Podcast, Arts & Culture
Episode 129: Fascism, Fanaticism and Neoliberalism — with Alberto Toscano
Subscribe via:
Critical theorist Alberto Toscano joins Am Johal in conversation about his work and writings, as he joins 大象传媒 as a visiting faculty member with the Digital Democracies Institute in 大象传媒鈥檚 School of Communication.
In this episode, they discuss Alberto鈥檚 writing on the philosophy of fanaticism, and conflicting discourse and counter-histories around the figure of the fanatic, which historically takes many forms, from abolitionist leaders to peasant revolutionaries. Alberto and Am also dive into global and historical trends of authoritarianism, racial capitalism and the notion of 鈥榣ate fascism.鈥� Alberto speaks to expanding our concept of fascism, to recognize iterations outside of what could be thought of as European fascism. They also talk about neoliberal tendencies in post-secondary administration, and the workings of mechanisms that maintain or fortify power structures within institutions.
Resources
About Our Guest
Alberto Toscano
Alberto Toscano is Reader in Critical Theory at the Department of Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London, where he co-directs the Centre for Philosophy and Critical Thought. He is Visiting Faculty at the Digital Democracy Institute, School of Communication, 大象传媒.
Alberto鈥檚 current research is divided into three main strands: a theoretical inquiry into contemporary authoritarian trends and their dis/analogies with their historical predecessors, culminating in the forthcoming book Late Fascism (Verso, 2021); the study of tragedy as a framework through which to understand political action and its discontents, from decolonisation to environmentalism; and the development of 鈥榬eal abstraction鈥� as a heuristic for the analysis contemporary capitalism, notably in its nexus with processes of racialisation. As the series editor of The Italian List for Calcutta-based publisher Seagull books, Alberto鈥檚 research is also concerned with the translation and reception of Italian literature, literary criticism and critical theory.
Cite This Episode
Chicago Style
Johal, Am. 鈥淔ascism, Fanaticism and Neoliberalism 鈥� with Alberto Toscano.鈥� Below the Radar, 大象传媒鈥檚 Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Podcast audio, July 15, 2021. /vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/episodes/129-alberto-toscano.html.
Latest Podcasts
-
February 18, 2025
-
February 11, 2025
-
February 04, 2025