Contenu du sommaire : Figures actuelles du capitalisme

Michel Vakaloulis, Advanced Modernity and «r Post »-Modern Modernization : Notes on Research At the end of the twentieth century, changes in the areas of production, spatial-temporal sociability, political domination and culture represent the emergence of a period of « advanced capitalist modernity ». This period is characterized by a radicalization rather than a weakening of established orientations. Defined as a « post »-modern modernization », this transformation is most fundamentally the restructuring of the social relations of capitalist production and, consequently, the possibilities of anti-capitalist struggle.

Jean de Martelaere, From Western Planetary Hegemony to Globalization : Concerning an Hypothesis about the Stratified Development of Capitalism The « globalization » of the capitalist system, so apparent at the present time, is less a contemporary development than the result of the long evolution of a particular mode cf production. Behind the ideological changes and debates that must be confronted when accounting for the transition between the feudal and capitalist modes of production, any study of the globalization of capitalism must be rooted in an analysis of productive relations.

Armelle B. Lefebvre, From Globalization to Globality : Concerning an Hypothesis about the Stratified Development of Capitalism The hypothesis of a stratified or segmental development of capitalism allows a more concrete and nuanced explanation of world capitalist development than the notion of globalization. On the one hand, this hypothesis allows us to take into account more effectively the spatial expansion of the capitalist mode of production, and, on the other hand, permits us to critically assess the outstanding literature on the internationalization of capitalist production.

Tony Andréani, The Capitalist Enterprise : Potential and Reality The contemporary debate over the emergence of a new model of capitalist productive relationships should be understood in relation to the capitalist enterprise as a profit structure and a power structure. However, the new model carefully excludes aspects which detract from the illusion of originality that it attempts to promote.

Jean-Pierre Garnier, Ecologism : Paradigm of Future Time or Screen for the Present ? The advocates of political ecology would have us believe that the translation into practice of their ideas would put an end to the devastation of the planet, the grip of economic rationality, neo-colonization and political oppression. However, examination of the doctrine in question does not reveal a capacity to replace marxism or socialism as radical alternatives to capitalist practice. Political ecology allows, on the contrary, the « greening » of capitalism and thus the continuing destruction of the natural environment.

Eustache Kouvélakis, Contemporary Individuality : Between Resistance and Withdrawal Contemporary individuality is conditioned by the tendency towards « abstract individualization » produced by capitalist social relations and an historic defeat which has terminated a period of struggle against prevailing systems. The present moment is therefore one of a breakdown of individuality and, concurrently, the emergence of new forms of resistance to the disintegrating forces. These new forms of resistance, indissociably individual and social in character, have realigned the boundaries between political practice, aesthetics and ethics. emergence of new forms of resistance to the disintegrating forces. These new forms of resistance, indissociably individual and social in character, have realigned the boundaries between political practice, aesthetics and ethics.

Carlos-Miguel Herrera, Reflections on the Notion of a State of Law The past several years have seen the emergence of a « new » paradigm in political thought in which juridical conceptions take prominence over political ideas. Promoted by politicians and journalists, the notion of a « state of law » has increasingly gained currency. In fact, the promotion of the notion of a « state of law » represents the ideological use of an old idea. It is expressed in a revised language and it serves to legitimate liberal ideology rather than to guarantee respect for human rights.

Christian Ruby, Elements for a Philosophy of Victims : Critique of the Neo-Modernists and the Post-modernists The question of social mutations inevitably raises that of historical perspective because such changes cannot be seen as simple technical modifications. The notion of the victim can perhaps help to discern whatever is most essential in today's neo-modern and post-modern philosophies.

Yves Sintomer, Power and Authority in Arendt's Work Hannah Arendt conceived of power as the ability to act in concert, rather than as power over other human beings. This fundamental human capability has to be combined with authority, which allows the stability of political order through unquestioning recognition instead of persuasion. However, the relation between these two notions is a problematic one. Since tradition has lost its motivational force in the modern world, what can support the supremacy of authority overpower, if both theology and natural law are rejected ? The notions of foundation or constitution are probably not sufficient to provide an acceptable basis for the idea of a republican political authority which transcends the power of the people.