the tweet:

https://twitter.com/GabrielRockhill/status/1699957902335746434#m

zizek's paywalled article:

https://archive.li/hY5oJ

The quote in question:

However, it is clear that the “anti-colonial” uprisings in Central Africa are even worse than French neocolonialism. The future they bring is that of failed states like Zimbabwe and Myanmar: authoritarian military rule; economic regression into new lows of poverty that profit only the new and corrupt elite; ideological fundamentalism combined with a pushback against “colonial” influences like gay rights.

Regarding Zimbabwe: This is a funny example for Zizek to use since Zimbabwe is largely impoverished because of western neocolonial IMF loans:

Show

Regarding the narrative that LGBT rights are colonial. Obviously that is bullshit and it's interesting that both Russia and NATO liberals are pushing it, but for opposite reasons. Liberals in NATO countries are pushing it because it wants to be seen as the global vanguard of LGBT rights, when they are not, and never have been. Russia is pushing it because it wants to be seen as the vanguard of (for lack of a better term) "social conservatism" and "tradition" protecting the global south from "western decadence" or whatever other reactionary nonsense.

  • ProletarianDictator [none/use name]
    ·
    1 year ago

    It seems like Zizek's primary function is to sell whatever happens to be the current neoliberal desire to left-minded people who otherwise wouldn't buy into the bullshit narrative unless presented by someone vaguely leftish and academically respected.

    Is this why YouTube recommends me so much Zizek? I stopped watching anything with him years ago, but the algos keep pushing it.

    Makes me wonder...what other public figures are used to siphon energy on the left away from more radical ideologies or steer radical energy towards opinions more favorable for global north capital?

    Is there any good literature on capital co-opting leftish figures, movements, & ideas to diffuse revolutionary energy or effective resistance to imperial/liberal desires? Anything modern-ish that takes algorithmic content curation into account?

    • Tachanka [comrade/them]
      ·
      1 year ago

      Is there any good literature on capital co-opting leftish figures, movements, & ideas to diffuse revolutionary energy or effective resistance to imperial/liberal desires

      Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher covers this, but I've also seen it subjected to criticism for various reasons.

      According to Fisher, capitalist realism has so captured public thought that the idea of anti-capitalism no longer acts as the antithesis to capitalism. Instead, anti-capitalism is deployed as a means for reinforcing capitalism. This is done through modern media which aims to provide a safe means of entertaining anti-capitalist ideas without actually challenging the system. The lack of coherent alternatives, as presented through the lens of capitalist realism, leads many anti-capitalist movements to cease targeting the end of capitalism, but instead to mitigate its worst effects, often through individual consumption-based activities

      I read it like 5 years ago but forget most of it.