Critical Theory and the Crisis of Contemporary Capitalism
ABOUT THE SERIES
Critical Theory and Contemporary Society explores the relationship between contemporary society as a complex and highly differentiated phenomenon, on the one hand, and CriticalTheory as a correspondingly sophisticated methodology for studying and understanding social and political relations today, on the other.
Each volume highlights in distinctive ways why (1) CriticalTheory offers the most appropriate concepts for understanding political movements, socioeconomic conflicts and state institutions in an increasingly global world and (2) why CriticalTheory nonetheless needs updating in order to keep pace with the realities of the twenty-first century.
The books in the series look at global warming, financial crisis, post–nation state legitimacy, international relations, cinema, terrorism and other issues, applying an interdisciplinary approach, in order to help students and citizens understand the specificity and uniqueness of the current situation.
Series Editor
Darrow Schecter, Reader in the School of History, Art History and Humanities, University of Sussex, UK
BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Critical Theory and Film, FabioVighi
Critical Theory and the Critique of Political Economy,Werner Bonefeld
Critical Theory and Contemporary Europe,William Outhwaite
Critical Theory of Legal Revolutions, Hauke Brunkhorst
Critical Theory in the Twenty-First Century, Darrow Schecter
Critical Theory and the Digital, David Berry
Critical Theory and Libertarian Socialism, Charles Masquelier
Critical Theory and Disability, Teodor Mladenov
Critical Theory and the Crisis of Contemporary Capitalism
HEIKO FELDNER AND FABIO VIGHI
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First published 2015
© Heiko Feldner and FabioVighi, 2015
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Feldner, Heiko.
Critical theory and the crisis of Contemporary Capitalism:/Heiko Feldner, FabioVighi. pages cm. – (Critical theory and contemporary society; 10) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4411-8909-7 (hardback)
1. Capitalism–History–21st century. 2. Economic policy–21st century. 3. Marxian economics. 4. Critical theory. I.Vighi, Fabio, 1969- II.Title.
HB501.F454 2015
330.12’2–dc23 2014044109
ISBN: HB: 978-1-4411-8909-7
ePDF: 978-1-4411-3784-5
ePub: 978-1-4411-6963-1
Series: CriticalTheory and Contemporary Society
Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Introduction 1
1 Collapse without salvation? 9
2 Homo economicus: Greenspan’s misanthropy in context 33
3 Ontology of crisis 61
4 The Capitalist discourse: Digging its own grave 75
5 Agamben’s messianism, or: Trouble with the dialectic 103
Epilogue: Nothing to be liberated 125
References 131 Index 145
Contents