[ot] RE: [microsound] liberalism/power/control

[christian toepfner <c@xxxxxxxx>]

     i hope it's not to far off topic...

>    (Neo)Liberalism as it is currently practiced in the US is seen as a
>    threat to the ideals of democracy ? Is it democracy or capitalism
>    that it's seen as a threat to ? So what IS looked at as being
>    supportive of the ideals of democracy? Marxism and Socialism !?

     neoliberalism is practiced globally, the US is just one of its
     biggest supporters.
     when we consider critical theory, we see that the critique on marx
     (without -ism!) was one of its foundation. that is to say that marx-
     ism is no option at all but some aspects of marx' writings are still
     very useful in the analysis of economy, politics and culture.
     so what would be supportive for democracy? a globalization of it,
     instead the one of capital. (see "empire", hardt/negri, pdf online:
     http://www.hup.harvard.edu/pdf/HAREMI.pdf)

     so if i may propose another book: "culture and critique. an intro-
     duction to the critical discourses of cultural studies" by jere paul
     surber.
     it gives an excellent overview of the developement of critical
     thinking about culture (in a quite broad sense), from kant and hegel
     onwards, including materialism, psychoanalysis, structuralism, post-
     structuralism and -modernism until contemporary cultural studies.
     you'll find foucault, lacan, marx, gramsci and so on in historical
     contexts and from different viewpoints.


     best, c


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