Why Theory

A Signifier for the Left

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May 7, 2019
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INSIGHT

Progressivism as an Empty Signifier

  • "Progressive" is a signifier without a signified.
  • It attempts to include too much and ultimately designates nothing.
INSIGHT

The Illusion of Progress

  • Progressivism is rooted in the capitalist illusion of progress and the idea of escaping repetition.
  • It avoids confronting the fundamental contradictions of society.
INSIGHT

The Moralizing of Progress

  • Progressivism is tied to an upward trajectory of morality, implying things will improve automatically.
  • This absolves individuals of responsibility for actively changing the present.
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