Solar Politics

Theory Redux (Polity)

by Oxana Timofeeva

This book is a philosophical essay on the sun. It draws on Georges Bataille's theories of the solar economy and solar violence and demonstrates their relevance to a world affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The sun, which, since Antiquity, has played an essential role in our utopian imaginations, is the ultimate source of energy, both productive and destructive. According to Georges Bataille, its infinite generosity can be taken as the model for human societies, which suggests an alternative to the capitalist economy with its infinite expansion, colonization, and disastrous consequences on the cosmic scale.

Taking a step from solar economy to solar politics, Timofeeva locates the grounds for it in solidarity with nature, treated neither as a master nor as a slave, but as a comrade.

The book will appeal to students, academics, artists, and other readers interested in the philosophy of nature, ecology, social and political theory, postcolonial and decolonial studies, and the humanities generally.

Genres: Philosophy, Environment, Politics

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2022

Reviews

[Pep.Kosteyetos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα φιλοσοφικό δοκίμιο για τον ήλιο, την βία και την εκ νέου προσέγγιση της κλιματικής αλλαγής. Σίγουρα ένα απαιτητικό όσο και γοητευτικό ανάγνωσμα, με άψογη δομή. Έπιασα τον εαυτό μου να σημειώνει και να σκέφτεται τα όσα διάβαζε – πολλές φορές μάλιστα χρειάστηκε και δύο και τρεις φορές για να ακολουθήσω το νόημα. Μια εναλλακτική της καπιταλιστικής οικονομίας (και του πράσινου καπιταλισμού) και την επιμονή της στην παραγωγή, την συσσώρευση, την εξάπλωση και την εκμετάλλευση όλων των διαθέσιμων πόρων.
Η ηλιακή πολιτική της Timofeeva προτείνει «την επανεξέταση της κλιματικής αλλαγής ως εξέγερσης της αποικιοκρατούμενης Γης».

Το βιβλίο έχει μεταφραστεί και από τις εκδόσεις Τοποβόρος.

[michal k-c · Rating 3 out of 5]

should preface this by saying i’m a big Bataille defender / apologist. and this book does a really good job at charting the development of violence in philosophical thought from Sorel to Benjamin, Fanon, and Bataille. however the posthumanism is tough to grapple with — i’m not so sure that Bataille’s transgressions and theories of the sacred were in any effort to rid ourselves of the human perspective. still, worth the read for the first chapter on violence, but don’t hold your breath for any left-wing groups to start embracing solar politics and the emancipatory effects of annihilation

[Jooseppi Räikkönen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something to throw to the pile of necro-, techno-, eco-, bio-, and "insertyourfavouritelatin/greekloanhere"- politics, but a pretty fun one. It made me have a stinker about biophysical economics and why the Batailleans haven't entered a blasphemous pact with them as of yet.

Really great in parts and Timofeeva is pretty based. Russian context was refreshing as some allusions to divine violence make a lot more sense there than places like Germany or the UK. Mostly it just let me wishing someone versed in both this stuff and heavy econ would write a thick-as-hell book on all this.

[Ricardo HM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este no es solo un ensayo, sino una oda al sol, antes dios ahora esclavo.

La autora expone y entreteje temas tan diversos, como el colonialismo, la pandemia, la violencia policial, el altruismo de los wombats y la ciencia ficción de Asimov. Con esto, postula una visión heliocéntrica como remedio para sobrevivir los tiempos antropocéntricos del capitaloceno. Su texto nos invita a reconfigurar la relación antagónica entre lo humano y la naturaleza, aprender de la generosidad del sol y aliarnos de él.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect, and it felt like Oxana veered off for a lot of the book, but everything she discussed was interesting and worth reading. I was impressed with how quickly and neatly she tied everything together at the end. And with the variety of other authors she referenced and discussed, I feel like I have 10 more books I need to read after this, including some authors I hadn't heard of before.

[Maty Candelaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking phenomenal book.

I especially loved the chapter on “The Two Kinds of Violence”.

The main point of this point might be: how is George Bataille relevant in a modern political context?

The answer: because he draws our attention to the Sun.

This book is an cosmic-ethical text which urges towards ecology, which retaining radical notes in Marxism, German Idealism, and Anarchism. Such a banger.

[S. Kallahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weirdly, this was best when introducing Bataille's work on violence. The solar part felt more like an after-thought referring to Bataille's Accursed Share work. Still, one of the better books in the Theory Redux bunch.

[Lee Bert · Rating 2 out of 5]

no politics found