Nancy Fraser, Professor of Philosophy and Politics at The New School for Social Research
Katz Lecture - What Should Socialism Mean in the 21st Century?
Kane Hall 120 | May 8 | 7:00 - 8:30pm
“Socialism” is back! For decades the word was considered an embarrassment—a despised failure and relic of a bygone era, rightly consigned to the historical dustbin. No more! Today, politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wear the label proudly and win support, while organizations that espouse it attract new members in droves. But what exactly do they mean by “socialism”? However welcome, enthusiasm for the word does not itself translate into serious reflection on its content. What does or should “socialism” signify in the present era? This lecture provides a possible answer. Drawing on an expanded conception of capitalism, Nancy Fraser constructs an expanded conception of socialism that overcomes the narrow economism of received understandings. Disclosing the capitalist economy’s contradictory and destructive relation to its “non-economic” background conditions, Fraser contends that socialism must do more than transform the economy. Over and above that desideratum, it must also transform the economy’s relation to its background conditions, especially non-human nature, the unwaged work of social reproduction, and political power. In a nutshell, a socialism for the 21st century must be ecological, feminist, anti-racist, and democratic.
The Katz Lectures are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but it does help us estimate attendance.
Please register and learn more on the Simpson Center for the Humanities website.