Josip Rastko Močnik

Short Resume

Author of books and articles on the theory of ideology and the epistemology of the humanities and social sciences. Now teaching contemporary capitalism and the social history of Yugoslavia. Doctor honoris causa at the Plovdiv University "Paisiy Hilendarski". Recent publications: Writings on Contemporary Capitalism (in Croatian), Zagreb, 2016; Theory with Ideology (in the “common” language, “zajednički”), Belgrade, 2019.

Title of the presentation

Abrupt Changes and Long-term Transformations

Abstract

Why would Western Europe, having established quasi-colonial domination over Russia, want to fight it in a proxy war? Why would the USA, based on “the Right of the People … to effect their safety and happiness”, support the genocide in Gaza? To explain these and similar paradoxes, abrupt and unexpected changes, we will examine the long-term systemic processes that have led to our current historical situation. Amid the disorder of a closing epoch and the contradictions of a multiplicity of possible futures, we will seek the elements of a more secure condition for humanity.

Keywords

systemic cycles of accumulation, contemporary capitalism, restoration of capitalism in historical socialisms, systemic processes, multiplicity