Where the fires are

Abstract

Abstract:The disintegration of the social in the USA (and elsewhere) creates the need for a strong central authority to secure order and boundaries. Hence the rise of 'libertarian authoritarianism', a novel political formation that is an inadvertent effect of neoliberal rationality. In this context Trump and other right-wing populist forces can be seen as part of a further reconfguration of neoliberalism. White identity politics and male identity politics play a key role within this. In the face of this persistence and resilience of neoliberalism, we need, not hope, but 'grit, responsibility and determination'. Small acts of local resistance have an important role to play here, and so too does political theory.