Kajet 4 - The Autocracy of the Centrum and Periphery

My new paper has been published in Kajet Journal 4 - On Periphery with the title The Autocracy of the Centrum and Periphery. 

By producing an archaeology of the periphery, the fourth issue of Kajet explores the possibility of a revised vision for the future of Europe, not in a totalising manner, but in a critical, reflexive way. Kajet alerts the centre of the possibility that there is not one world, not one history, not one future without alternatives, but rather many disparate worlds that are being lived at different speeds, according to different rhythms, producing contradictory histories and futures. Paradoxes are therefore necessary: to remain local but open, homogenous but plural, rooted yet adrift, anchored yet aware of what happens beyond one’s proximity. Our periphery is European and elsewhere altogether.

Authors: Attila Antal, Patricia Becuș, Marek M. Berezowski, Dragoș Boțcău, Julien Britnic, Carnation Studio (Horațiu Șovăială & Raya al Souliman), Alexandra Chiriac, Roberta Curcă, Dezarticulat, Andreea Daniela Dițu, Alex Fisher, Stefan Fraunberger, Flóra Gadó, Anton Hryhorenko, Daniel Hüttler, Ștefan Ionescu-Ambrosie, Jan Jurczak, Kadna, Vicky Kluzik, Ramin Mazur, Zsolt Miklósvölgy, Marija Nemčenko, Karol Radziszewski, Christina Novakov-Ritchey, Johanna Rannula, Alin Răuțoiu, Patrycja Rozwora, Elizabeth Short, Horațiu Șovăială, Ioana Țîștea, Lucian Varvaroi, Laura Naum, Petrică Mogoș 

Edited by Petrică Mogoș & Laura Naum 

Design by Regular Practice

Cover: Rural Carnival, by Ramin Mazur

Publisher: Dispozitiv Books

Language: English 

Pages: 328 pages 

Size: 16,5 x 23 x (2) cm 

ISSN: 2559 - 8015 

Abstract

There is a new cooperation between authoritarian neoliberalism and the rising authoritarian populism in Eastern European periphery. Neoliberalism, which is the drive ideology of neo-colonization of Eastern Europe, not just undermined the democratization, but has found a way to make an unholy compromise with authoritarian leaders. At the same time, the situation is even more complicated given the fact that neoliberalism has Eastern origins. This article deals, investigating the Hungarian case, with one of the main dilemmas in Eastern Europa: how liberal democracy proved so weak to constrain neoliberal autocracy and how authoritarian populism proved so strong to cooperate with neoliberal autocracy? I am convinced the answer lies in the mentioned Eastern roots of neoliberalism.