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From free internet to postdigital society: Political Economy in the Discourse of the Web Movement
No full textFor the last ten years, the political discourse of Germany’s Digital Rights Movement has centered around a highly idealistic notion of a “free internet”, whereas questions regarding societal relations of production that shape digital economies have been neglected. Recent developments in the field of internet policy and digital rights show that the internet is subjected to capital interests which have been underestimated by the movement. However, the movement is capable to develop a perspective of transformation, stemming from activists’ social practice that is characterized by commons-based production.For the last ten years, the political discourse of Germany’s Digital Rights Movement has centered around a highly idealistic notion of a “free internet”, whereas questions regarding societal relations of production that shape digital economies have been neglected. Recent developments in the field of internet policy and digital rights show that the internet is subjected to capital interests which have been underestimated by the movement. However, the movement is capable to develop a perspective of transformation, stemming from activists’ social practice that is characterized by commons-based production
What kind of revolution?! What kind of century?! : Casting a glance at the history of left-wing reappraisal
No full text27 years ago the Soviet power bloc collapsed. However, since then the Left has not managed to open a political and theoretical debate in order to discuss its controversies concerning the nature of the Russian Revolution and the „post-revolutionary societies“. This article departs from a conference of the European Left, held in Venice in 1977, which was dedicated to this topic. It inquires about the questions that remained open at the end of the conference, and that can maybe answered from a contemporary perspective.27 years ago the Soviet power bloc collapsed. However, since then the Left has not managed to open a political and theoretical debate in order to discuss its controversies concerning the nature of the Russian Revolution and the „post-revolutionary societies“. This article departs from a conference of the European Left, held in Venice in 1977, which was dedicated to this topic. It inquires about the questions that remained open at the end of the conference, and that can maybe answered from a contemporary perspective
The future of European economic integration: Blocked Deepening and Growing Asymmetry between France and Germany
No full textAfter more than seven years of fiscal austerity and neoliberal structural reforms, the fundamental imbalances that led to the Eurozone crisis have remained unresolved and the project of European integration as such appears to be in the deepest crisis it has experienced so far. This has prompted the dominant forces in the EU to at least partially reconsider their present crisis management strategies, envisioning deeper integration towards a “Genuine Economic and Monetary Union” and outlining different future scenarios for the EU. While especially the Five President’s Report does acknowledge fundamental construction problems and crisis tendencies of the Economic and Monetary Union, the strategies to address them either fall tremendously short of this diagnosis or lack assertiveness. We argue that this inability to confront these crisis tendencies results from the growing economic and political asymmetry in the axis between France and Germany as the principal mechanism of compromise which undergirded previous cycles of European economic integration. At the bottom of this paralysis lies a gradual shift in the dominant internationalization patterns of the German political economy within the European division of labor: away from Southern Europe and France and towards Eastern Europe and the Emerging Markets.After more than seven years of fiscal austerity and neoliberal structural reforms, the fundamental imbalances that led to the Eurozone crisis have remained unresolved and the project of European integration as such appears to be in the deepest crisis it has experienced so far. This has prompted the dominant forces in the EU to at least partially reconsider their present crisis management strategies, envisioning deeper integration towards a “Genuine Economic and Monetary Union” and outlining different future scenarios for the EU. While especially the Five President’s Report does acknowledge fundamental construction problems and crisis tendencies of the Economic and Monetary Union, the strategies to address them either fall tremendously short of this diagnosis or lack assertiveness. We argue that this inability to confront these crisis tendencies results from the growing economic and political asymmetry in the axis between France and Germany as the principal mechanism of compromise which undergirded previous cycles of European economic integration. At the bottom of this paralysis lies a gradual shift in the dominant internationalization patterns of the German political economy within the European division of labor: away from Southern Europe and France and towards Eastern Europe and the Emerging Markets
Editorial: Social Critique and 150 Years of Critique of Political Economy
No full textEditorial: Gesellschaftskritik und 150 Jahre Kritik der politischen ÖkonomieSocial Critique and 150 Years of Critique of Political Econom
Critique of Political Economy in the 21st Century: A Comment on the Recent Debates Regarding the Marxian “Transformation Problem”.
No full textWhile the majority of the scientific community holds Marxian Value and Price Theory to be internally inconsistent because of the so-called “transformation problem”, these claims can be sufficiently refuted. The key to the solution of the “transformation problem” is quite simple, so this contribution, because it requires the rejection of simultanism and physicalism, which represent the genuine method of neoclassical economics, a method that is completely incompatible with Marxian Critique of Political Economy. Outside of the iron cage of neoclassical equilibrium economics, Marxian ‘Capital’ can be reconstructed without neoclassical “pathologies” and offers us a whole new world of analytical tools for a critical theory of capitalist societies and its dynamics.While the majority of the scientific community holds Marxian Value and Price Theory to be internally inconsistent because of the so-called “transformation problem”, these claims can be sufficiently refuted. The key to the solution of the “transformation problem” is quite simple, so this contribution, because it requires the rejection of simultanism and physicalism, which represent the genuine method of neoclassical economics, a method that is completely incompatible with Marxian Critique of Political Economy. Outside of the iron cage of neoclassical equilibrium economics, Marxian ‘Capital’ can be reconstructed without neoclassical “pathologies” and offers us a whole new world of analytical tools for a critical theory of capitalist societies and its dynamics
The End of Post-democracy, Overcoming Pessimism
No full textIn recent years, political and social conditions have changed dramatically. Many analyses help to capture these dynamics. However, they produce political pessimism: on the one hand there is the image of regression and on the other, a direct link is made between socio-economic decline and the rise of the far-right. To counter these aspects, this article argues that current political events are to be understood less as ‘regression’ but rather as a moment of movement and the return of deep political struggles. Referring to Jacques Ranciere’s political thought, the current conditions can be captured as the ‘end of post-democracy’. This approach changes the perspective on current social dynamics in a productive way. It allows for an emphasis on movement and the recognition of the windows of opportunity for emancipatory struggles.In recent years, political and social conditions have changed dramatically. Many analyses help to capture these dynamics. However, they produce political pessimism: on the one hand there is the image of regression and on the other, a direct link is made between socio-economic decline and the rise of the far-right. To counter these aspects, this article argues that current political events are to be understood less as ‘regression’ but rather as a moment of movement and the return of deep political struggles. Referring to Jacques Ranciere’s political thought, the current conditions can be captured as the ‘end of post-democracy’. This approach changes the perspective on current social dynamics in a productive way. It allows for an emphasis on movement and the recognition of the windows of opportunity for emancipatory struggles
Movement versus avant-garde? Mythology of the Left Debates on the Russian Revolution
No full textIn the leftist debates, one of the most widespread notions is that in 1917 workers and peasants were about to build their own model of socialism, and only the Bolshevik bureaucracy hindered them. In the struggle between the councils and the party, the former are regarded as representatives of a left alternative to the authoritarian Bolsheviks. Only rarely are such assumptions examined by means of archival documents and new studies based on them.In the leftist debates, one of the most widespread notions is that in 1917 workers and peasants were about to build their own model of socialism, and only the Bolshevik bureaucracy hindered them. In the struggle between the councils and the party, the former are regarded as representatives of a left alternative to the authoritarian Bolsheviks. Only rarely are such assumptions examined by means of archival documents and new studies based on them
A Short History of the Internet: The incorporation of the Internet into capitalist relations is by no means complete and is still contested.
No full text The design and development of the internet is conceptualized in three stages: the basic technological development and the social and political preconditions for its dispersion can be traced back to 1962 until 1992. Afterwards the technology is being appropriated and incorporated into the capitalist mode of production. From 1993 until 2003 buisiness models and commercial enterprises arise and reshape the Service Sector. Finally, when the capitalist incorporation is completed in 2004, the phase of extensive and intensive expansion and its subsequent conquer of new markets proceeds. The design and development of the internet is conceptualized in three stages: the basic technological development and the social and political preconditions for its dispersion can be traced back to 1962 until 1992. Afterwards the technology is being appropriated and incorporated into the capitalist mode of production. From 1993 until 2003 buisiness models and commercial enterprises arise and reshape the Service Sector. Finally, when the capitalist incorporation is completed in 2004, the phase of extensive and intensive expansion and its subsequent conquer of new markets proceeds
Power resources of trade unions in agricultural transformation processes: An analysis of the sugarcane sector in the state of São Paulo.
No full textThis paper focuses on labor, trade unions and their bargaining power in agricultural transformation processes. I analyze the effects of the transformation of the sugarcane sector in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which led to increased unemployment, new forms of control over workers, a fragmentation of workers and to internal conflicts within unions. The power resources of manual and mechanized workers and of rural and transport worker unions were affected differently by those processes. Overall, the bargaining power and struggles of all workers and unions were weakened.This paper focuses on labor, trade unions and their bargaining power in agricultural transformation processes. I analyze the effects of the transformation of the sugarcane sector in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which led to increased unemployment, new forms of control over workers, a fragmentation of workers and to internal conflicts within unions. The power resources of manual and mechanized workers and of rural and transport worker unions were affected differently by those processes. Overall, the bargaining power and struggles of all workers and unions were weakened
Becoming the Nuclear-Front-End: On the postponement of the "nuclear-extractive boundary" to Tanzania.
No full textUranium mining often escapes the attention of debates around the nuclear industries. The chemical elements’ representations are focused on the nuclear reactor. The article explores what I refer to as becoming the nuclear front – the uranium mining frontier’s expansion to Tanzania, its historical entanglements and current state. The geographies of the nuclear industries parallel dominant patterns and the unevenness of the global divisions of labour, resource production and consumption. Clearly related to the developments and expectations in the field of atomic power production, uranium exploration and the gathering of geological knowledge on resource potentiality remains a peripheral realm of the technopolitical perceptions of the nuclear fuel chain. Seen as less spectacular and less associated with high-technology than the better-known elements of the nuclear industry the article thus aims to shine light on the processes that pre-figure uranium mining by looking at the example of Tanzania.Uranium mining often escapes the attention of debates around the nuclear industries. The chemical elements’ representations are focused on the nuclear reactor. The article explores what I refer to as becoming the nuclear front – the uranium mining frontier’s expansion to Tanzania, its historical entanglements and current state. The geographies of the nuclear industries parallel dominant patterns and the unevenness of the global divisions of labour, resource production and consumption. Clearly related to the developments and expectations in the field of atomic power production, uranium exploration and the gathering of geological knowledge on resource potentiality remains a peripheral realm of the technopolitical perceptions of the nuclear fuel chain. Seen as less spectacular and less associated with high-technology than the better-known elements of the nuclear industry the article thus aims to shine light on the processes that pre-figure uranium mining by looking at the example of Tanzania