Davide’s review of Spectres of Marx > Likes and Comments

This sounds like such a complex read. Great review.

I grew up during the Cold War, and imperialistic, totalitarian Marxist-Leninism was indeed the great danger at that time. Although Marxist-Leninism as such has faded in American academia (to my knowledge; I have never been a professor), the great surge in academia the last few decades has been postmodernism, which has its own evils. I haven't read Derrida, so I cannot speak to his views.

At the other end of the ideological spectrum, we have a resurgence of authoritarian, theocratic, populist right-wing fascism, as represented, almost perfectly, by the MAGA movement and its political success in the United States. This represents, at least at present, the most immediate threat to constitutional democracy.

Both extremes are bad. Indeed, it might be said that they are not on a straight-line continuum but rather circular: Both have, in the last analysis, authoritarian or totalitarian objectives.

Alan wrote: "I grew up during the Cold War, and imperialistic, totalitarian Marxist-Leninism was indeed the great danger at that time. Although Marxist-Leninism as such has faded in American academia (to my kno..."

These two extremes are inseparable: whenever one appears, the other is never far behind. Their propaganda is, in some respects, similar and is based on a narcissistic conception of public ethics. Both need to build a cult of personality around one or more figures, and they use emotional excitement and a sense of urgency to suppress rational thought. When that is not enough, they resort to violence.

Derrida is not a postmodern philosopher. He can be considered the father of deconstructionism. His influence on contemporary academia is probably even greater than that of postmodernism proper, with which he shares many themes but to which he provided something resembling a method — although it might be more accurate to speak of an intellectual garb and a language of reference.

In the United States, the intellectual vocabulary and modes of argument associated with deconstruction have profoundly influenced large parts of the humanities and some areas of the social sciences, particularly literary and cultural studies, queer theory, and important strands of gender studies.

Davide wrote: "Alan wrote: "I grew up during the Cold War, and imperialistic, totalitarian Marxist-Leninism was indeed the great danger at that time. Although Marxist-Leninism as such has faded in American academ..."

Thank you for this explanation. I intend to finish reading your book *Zombies of Marx*, which will undoubtedly clarify matters for me with regard to Derrida et al.

Alan wrote: "Davide wrote: "Alan wrote: "I grew up during the Cold War, and imperialistic, totalitarian Marxist-Leninism was indeed the great danger at that time. Although Marxist-Leninism as such has faded in ..."

I can’t wait to hear what you think.

Kealyn wrote: "This sounds like such a complex read. Great review."

Thank you, Kealyn.

This book isn't my kind of reading, and even reading the back cover left me confused about Derrida's concepts.
I liked your review, though, and
I completely agree with your statement: "These two extremes are inseparable: whenever one appears, the other is never far behind. Their propaganda is, in some respects, similar and is based on a narcissistic conception of public ethics. Both need to build a cult of personality around one or more figures, and they use emotional excitement and a sense of urgency to suppress rational thought. When that isn't enough, they resort to violence."

Tiziana wrote: "This book isn't my kind of reading, and even reading the back cover left me confused about Derrida's concepts.
I liked your review, though, and
I completely agree with your statement: "These two ex..."

Thank you, Tiziana. Your words are very kind.