Tag: Courts

Rafael Correa & Jean-Luc Mélenchon – Lawfare

Link to an interview with Rafael Correa & Jean-Luc Mélenchon, conducted by Denis Rogatyuk & Patricio Mery Bell:

“Lawfare: The Technocrats’ War on Democracy”

 

Bonus links: “Democracy: When the Opposition is the Media” and “Their Little Show” and “Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was Spied on by Spanish Company for CIA” and An Alger Hiss Memoir

John Steppling – Before the Law

Link to an article by John Steppling:

“Before the Law”

 

While fairly detailed in its analysis and proffered support, the asserted parallels with fascist regimes of the past aren’t fully convincing.  Does the current moment not have neo-feudalist (or neo-Bonapartist) aspects?  Doesn’t the present moment have some unique features without complete historical precedent?

Bonus link: The Courts Are Political

Benjamin Fogel – Against “Anti-Corruption”

Link to an article by Benjamin Fogel:

“Against ‘Anti-Corruption'”

 

Curiously, while the author says moralism isn’t an answer, his argument is essentially moral!  He really is saying mere moralistic, individualistic finger-wagging won’t convince political opponents to change their own ways, which is a tactical argument that recognizes that the problem does not lie at an individual level and therefore cannot be solved at the individual level either but glosses over normative/ideological (moral) bases for structural/institutional action.  But isn’t the author simply arguing that instead of criminalizing the political left through “anti-corruption” laws such policies should instead criminalize the political right?  He offers no real explicit argument to this effect, relying instead on implicit ideology and morality/ethics.  This is about a political struggle for hegemony, making certain specific procedural/tactical suggestions along the lines of Rosa Luxembourg’s famous “socialism or barbarism” maxim.

Bonus links: Slavoj Žižek On Political Struggle (technocrats as defenders of hierarchy) and Slavoj Žižek on Populism (populists) and Ibi Rhodus, Ibi Saltus! Quote (ethics/morals are ultimately political)

Jedediah Purdy – The Courts are Political

Link to an interview of Jedediah Purdy conducted by Meagan Day:

“The Courts are Political”

 

Bonus links: Slavoj Žižek On Political Struggle and “Before the Law” and History of the Supreme Court of the United States and “What Is Socialism Nowadays? (Part II)” and “The New Venezuela: An Interview With Supreme Court Justice Fernando Vegas” and “The Kavanaugh Case: Sex, Lies, Privilege (and Plenty of Beer)” and “Ten Items Corroborate Dr. Blasey Ford’s Allegation Kavanaugh Tried to Rape Her” and “Why Conservatives (Still) Like Kavanaugh” and “Kavanaugh Confirmed, Supreme Court Is Instrument of Ruling-class Reaction” and “The Oligarchic Courts”