This is an incoherent analysis based entirely on liberal ideology, particularly an acceptance of the libertarian notion that ‘neoliberal capitalism’ is a separable entity from ‘capitalism as described by Marx, imperialism as described by Lenin, super-imperialism described by Hudson’. This is not the case and does not bear itself out historically, as described in great detail by Parenti in multiple well-cited books.
To the extent that neoliberal capitalism is a different entity it is a different entity BECAUSE it normalized and made permanent the corporatization and privatization of German fascism. Cultural flattening and globalization ARE NOT historically unique to capitalism nor to the neoliberal project. If anything, they precedes them by at least 100 years or more, and capitalism COMES OUT of the cultural flattening of nationalism, and is not it’s root cause. And because of that, capitalism is inextricably tied to the maintenance and perpetuation of the national project.
Hand-in-hand with the capitalist’s at-home national project is to insistence that others are too culturally different to ever find solidarity with and that we must spend all of our time and energy preserving an celebrating those cultural differences. Anthropologists and sociologists should be studying supply chains and monetary theory, not if the town of Anstead spins right three times when they salt their pork. But now, the only proper cosmopolitan is the bourgeoisie, while workers are told that they must represent their national interests.
Fuck you and your liberal aesthetic argument. You cannot convince the liberal bourgeoisie to be socialists or actually approach socialism or communism, because as soon as you get close they will immediately use fascism and fascists to suppress you. One is the tool of the other. You especially cannot do it if you continue to vote for them even when they are the most anti-labor and genocidal president in your lifetime.
They know where their interests lie. Do you?
Anthropologists and sociologists should be studying supply chains and monetary theory, not if the town of Anstead spins right three times when they salt their pork. But now, the only proper cosmopolitan is the bourgeoisie, while workers are told that they must represent their national interests.
Could you give me some literature on this? It is a fascinating point.
There is some level of literature on the concept of ‘cosmopolitanism’ and ‘ethics of race’, but it’s basically an under-developed concept in philosophy. My personal opinion of anthropologists and sociologists is my own, developed by a wide array of readings and personal experiences, and I literally do not have the time to actually write a book or article on it, even though that might be something I do in the future.