Michael Denning, a Yale cultural critic and historian, dives into the socio-political landscape of 1970s Britain, examining the moral panic surrounding muggings and its racial implications. He connects historical crises to contemporary neoliberalism, analyzing how race and class intersect during socio-economic upheavals. Denning critiques the manipulation of societal fears to justify authoritarianism and explores the role of the Lumpen proletariat in revolutionary discourse. His insights illuminate the complexities of law, culture, and community support in the fight for change.
The podcast explores how moral panics, particularly around race and crime, reveal societal fears linked to political and economic changes.
Michael Denning emphasizes conjunctural analysis as a critical method for understanding the interplay of historical contexts and social crises.
The discussion highlights the complex relationship between the capitalist state and class interests, showing the dual role of state power in governance.
Examining historical crises reveals opportunities for collective action among marginalized groups, urging contemporary movements to recognize the importance of coalition-building.
Deep dives
The Impact of Mike Davis's Work
Mike Davis's analysis of urban geography and climate crises highlights the intertwining of capital and environmental devastation. His essays prompt readers to scrutinize the physical and social wreckage resulting from capitalist expansion, particularly in cities. By exploring disasters, both natural and man-made, Davis emphasizes the necessity of understanding capitalism’s role in exacerbating crises. This approach pushes us to reflect on the consequences of neglecting urban ecosystems within the broader discourse of climate change.
Exploring 'Policing the Crisis'
'Policing the Crisis' dissects the moral panic surrounding mugging incidents involving young Black men in the 1970s UK. Rather than assuming an inherent crisis, the authors delve into the socio-economic context, linking race, class, and the political climate of late capitalism. They articulate how this panic served as a lens to analyze the racialized political economy and the fractures within British society. The analysis reveals that fears were not based solely on crime, but also on larger societal transformations and power dynamics.
Conjunctural Analysis and Its Relevance
The concept of conjunctural analysis posits that to understand social phenomena, one must examine specific historical contexts and intersections of various crises. This approach invites a multifaceted perspective on how economic and social conditions interact within political frameworks. The authors emphasize the importance of recognizing unique dynamics that shape public reactions and state responses to crisis situations. Such an analysis remains applicable to contemporary issues, allowing for a better understanding of today's societal conflicts.
The Role of Moral Panics
Moral panics act as a societal mechanism to amplify fears surrounding perceived threats, often enabling state repression under the guise of public safety. In the context of 1970s Britain, various societal fears coalesced around racial and economic anxieties, creating an environment ripe for authoritarian responses. The authors argue that these panics help legitimize increased state control through the consolidation of various perceived threats into a singular existential crisis. Understanding this process is crucial for analyzing modern political climates marked by similar reactions to public dissent.
Intersections of Race, Class, and Politics
The authors articulate the interplay between race and class as critical in shaping political identities and struggles. They argue that race serves as both a structural position within the labor market and a modality through which experiences of exploitation are articulated. By examining the experiences of Black workers in Britain, the study highlights how race informs collective consciousness and political struggles. This intersectionality complicates traditional class analyses and encourages a broader understanding of ruling class dynamics.
The Capitalist State's Function and Autonomy
The capitalist state is presented as a complex entity functioning with a degree of relative autonomy while still serving particular class interests. The authors critique simplistic notions of statehood by demonstrating how legal norms and governance structures can reflect broader economic dynamics. They propose that the state operates as a framework within which distinct class interests can coalesce and manifest as universal rights and obligations. This perspective showcases the duality of state power: facilitative and coercive, which is crucial for understanding contemporary governance.
Historical Contexts and Future Implications
The framework establishes a historical lineage connecting contemporary crises to past capitalist relations and political struggles. By tracing the evolution of state responses and societal reactions, the authors illustrate the cyclical nature of capitalism and its crises. They imply that ongoing struggles against systemic oppression may echo historical pathways, suggesting future resistance could be transformative. This historical awareness fosters a deeper understanding of present-day challenges and potential avenues for social change.
The Significance of Collective Struggles
The examination of collective struggles during times of crisis reveals the potential for widespread action to disrupt hegemonic systems. The authors detail how the intersection of various movements—labor, racial, and youth—served as points of resistance against prevailing state ideologies. However, missed opportunities for solidarity among these groups demonstrate the complexities of achieving a unified front. Recognizing the need for broader coalitions remains essential for future political activism aimed at transformative change.
Featuring Michael Denning on Policing the Crisis: Mugging, the State and Law and Order, collectively authored by Stuart Hall and his colleagues at the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham. Hall’s method of Marxist conjunctural analysis applied to the generalized crisis that paved the way for neoliberalism's rise; a model for how we should ask questions about our world that will provide us with knowledge we need to change it.
