Conceptualisations of Modern Societies and Theories of Societal Change: Postliberalism and the Challenge to Ecology, Equity and Democracy

Until very recently, the climate crisis and the project of a socio-ecological transformation were widely considered the most serious and urgent challenge facing contemporary societies. Yet, suddenly, ecological issues have slipped down the political priority list. Postliberals militate against ecological or egalitarian policies and agendas of social inclusion – and regard them as the primary cause of what they perceive as the decline and decay of Western countries. As a counter-strategy, they propagate the return to “natural hierarchies” and preliberal values as embodied in tradition and religion. Indeed, postliberalism currently appears to be the most influential and transformative ideology reshaping contemporary Western politics and societies.

In this research seminar, we will seek to distinguish between, and gain a detailed understanding of, (a) postliberal modernity as a socio-theoretical diagnosis and (b) postliberalism as a political project and ideology that inspires far-right movements, parties and politics in the US, the UK and many continental European countries.

Participants acquire detailed knowledge about

·        the interrelationship between current theories of late-modern societies and the challenges agendas of socio-ecological transformation currently have to confront;

·        new controversies about the meaning and desirability of a socio-ecological transformation;

·        sociological diagnoses/theories of late-modern and postliberal societies;

Regular seminar attendance (monitored)

The Seminar consists in equal parts of inputs by the Professor and by the Seminar participants. The detailed discussion of the core texts, and the presentation and defence of the participants’ own work will familiarize the seminar participants with modes of academic work at an advanced level.

Successful completion of this research seminar requires:

·        Regular seminar attendance (monitored) and taking responsibility as lead discussant of academic texts (20%)

·        Presentation and defence of the own research project (50%)

·        Formal review and assessment of a research project or academic article that has been submitted for publication to a journal (30%)

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