London Conference in Critical Thought

Žižek and the Political

http://londonconferenceincriticalthought.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/zizek-and-the-political/

Posted on January 31, 2012by londonconferenceincriticalthought

Stream Coordinator: Chris McMillan

Arguably the most prominent critical theorist of our times, Slavoj Žižek has regularly intervened in contemporary political debate over issues such as the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement. Nevertheless, there is little consensus over the value of these interventions or the effectiveness of Žižekian theory as a mode of political practice. Whilst Žižek is often readily enjoyed as a philosopher of culture and ideology, or an adept reader of Lacanian theory or German idealism, significant doubt remains over the political credentials of his theory. Indeed, for many Leftists’ Žižek’s work exemplifies the tragedy of our times; full of damming of critique without any concrete solutions. This stream invites papers to critically engage with these wide-ranging debates around the political difficulties and potential of Žižekian theory.

Whilst not seeking to prescribe any particular responses, papers from a broad range of perspectives might consider Žižek’s relationship to;

- Marxism and political economy;
- Democracy and the state;
- Communism and the ‘communist hypothesis’;
- Ideology or the politics of ideology and enjoyment;
- The political prospects of psychoanalysis;
- Broader theoretical papers that reflect upon the structural possibilities for Žižekian political engagement are also encouraged.