--- Jon Johanning <jjohanning@igc.org> wrote:

"I hear an awful lot of talk on this list like this -- "challenging 
the system of democratic politics." But I don't understand what 
this slogan really amounst to when it's completely unpacked and 
enunciated in plain English."

It's a good point - too often progressives are content to mutter 
ever more radical sounding platitudes as we get further and 
further from power. It is, as you imply, evasive, and I know 
that I'm as guilty as anyone.  What Zizek means, I think, is 
that capitalism is more effective than ever at co-opting 
protest.  Capitalist ideology today is based around ideas of 
pluralism and multiculturalism.  But there is still a limit 
point that progressives should bring into the open, which is 
the point at which some perspectives are ruled out of bounds. 
And the ruling elite see themselves as somehow outside this, 
because they are able to look over it ironically, see it 
not as the expression of real political passion, but as the 
unfolding of a giant game where we put our cultures and 
perspectives forward whilst respecting others. 

Playing the democratic game is a not just evading the real 
tasks, it is giving legitimacy to the process of rule.  I 
think that Zizek is suggesting that it is more important to 
the ruling class that you vote and take part in the process 
than it is to vote for any particular party or individual.  
And - lest I be misunderstood - this is at an ideological 
level, not a consciously enunciated outlook or conspiracy.
Zizek uses Lenin as an example of some one who acted, who 
grasped the moment and did unexpected things, taking the 
people with him. 

This is one area where I disagree with Zizek. I don't think 
that it's as easy as he suggests.  I think that sometimes 
not acting is the appropriate 'act' - which is also a Leninist 
point, although not one that Zizek discusses.  What is lost in 
the generalities that Jon rightly took me to task for is just 
how bad the situation is for progressives today.  And we 
can't evade that with false unity behind the Democrats, silly 
slogans, or even common enemies. The main challenges, I think, 
are clarifying our ideas, and even promoting dissent in the 
ranks of the progressives so that where we do come together 
we can be sure that we really are all on the same side. 

I apologise for the sketchiness of this too-hurried post. 
I'm obsessing about Zizek at the moment, trying to put 
together a proper critique.  I think he's by far the most 
interesting thinker writing today, and he deserves more 
than this quick outline.

Chris wrote:
"I nominate Doug for General Secretary."
Can I be Secretary for War?

--James