Oh that 2011 was an eventful year. I can make other glib statements. For instance, that Slavoj Žižek, he's some guy, let me tell you. The Year of Dreaming Dangerously is a wonderful title, giving nods to a largely forgotten novel and film about Aussies in Indonesia. Mr. Z writes about 2011 in a concealed subjunctive, noting with what may be the future result of the worldwide tumult. Will 2011 be considered another 1968 or 1989? Ziziek isn't sure but he pens a number of essays which cite Lacan and Marx and through which Zizek brings attention to often ignored arguments about the world we inhabit.

Each essay is distinct and anyone expecting a narrative view of Egypt, Greece or Occupy Wall Street should probably look elsewhere. Anyone in the mood for incandescent thought on the state of the world should investigate.

A great short volume with all the standard Zizek style. In other words it is an eclectic mix of philosophy, psychoanalysis, and cultural commentary with a vague underpinning theme. If you like Zizek then you'll enjoy it, if you hate Zizek you'll probably hate it.

His focus here is the various protest movements which erupted across the world in 2011, from Occupy Wall Street to the Arab Spring. When I say 'focus' though bear in mind that this is Zizek, so what that means in practice is a vague theme that is used as the springboard for a slightly rambling text that takes in The Wire, West Side Story, G K Chesterton, and the social taboos against smoking.

But if you enjoy Zizek's writing then that is part of the attraction. He begins by outlining the current state of things from a basically Marxist perspective, while acknowledging that 'immaterial' labour is currently 'hegemonic' in place of the highly organised industrial workforce of Marx's time. He moves on to make the case for resistance and fundamental change. That the attempt to preserve the remnants of or return to the mid-twentieth century post war consensus is doomed to fail. That democracy can no longer contain or control modern capitalism.

Zizek reasserts the need for a revolutionary break rather than an incremental or democratic approach. This leads him to reviews of the protest movements of 2011 and in particular Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring.

On Occupy, Zizek makes the case for it's importance as protest, as the recognition that things are broken and must change. He refutes the common criticism that the movement didn't express concrete goals. This would be a failure, indicating acceptance of the need to operate within the rules of the status quo when what is needed is in fact a radical rupture.

On the Arab Spring Zizek addresses the desire for the west to see the various movements as an attempt to move to western liberal democracy and not acknowledge the actual desire for change. He attacks the subsequent rise of radical Islam as a failure to allow space for radical change that is not towards western (neo-)liberalism. "We do not need a dialogue between religions (or civilisations) we need solidarity between those who struggle for justice."

He ends with thoughts on the state of the modern left, chiming strongly with my own view that the lack of an overarching analysis as a driving force is holding back practical action. "What is conspicuously absent is any consistent Leftist reply to these events, any project of how to transpose islands of chaotic resistance into a positive program of social change."

As always with Zizek I suspect some will not enjoy this book. But for me it is both a challenging and thought-provoking read with much to say about the state we're in and some pointers to where progressives should look to make future change happen.

I wrote some further thoughts on Zizek's view of the left, protest, and how to change capitalism here:

https://marxadventure.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/reforming-capitalism/

Some good points and interesting references

Another thought-provoking volume from the most dangerous philosopher in the West. The theme of this compilation of essays appears to be an examination of significant sociopolitical events in 2011, such as Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring. As is his wont, Zizek expertly triangulates these events with Lacanian, Hegelian and Marxist analysis. And while he is in fine form directing his bouncing, incisive prose effortlessly from the Lion King to Hegelian relativism, his commentary in these essays seems more impassioned and less focused than his other recent works. Nonetheless, Zizek's critical indictments of the market economy and global capitalism are nothing short of breathtaking. Luckily, this collection contains enough of those moments to warrant a serious read.

Better than expected, esp. given the self-parodic cover.

This was ok, interesting, but not that thought expanding. I did like the idea introduced in the last chapter that we need to be open to political responses in the current moment as being events transported from the future, events that are the result of a different trajectory than the developing of current conditions. In other words, let's not constrain our imagination and activism to building relations and social structures that are simply naive, "better" versions of current conditions, but allow ourselves to make radical breaks that are moving towards the new relations of equity required to achieve a socially just, healthy world for all.

Žižek I love you

My mans at the peak of his game. I can see why a lot of leftists don't really want to associate with him now. He gives in to some really base indulgences, and latches onto the cultural references. Also, his vision of a future is extremely accelerationist, and the left seems very scared of this fast coming apocalyptic change. I thought it was great analysis of the protests of 2011. A little prophetic at times of the Trump phenomenon. Highly recommend.

Kept thinking I'd read this before ( impossible , just published this year ) Hm ....