Neoliberalism and the Right to Be Lazy: Inactivity as Resistance in Lazzarato and Agamben. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018) - Christiaens, Tim
Abstract : Neoliberalism has installed an unending competitive struggle in the economy. Within this context activists have pushed for a reappraisal of laziness and inactivity as forms of resistance. This idea has been picked up by Maurizio Lazzarato and Giorgio Agamben, but in different ways. This essay first explains the former's appraisal of laziness as a release of potentialities unrealizable under financial capitalism. However, Lazzarato's appraisal of laziness resembles neoliberal theories of innovation because it shares with neoliberalism the conceptual persona of a subject whose potentialities exceed the current status quo. Potentiality is thus not an unambiguous antagonist of capitalism, as Lazzarato suggests. In order to adequately oppose neoliberalism, Lazzarato should question the role of potentiality in capitalism. Agamben has undertaken such a project. The second part of the essay consequently argues that Agamben's philosophy of inactivity as impotentiality is able to circumvent neoliberalism and the society of the spectacle.