Are We Out of Time? Thinking about Neoliberalism and Fascism in an Age of Radical Transition. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martel, James
• Is Part Of: Law, culture and the humanities. Volume 15:Number 1(2019:Feb.)
• Page Start: 6
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: neoliberalism -- fascism -- teleology -- time -- Walter Benjamin -- anarchism; Culture and law -- Periodicals; Sociological jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Law and the social sciences -- Periodicals; 340.11505
• DOI: 10.1177/1743872117720676
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-8721

Abstract

In this commentary, I explore the question of how the way we think about time affects the conclusions that we draw about specific political questions. To demonstrate this, I consider two questions, the relationship between liberalism and neoliberalism and the relationship between neoliberalism and fascism. I look at these issues first from within the normal teleological notions of time that are prevalent and then from a more 'dissociated' form of temporality in keeping with the theorization of Walter Benjamin in his essay "On the Concept of History." My claim is that Benjamin's concept of time is anarchist and that thinking about time, history and politics in this way offers new insights into what may otherwise seem like hopelessly fated predicaments.