Reading in the Time of Monsters 007 - Slobodian, “Crack-Up Capitalism”

Reading in the Time of Monsters

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Reading in the Time of Monsters 007 - Slobodian, “Crack-Up Capitalism”

Peter Berard

Apr 14, 2023

Hello all! In this episode of Reading in the Time of Monsters, we are joined by Quinn Slobodian, professor of the history of ideas at Wellesley College and author most recently of “Crack-Up Capitalism: Market Radicals and the Dream of a World Without Democracy”. Quinn is one of the most incisive historians of the late twentieth century working, and here he cuts through stale debates about globalization versus nationalism to show how ideologues with deep pocketed backers are working to create whole new visions of sovereignty through division. In “Crack-Up Capitalism,” we see how special economic zones, Bantustans, breakaway states and such scifi ideas as seasteading have all provided inspiration — or are instantiations of — the dream of encasing markets, capital, and their hierarchies from interfering democracy. This is an incredibly rich book and Quinn and I only scratch the surface- enjoy the interview then go pick it up!

This will also be this week’s Melendy Avenue Review, so help yourself to a Mithra pic!

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250753892/crackupcapitalism

You can follow Quinn on Twitter @zeithistoriker . While you’re at it, you can follow this podcast @RITTOMpod .

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Reading in the Time of Monsters

The old world is dying; the new one cannot be born; now is the time of monsters. What better time to read, and read seriously? Every pedant on the internet thinks they're a critic because they have cultural preferences and their various streaming and social media services encourage them to state these preferences in little boxes. But some of us think criticism is something more. We know that criticism implies a way of being- a rejection of complacence, a dedication to searching high, low, and in between for insight and perspective, a constant development of the critical toolkit. Not only does that way of being point towards a better existence, but it also makes for criticism that's more fun to read. That's the gambit of this podcast- that there's an audience for something other than same-same mediocrity and parasocial agreement-clubs.

There should be one free episode a month. There will be another for people who become Citizens by subscribing at the Citizen (or Chieftain!) level at Melendy Avenue Review. MAR includes numerous text reviews a month, various life updates and guest posts, cute cat pictures, etc.

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