Slavoj Žižek: "Why I Am Still A Communist". The 2019 Holberg Debate with Slavoj Žižek & Tyler Cowen.

Holberg Prize・2 minutes read

The Holberg debate explores pressing global issues through discussions with prominent figures like Slavoj Žižek, who critiques the combination of authoritarian state power and capitalist dynamics while proposing radical social democratic solutions. The debate delves into societal challenges such as global wealth inequality, environmental issues, and digital control, highlighting the need for radical collective decisions against capitalist development and a focus on practical, empirical problems beyond socialism towards a new form of communism.

Insights

  • The Holberg debate is an annual event celebrating Ludwig Holberg, focusing on global issues with prominent speakers like Slavoj Žižek discussing communism, social democracy, and global challenges.
  • Žižek critiques authoritarian state power and capitalism in China, advocates for radical social democracy, proposes a supranational Parliament to address global issues, and emphasizes the need for societal alienation for functioning.
  • The treatment of refugees reflects societal views on humanity, while digital surveillance capitalism exploits individuals, creating new forms of domination through brain-machine interfaces.
  • The speaker discusses the limitations of Chinese authoritarian capitalism, reflects on communist ideals, the Frankfurt School's critique, and emphasizes the need for a new form of communism to address societal problems beyond socialism.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Holberg debate about?

    The Holberg debate is an annual event organized by the Holberg Prize, focusing on humanities, social sciences, law, and theology. It commemorates the birthday of Ludwig Holberg, a playwright and philosopher who emphasized democracy, equality, and human rights. Prominent figures are invited to discuss pressing global issues during this event.

  • Who is the keynote speaker at the Holberg debate?

    The keynote speaker at the Holberg debate is Slavoj Žižek, a philosopher and cultural critic. He discusses topics such as communism, contemporary challenges, and the combination of authoritarian state power and capitalist dynamics in China as a model of efficient socialism. Žižek also critiques global civil unrest, populist movements, and proposes radicalized social democracy.

  • What does Slavoj Žižek propose for societal functioning?

    Slavoj Žižek proposes progressive income taxes, basic income, and employee representation on company boards for societal functioning. He also suggests the establishment of a supranational Parliament to address global wealth inequality and environmental issues, advocating for a shift in emancipatory struggles towards enforcing the right kind of alienation.

  • How does Slavoj Žižek view the treatment of the poor?

    Slavoj Žižek criticizes the current system for placing the burden of helping the poor on hard-working individuals rather than the abstract state. He highlights how Margaret Thatcher's ideology led to a false sense of alienation among the poor, emphasizing the need for societal support over individual responsibility.

  • What are some of the global threats discussed at the Holberg debate?

    The Holberg debate addresses threats such as migration, ecological degradation, and digital control, emphasizing their transnational nature and the limitations of nation-states in addressing them. The discussion also touches on the treatment of refugees, the rise of right-wing populism, and the need for radical collective decisions to combat ecological catastrophe.

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Summary

00:00

Holberg Debate: Žižek on Global Challenges

  • The Holberg debate is an annual event organized by the Holberg Prize, focusing on humanities, social sciences, law, and theology.
  • Ludwig Holberg, a playwright and philosopher, inspired the debate, emphasizing democracy, equality, and human rights.
  • The debate commemorates Holberg's birthday and invites prominent figures to discuss pressing global issues.
  • Slavoj Žižek, a philosopher and cultural critic, is the keynote speaker at the debate, discussing communism and contemporary challenges.
  • Žižek critiques the combination of authoritarian state power and capitalist dynamics in China as a model of efficient socialism.
  • He highlights global civil unrest and the rise of populist movements as signs of dissatisfaction with current systems.
  • The fall of the Berlin Wall and the return of ex-communists to power in Eastern Europe are analyzed in relation to social security and justice.
  • Žižek argues for a radicalized social democracy, proposing progressive income taxes, basic income, and employee representation on company boards.
  • He suggests a supranational Parliament to address global wealth inequality and environmental issues.
  • Žižek provocatively proposes shifting the focus of emancipatory struggles from overcoming alienation to enforcing the right kind of alienation for societal functioning.

36:29

"Thatcher's ideology alienates poor, digital exploitation"

  • Margaret Thatcher's ideology emphasized individual responsibility over societal support, leading to a false sense of alienation among the poor.
  • The poor are made to feel solely responsible for their situation, with the goal of health programs being to restore their sense of responsibility.
  • The current system places the burden of helping the poor on hard-working individuals rather than the abstract state.
  • Right-wing populists propagate apocalyptic visions of civilization under threat from refugees, while the left focuses on ecological and digital threats.
  • The threats of migration, ecological degradation, and digital control are transnational and cannot be addressed by nation-states.
  • Ethnic cleansing is often fueled by nationalist poetry or religious ideologies that desensitize individuals to others' suffering.
  • The treatment of refugees reflects how we view humanity, with refugees standing for the universality of human existence.
  • Nomadic immigrants are often devalued and seen as surplus humanity, caught in a social limbo with no clear integration into society.
  • Treason against one's nation-state can be seen as an act of ethical fidelity, exemplified by figures like Assange and Snowden.
  • The digitalization of life under surveillance capitalism exploits individuals' data and behaviors, creating an unequal exchange where individuals are both consumers and products.

57:30

Emerging Brain-Machine Domination Threat and Solutions

  • New forms of domination are emerging through direct brain-machine interfaces, with secret agencies investing billions in military machinery for mind control.
  • The potential threat lies in the direct interaction of our mind processes with machines, eroding the distance between our thoughts and external reality.
  • In China, elementary school pupils are made to wear head frames controlling brain activity to monitor attentiveness, showcasing incredible potentials for control.
  • The speaker proposes a combination of volunteerism and terror to combat ecological catastrophe, advocating for radical collective decisions against capitalist development.
  • The idea of volunteerism involves countering capitalist logic through large-scale decisions, akin to pulling the emergency brake on progress.
  • The speaker suggests denouncing WikiLeaks as a terrorist organization, emphasizing the role of informers or whistleblowers as authentic heroes in today's society.
  • The speaker acknowledges the fascination with catastrophic prospects but insists on the necessity of radical measures in the face of threats like digital control and ecological crises.
  • The discussion shifts to the comparison of China and Taiwan, highlighting the limitations of Chinese authoritarian capitalism in the long term.
  • The conversation delves into the speaker's attachment to communist ideals, rooted in a sense of nostalgia and a critical view of the world's current state.
  • The speaker reflects on the influence of Stalinism and the fascination with American pragmatism within Soviet ideology, emphasizing a more dramatic critique of nostalgia and the Frankfurt School.

01:17:02

"Enlightenment, Totalitarianism, and Communist Critiques"

  • Late Frankfurt School's central thesis focuses on the dialectic of enlightenment, viewing fascism and Stalinism as manifestations of totalitarian potentials within modernity.
  • The speaker expresses a lack of a comprehensive theory of Stalinism and recounts personal experiences in the Yugoslav army, highlighting the paradoxes of ideology.
  • Yugoslavia's unique form of relatively liberal communism intrigues the speaker, emphasizing the coexistence of homophobic practices and homosexual innuendos within the army.
  • The speaker reflects on the prohibition of belief in ideologies in ex-Yugoslavia, citing examples of friends losing jobs for taking ruling ideologies seriously.
  • The speaker criticizes the search for revolutionary movements in other countries, advocating for a focus on pragmatic, concrete problems rather than grand revolutions.
  • The speaker discusses the challenges of envy in a hypothetical communist society and critiques capitalism's ability to preserve individual pride.
  • The speaker emphasizes the need for a more radical approach beyond socialism, suggesting a shift towards a new form of communism to address societal issues.
  • The speaker advocates for a focus on practical, empirical problems and criticizes the pursuit of happiness as leading to a lack of responsibility.
  • The speaker reflects on the changing attitudes towards communism within the ruling nomenklatura in post-Khrushchev Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
  • The speaker praises the humor and insight in the works of the person being addressed, contrasting it with the perceived lack of humor in today's left-wing discourse.

01:35:00

Clown cells, feminism, politics, consent, identity, Singapore, solar

  • The performance of clown cells in a terrifying predicament is admired for its creativity and survival tactics.
  • American feminism is criticized for supporting the invasion of Iraq, leading to worsened conditions for women.
  • Political correctness is seen as legalizing customs and unwritten rules, restricting freedom of expression.
  • Consent is highlighted as not fully addressing issues of pressure and violence in sexual exploitation.
  • Identity politics within LGBTQ+ communities is critiqued for limiting diverse perspectives and positions.
  • The complexity of ideological processes and fears of manipulation by radical right-wing groups are discussed.
  • Singapore's strict laws, such as restrictions on chewing gum, are noted for maintaining order and cleanliness.
  • The success of Singapore is attributed to investments in human capital and a unique combination of Chinese and English influences.
  • The potential benefits of solar power and government-subsidized battery technology are suggested for ecological sustainability.
  • The unpredictability of political outcomes, such as the rise of conservative Democrats and the impact of identity politics, is analyzed.

01:51:54

Challenging norms and reflecting on history.

  • The speaker discusses a girl who points out the Emperor's nakedness, noting an old man's diabolical smile.
  • The girl is compared to Greta Solberg, seen as deeply feminine but not in line with media-promoted femininity.
  • A story is shared about visiting someone in prison, where a guard intervenes to prevent a potential attack with boiling coffee.
  • Alternate scenarios are discussed, including the idea of the speaker retiring to a remote part of Norway.
  • The speaker mentions rewriting Antigone, exploring different outcomes in the play.
  • The concept of commodity fetishism from Marx is highlighted, emphasizing how ideology works in society.
  • The speaker talks about Lenin's pragmatic voluntarist spirit in 1917 and the need for new forms in everyday life.
  • The failure of the October Revolution is discussed, with Lenin's openness to starting from scratch.
  • The speaker reflects on the role of academics as critical thinkers, comparing the academic systems in Yugoslavia and the UK.
  • Nostalgia for the Yugoslav system in the 1980s is expressed, noting a sense of legitimacy and preparation for economic challenges.

02:10:09

"Communism, democracy, and nationalism in academia"

  • Central Committee delegates arrived seeking financial support
  • In 1990, the City Town Council, dominated by conservatives, abolished aid to gay organizations
  • Nationalism surged with Milosevic's rise, blending communism and nationalism
  • The challenge for democracy was to regain legitimacy without losing power
  • Academia faced pressure to align with societal needs, losing its freedom
  • Big inventions often emerge from academia, detached from immediate utility
  • The speaker reaffirmed his commitment to communism due to global challenges
  • He emphasized the need for a more modest approach to rethinking communism
  • A stateless communist society was deemed impractical, suggesting a mix of democracy and chance
  • The use of lottery in selecting leaders was proposed to prevent expert rule

02:30:14

Social norms in interactions and political challenges.

  • In social interactions, there is a customary exchange where one person offers to pay, even though the other knows they will cover the bill, creating a necessary ritual of politeness.
  • Communication often involves insincere pleasantries, like asking how someone is doing when you don't really care, highlighting the social norms that govern interactions.
  • The speaker discusses the challenges faced by Julian Assange in his extradition case, expressing pessimism about the outcome due to systemic opposition, despite occasional moments of support.
  • The importance of connecting with the majority, especially the working class, is emphasized, cautioning against falling into cultural politics and urging for a clear vision for a future society from the left.
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