Status Updates From Surplus-Enjoyment: A Guide ...

Recalls Lenin’s gradual economic liberalisation after the initial struggles of Soviet economic policy (framed, in Lenin’s terms, as a tactical “retreat”). In highlighting this moment, Zizek reframes Capitalism as either a pipeline from feudalism to socialism, or from feudalism to corporate neo-feudalism (Hegelian). Asserts the importance of the state; uses Deleuze to critique the idea of anarchist society.

Noting the “self-revolutionising” aspect of capitalism (i.e. incorporating non-capitalist elements into a capitalist framework to preserve the structure of capitalism), Zizek depicts a social disintegration. He details the Chinese state response (via Wang Zhen) to combat this phenomenon through neoconservative patriotism and capitalist reform (promoting small cap business interests, lowering working hours, etc.).