446g_Envisioning Real Utopias repaginated (harry).indd

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چکیده

It may seem odd at the beginning of the twenty-fi rst century to have an extended discussion of ruptural transformations of capitalism. While revolutionary rhetoric has not completely disappeared, few critics of capitalism today imagine that a revolutionary overthrow of the state in the developed capitalist countries is a plausible strategy of emancipatory social transformation. Quite apart from any moral considerations about the immediate consequences of adopting such a strategy, or the desirability of the ultimate outcomes that would be generated by such an overthrow, the idea that the strategy itself could possibly succeed seems very far-fetched. In spite of this, I believe that there are four reasons why it is worthwhile discussing ruptural strategies. First, political activists, especially when they are young, are often attracted to the idea of a radical rupture with existing institutions. The existing structures of power, privilege, and inequality seem so malevolent and so damaging to aspirations for human fl ourishing that the idea of simply smashing them and creating something new and better can be appealing. This may be because of wishful thinking or romantic illusions, but nevertheless the idea of revolutionary rupture continues to excite the imagination of at least some activists. Second, a clear understanding of the logic and limits of a ruptural strategy of social transformation can help clarify alternative strategies. Theoretical and political debates on the left have been waged since the nineteenth century in terms of the “reform” versus “revolution” opposition, and in important ways the specifi city of the former comes from this contrast. Third, while I am quite skeptical of the possibility of system-wide ruptural strategies, more limited forms of rupture in particular institutional settings may be possible,

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446g_Envisioning Real Utopias repaginated (harry).indd

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تاریخ انتشار 2010