This video features Slavoj Žižek discussing Trump's presidency and its implications for the Left. Žižek argues that Trump, despite his rhetoric, inadvertently accomplished certain goals the Left had aspired to, challenging the Left's traditional methods of subversion and prompting a re-evaluation of its strategies. The video also delves into Žižek's views on postmodernism, liberal fascism, and the situation in Palestine.
Trump's Unintended Success: Žižek posits that Trump achieved certain leftist goals, such as challenging global neoliberalism, in ways the Left itself failed to do. He cites the January 6th Capitol riot as an example of a "leftist dream" of occupying centers of power, albeit enacted by the right.
Critique of Leftist Subversion: Žižek criticizes the Left's traditional model of subversion, arguing that its reliance on vulgarity and provocation has been rendered ineffective, as those in power have become equally shameless. He advocates for a different approach emphasizing "common decency."
Trump as a Postmodernist: Žižek considers Trump the ultimate postmodernist president, highlighting the inherent contradictions and relativism in Trump's actions and policies. This contradicts the usual right-wing definition of postmodernism.
Liberal Fascism and Censorship: Žižek discusses Goldberg's concept of "liberal fascism," where politically correct left-wing regulations mirror aspects of fascism. He notes the paradoxical coexistence of tolerance for certain forms of expression (racism, sexism) alongside strict censorship and cancel culture.
Palestine and Symbolic Suicide: Žižek analyzes the situation in Palestine, arguing that the current actions of the Israeli government represent a form of symbolic suicide, abandoning key elements of Jewish tradition. He connects this to historical links between Zionism and European anti-Semitism.
