living in a state of „Varieties of Capitalism“ dominated by national states. This was proven by the deep crisis of the European Union and the political struggles within the EU. The model of finance-dominated capitalism is not able to explain why the export-oriented German capitalism, German politics and the German economic ideology of mercantilism can dominate the economies and the states in the European Union.This contribution is a critical response to the article “Global Capitalism in a State of Emergency” written by the editorial board and published in PROKLA 185. In contrast to the editors’ analysis, it argues that capitalism does not qualify as a global system with an international form of government and an international ruling class. We are still living in a state of „Varieties of Capitalism“ dominated by national states. This was proven by the deep crisis of the European Union and the political struggles within the EU. The model of finance-dominated capitalism is not able to explain why the export-oriented German capitalism, German politics and the German economic ideology of mercantilism can dominate the economies and the states in the European Union
On Class Politics, the New Right and the Failures of Identity Politics: A Critical Commentary
No full text How to explain the relative success of the AfD in Germany, the presidential election of Donald Trump in the USA, the Brexit vote or the popularity of the Right in France and elsewhere in Europe? Moreover, why did the Left not see this authoritarian turn coming? One prominent suggestion has been that the Left abandoned the white working class, thereby becoming the inadvertent midwife of a right-wing resurgence. Significant blame for this is in turn apportioned to the emergence of ‘identity politics’. In this essay, the authors take issue with this line of argumentation and criticise some of the implicit assumptions they consider problematic in current debates on the Left regarding the relationship between gender, race, class and emancipatory politics. They argue that struggles against both neoliberalism and the New Right require intersectional analyses of contemporary global class relations that do not abandon the important achievements and insights of new and newest social movements. How to explain the relative success of the AfD in Germany, the presidential election of Donald Trump in the USA, the Brexit vote or the popularity of the Right in France and elsewhere in Europe? Moreover, why did the Left not see this authoritarian turn coming? One prominent suggestion has been that the Left abandoned the white working class, thereby becoming the inadvertent midwife of a right-wing resurgence. Significant blame for this is in turn apportioned to the emergence of ‘identity politics’. In this essay, the authors take issue with this line of argumentation and criticise some of the implicit assumptions they consider problematic in current debates on the Left regarding the relationship between gender, race, class and emancipatory politics. They argue that struggles against both neoliberalism and the New Right require intersectional analyses of contemporary global class relations that do not abandon the important achievements and insights of new and newest social movements
150 years of „Capital“ - and No End.: Some Remarks on an Infinite Story.
No full text This article discusses the conditions of a paradoxical reception of Marx’s ‘Capital’, which rests on a distorted classification of Marx’s critique of classical political economy as a last representative of this school. This article reveals some examples of an implicit critique in Marx’s arguments and discusses the question of what was really new in Marx’s theory of value and capital. Furthermore, the article presents some stereotypical examples of contemporary critiques of Marx and in conclusion sketches the unfinished state of ‘Capital’ and what we can expect from forthcoming publications in MEGA. This article discusses the conditions of a paradoxical reception of Marx’s ‘Capital’, which rests on a distorted classification of Marx’s critique of classical political economy as a last representative of this school. This article reveals some examples of an implicit critique in Marx’s arguments and discusses the question of what was really new in Marx’s theory of value and capital. Furthermore, the article presents some stereotypical examples of contemporary critiques of Marx and in conclusion sketches the unfinished state of ‘Capital’ and what we can expect from forthcoming publications in MEGA
Digital Precarization: New Vulnerabilities and Processes of Devaluation in Industrial Work
No full textThe diffusion of digital technologies into industrial working relations results in new developments in professional qualifications as well as an altered health situation of workers. We assume that current tendencies in the organization of employment and work - flexibilization, rationalization and precarization - are being continued and further intensified. Our findings show that technology-driven performance pressures and a growing scope for action of employees do not coincide with a healthy improvement of worker activities and advances in professional qualifications.The diffusion of digital technologies into industrial working relations results in new developments in professional qualifications as well as an altered health situation of workers. We assume that current tendencies in the organization of employment and work - flexibilization, rationalization and precarization - are being continued and further intensified. Our findings show that technology-driven performance pressures and a growing scope for action of employees do not coincide with a healthy improvement of worker activities and advances in professional qualifications
Digital Discipline: On the Transformation of Inner Security
No full textSecurity is one of the most dominant issues in the current political discourse. Almost every topic, ranging from the internet to migration, is being related to security. The article argues that under neoliberal conditions and given the experience of terrorist attacks, inner security turns towards more disciplinary techniques and a discourse, in which security cannot be questioned. It examens the current transformation of security in the sense of a dispositive and gives special consideration to issues of digital surveillance technologies and their relation to society. Following Foucault’s concepts of power, the article argues that discipline and governementality have to be understood within a new configuration driven by technological progress and crisis.Security is one of the most dominant issues in the current political discourse. Almost every topic, ranging from the internet to migration, is being related to security. The article argues that under neoliberal conditions and given the experience of terrorist attacks, inner security turns towards more disciplinary techniques and a discourse, in which security cannot be questioned. It examens the current transformation of security in the sense of a dispositive and gives special consideration to issues of digital surveillance technologies and their relation to society. Following Foucault’s concepts of power, the article argues that discipline and governementality have to be understood within a new configuration driven by technological progress and crisis
The Naturalisation of Growth in Production and consumption: From Marx to the Regulation Approach to Bourdieu
No full textThis paper analyses the hegemony of the growth paradigm through the example of its naturalisation in capitalist production and consumption relations. Applying a combination of theoretical elements from the Marxian tradition, the Regulation approach and Bourdieusian sociology, emphasis is placed on how the growth imperative is reflected in people’s minds and bodies. It becomes hegemonic because it appears to be the natural way of steering economy and society so that all people – including working people – benefit from the continuation of growth. To overcome the growth paradigm, activists would need to build on a crisis of the ‘objective’ structures of economy and society.This paper analyses the hegemony of the growth paradigm through the example of its naturalisation in capitalist production and consumption relations. Applying a combination of theoretical elements from the Marxian tradition, the Regulation approach and Bourdieusian sociology, emphasis is placed on how the growth imperative is reflected in people’s minds and bodies. It becomes hegemonic because it appears to be the natural way of steering economy and society so that all people – including working people – benefit from the continuation of growth. To overcome the growth paradigm, activists would need to build on a crisis of the ‘objective’ structures of economy and society
Social criticism and Justice
No full textPolitical parties and social movements activists refere to the notion of justice as founding principle of critism. Demirovi? argues that the norm of justice is not able to motivate criticism and action. The norm of justice plays an important role in professional moral philosophy as is the case in the approaches of Martha Nussbaum or John Rawls. The offer arguments for their claims to give people and states a moral perspective. But the claim of universality that is inherent in moral discourses, always fail. The implication is that people who expect moral philosophy to be an advising knowledge become disappointed and perplexed. This is confirmed by the outcome of empirical research on justice among workers. To explain the dilemma of justice – claiming for universality and being particularistic and part of historical state form – the article takes up arguments developed by Marx and Horkheimer on justice as an ideological form.Political parties and social movements activists refere to the notion of justice as founding principle of critism. Demirovi? argues that the norm of justice is not able to motivate criticism and action. The norm of justice plays an important role in professional moral philosophy as is the case in the approaches of Martha Nussbaum or John Rawls. The offer arguments for their claims to give people and states a moral perspective. But the claim of universality that is inherent in moral discourses, always fail. The implication is that people who expect moral philosophy to be an advising knowledge become disappointed and perplexed. This is confirmed by the outcome of empirical research on justice among workers. To explain the dilemma of justice – claiming for universality and being particularistic and part of historical state form – the article takes up arguments developed by Marx and Horkheimer on justice as an ideological form