Renata Salecl: Capitalism, Apathy and the Rise of Authoritarianism

Slovenian philosopher, sociologist and legal theorist, Renata Salecl, lays bare the fraying fabric of our communities, worn thin by corruption and apathy and she examines corporate exploitation, the unchecked dominance of technology behemoths, and the unsettling rise of new authoritarianism. Renata explores societal inertia, uncovering how feelings of helplessness and disenchantment often render individuals passive and how authoritarian forces capitalise on societal disconnection. She explains that the extreme individualism promoted by capitalism is exactly what needs to be overcome in order to tackle existential crises such as climate change. She confronts the stark realities of corruption, injustice, and the mental health toll perpetuated by capitalist structures—a relentless pursuit of productivity that often culminates in guilt, anxiety, and a dearth of empathy amidst cutthroat competition.

The SystemShift podcast returns for a second season where we look beyond the problems of our economic system and take you on a quest to piece together what a wellbeing economy could look like and how we can get there. As millions of ordinary people feel besieged by a multiplicity of crises, we delve into the shadows to reveal the myths and disinformation that shroud our understanding of the current failing economic and financial systems that drive the exploitation of people and the planet.

SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace Sweden campaigner, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Zane Ford, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár.

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