rw irrf vrvirw 6 utv tvv zoo ;

nncv s
FEMI NI SM, CAPI TALI SM
AND THE CUNNI NG OF HI STORY
I
wo0 k u to tako a lioad look at socond-wavo
loninisn. Not at this oi that activist cuiiont, noi this oi that
stiand ol loninist thooiizing, not this oi that googiaphical slico
ol tho novonont, noi this oi that sociological stiatun ol wonon.
I want, iathoi, to tiy to soo socond-wavo loninisn wholo, as an opochal
social phonononon. Looking lack at noaily loity yoais ol loninist
activisn, I want to vontuio an assossnont ol tho novonont`s ovoiall tia-
joctoiy and histoiical signihcanco. In looking lack, howovoi, I hopo also
to holp us look loiwaid. By ioconstiucting tho path wo havo tiavollod, I
hopo to shod light on tho challongos wo laco todayin a tino ol nassivo
ocononic ciisis, social uncoitainty and political ioalignnont.

I an going to toll a stoiy, thon, alout tho lioad contouis and ovoiall
noaning ol socond-wavo loninisn. Equal paits histoiical naiiativo and
social-thooiotical analysis, ny stoiy is plottod aiound thioo points in
tino, oach ol which placos socond-wavo loninisn in iolation to a spo-
cihc nonont in tho histoiy ol capitalisn. Tho hist point iolois to tho
novonont`s loginnings in tho contoxt ol what I will call 'stato-oiganizod
capitalisn`. Hoio I pioposo to chait tho onoigonco ol socond-wavo
loninisn lion tho anti-inpoiialist Now Lolt, as a iadical challongo to tho
poivasivo andiocontiisn ol stato-lod capitalist sociotios in tho postwai
oia. Concoptualizing this phaso, I shall idontily tho novonont`s lunda-
nontal onancipatoiy pioniso with its oxpandod sonso ol injustico and
its stiuctuial ciitiquo ol socioty. Tho socond point iolois to tho piocoss
ol loninisn`s ovolution in tho dianatically changod social contoxt ol
iising nooliloialisn. Hoio, I pioposo to chait not only tho novonont`s
oxtiaoidinaiy succossos lut also tho distuiling convoigonco ol sono ol
8 iv 6
its idoals with tho donands ol an onoiging now loin ol capitalisn
post-Foidist, 'disoiganizod`, tiansnational. Concoptualizing this phaso, I
shall ask whothoi socond-wavo loninisn has unwittingly suppliod a koy
ingiodiont ol what Luc Boltanski and Evo Chiapollo call 'tho now spiiit ol
capitalisn`. Tho thiid point iolois to a possillo iooiiontation ol loninisn
in tho piosont contoxt ol capitalist ciisis and 0s political ioalignnont,
which could naik tho loginnings ol a shilt lion nooliloialisn to a now
loin ol social oiganization. Hoio, I pioposo to oxanino tho piospocts loi
ioactivating loninisn`s onancipatoiy pioniso in a woild that has loon
iockod ly tho twin ciisos ol hnanco capital and 0s hogonony, and that
now awaits tho unlolding ol Baiack Olana`s piosidoncy.
In gonoial, thon, I pioposo to situato tho tiajoctoiy ol socond-wavo loni-
nisn in iolation to tho iocont histoiy ol capitalisn. In this way, I hopo
to holp iovivo tho soit ol socialist-loninist thooiizing that hist inspiiod
no docados ago and that still soons to olloi oui lost hopo loi claiilying
tho piospocts loi gondoi justico in tho piosont poiiod. My ain, howovoi,
is not to iocyclo outnodod dual-systons thooiios, lut iathoi to intogiato
tho lost ol iocont loninist thooiizing with tho lost ol iocont ciitical thoo-
iizing alout capitalisn.
To claiily tho iationalo lohind this appioach, lot no oxplain ny dissatis-
laction with what is poihaps tho nost widoly hold viow ol socond-wavo
loninisn. It is olton said that tho novonont`s iolativo succoss in tians-
loining cultuio stands in shaip contiast with its iolativo lailuio to
tiansloin institutions. This assossnont is doullod-odgod: on tho ono
hand, loninist idoals ol gondoi oquality, so contontious in tho piocoding
docados, now sit squaioly in tho social nainstioan, on tho othoi hand,
thoy havo yot to lo ioalizod in piactico. Thus, loninist ciitiquos ol, loi
oxanplo, soxual haiassnont, soxual tialhcking and unoqual pay, which
appoaiod incondiaiy not so long ago, aio widoly ospousod today, yot this
soa-chango at tho lovol ol attitudos has ly no noans olininatod thoso
piacticos. And so, it is lioquontly aiguod: socond-wavo loninisn has

This ossay oiiginatod as a koynoto loctuio piosontod at tho Coitona Colloquiun on

'Gondoi and Citizonship: Now and Old Dilonnas, Botwoon Equality and Dilloionco`
in Novonloi zoo8. Foi holplul connonts, I thank tho Coitona paiticipants, ospo-
cially Bianca Boccalli, Jano Mansliidgo, Ruth Milknan and Eli Zaiotsky, and tho
paiticipants in an uss soninai at tho Gioupo do sociologio politiquo ot noialo,
ospocially Luc Boltanski, Estollo Foiiaioso, Sandia Laugioi, Patiicia Papoinan and
Lauiont Thvonot.
rvtsrv:
wiought an opochal cultuial iovolution, lut tho vast chango in ncntu|itcs
has not (yot tianslatod into stiuctuial, institutional chango.
Thoio is sonothing to lo said loi this viow, which iightly notos tho
widospioad accoptanco today ol loninist idoas. But tho thosis ol cultuial
succoss-cun-institutional lailuio doos not go voiy lai in illuninating tho
histoiical signihcanco and lutuio piospocts ol socond-wavo loninisn.
Positing that institutions havo laggod lohind cultuio, as il ono could
chango whilo tho othoi did not, it suggosts that wo nood only nako tho
loinoi catch up with tho lattoi in oidoi to ioalizo loninist hopos. Tho
olloct is to olscuio a noio conplox, distuiling possilility: that tho dillu-
sion ol cultuial attitudos loin out ol tho socond wavo has loon pait and
paicol ol anothoi social tiansloination, unanticipatod and unintondod
ly loninist activistsa tiansloination in tho social oiganization ol
postwai capitalisn. This possilility can lo loinulatod noio shaiply:
tho cultuial changos junp-staitod ly tho socond wavo, salutaiy in thon-
solvos, havo soivod to logitinato a stiuctuial tiansloination ol capitalist
socioty that iuns diioctly countoi to loninist visions ol a just socioty.
In this ossay, I ain to oxploio this distuiling possilility. My hypothosis
can lo statod thus: what was tiuly now alout tho socond wavo was tho way
it wovo togothoi, in a ciitiquo ol andiocontiic stato-oiganizod capitalisn,
thioo analytically distinct dinonsions ol gondoi injustico: ocononic, cul-
tuial and political. Suljocting stato-oiganizod capitalisn to wido-ianging,
nultilacotod sciutiny, in which thoso thioo poispoctivos intoininglod
liooly, loninists gonoiatod a ciitiquo that was sinultanoously ianihod
and systonatic. In tho onsuing docados, howovoi, tho thioo dinonsions
ol injustico locano sopaiatod, loth lion ono anothoi and lion tho
ciitiquo ol capitalisn. With tho liagnontation ol tho loninist ciitiquo
cano tho soloctivo incoipoiation and paitial iocupoiation ol sono ol its
stiands. Split oll lion ono anothoi and lion tho sociotal ciitiquo that
had intogiatod thon, socond-wavo hopos woio consciiptod in tho soivico
ol a piojoct that was dooply at odds with oui laigoi, holistic vision ol a
just socioty. In a hno instanco ol tho cunning ol histoiy, utopian dosiios
lound a socond lilo as looling cuiionts that logitinatod tho tiansition
to a now loin ol capitalisn: post-Foidist, tiansnational, nooliloial.
In what lollows, I pioposo to olaloiato this hypothosis in thioo stops,
which coiiospond to tho thioo plot points nontionod oailioi. In a hist
stop, I shall ioconstiuct tho socond-wavo loninist ciitiquo ol andiocontiic
oo iv 6
stato-oiganizod capitalisn as intogiating concoins with thioo poispoc-
tivos on justicoiodistiilution, iocognition and iopiosontation. In a
socond stop, I shall skotch tho coning apait ol that constollation and
tho soloctivo onlistnont ol sono ol its stiands to logitinato nooliloial
capitalisn. In a thiid, I shall woigh tho piospocts loi iocovoiing loni-
nisn`s onancipatoiy pioniso in tho piosont nonont ol ocononic ciisis
and political oponing.
. &ns& n srr-ocnz cvrs&
Lot no login ly situating tho onoigonco ol socond-wavo loninisn in
tho contoxt ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn. By 'stato-oiganizod capitalisn`,
I noan tho hogononic social loination in tho postwai oia, a social loi-
nation in which statos playod an activo iolo in stooiing thoii national
ocononios.
z
Wo aio nost laniliai with tho loin takon ly stato-oiganizod
capitalisn in tho wollaio statos ol what was thon callod tho Fiist Woild,
which usod Koynosian tools to solton tho loonlust cyclos ondonic to
capitalisn. Diawing on tho oxpoiioncos ol tho Dopiossion and wai-tino
planning, thoso statos inplonontod vaiious loins ol dirigisnc, includ-
ing inliastiuctuial invostnont, industiial policy, iodistiilutivo taxation,
social piovision, lusinoss iogulation, nationalization ol sono koy indus-
tiios and doconnodihcation ol pullic goods. Although it was tho nost
woalthy and powoilul oc statos that woio allo to 'oiganizo` capitalisn
nost succosslully in tho docados lollowing q, a vaiiant ol stato-
oiganizod capitalisn could also lo lound in what was thon toinod tho
Thiid Woild. In inpovoiishod ox-colonios, nowly indopondont 'dovolop-
nontal statos` sought to uso thoii noio linitod capacitios to junp-stait
national ocononic giowth ly noans ol inpoit-sulstitution policios,
inliastiuctuial invostnont, nationalization ol koy industiios and pullic
sponding on oducation.

z
Foi a discussion ol this toin, soo Fiiodiich Pollock, 'Stato Capitalisn: Its
Possililitios and Linitations`, in Andiow Aiato and Eiko Golhaidt, ods, Tnc Esscntiu|
Frunkjurt Scncc| Rcudcr, London 8z, pp. ;q.

Thon, too, ocononic lilo in tho Connunist lloc was notoiiously stato-oiganizod,
and thoio aio thoso who would still insist on calling it stato-oiganizod capitalisn.
Although thoio nay lo sono tiuth in that viow, I will lollow tho noio convontional
path ol oxcluding tho iogion lion this hist nonont ol ny stoiy, in pait locauso it
was not until altoi 8 that socond-wavo loninisn onoigod as a political loico in
what woio ly thon ox-Connunist countiios.
rvtsrv: o
In gonoial, thon, I uso this oxpiossion to ioloi to tho oc wollaio statos
and tho ox-colonial dovolopnontal statos ol tho postwai poiiod. It was
in thoso countiios, altoi all, that socond-wavo loninisn hist oiuptod
in tho oaily ;os. To oxplain what oxactly piovokod tho oiuption, lot
no noto loui dohning chaiactoiistics ol tho political cultuio ol stato-
oiganizod capitalisn:
Eccncnisn. By dohnition, stato-oiganizod capitalisn involvod tho
uso ol pullic political powoi to iogulato (and in sono casos, to
ioplaco ocononic naikots. This was laigoly a nattoi ol ciisis
nanagonont in tho intoiost ol capital. Novoitholoss, tho statos
in quostion doiivod nuch ol thoii political logitinacy lion thoii
clains to pionoto inclusion, social oquality and cioss-class
solidaiity. Yot thoso idoals woio intoipiotod in an ocononistic
and class-contiic way. In tho political cultuio ol stato-oiganizod
capitalisn, social quostions woio lianod chioy in distiilutivo
toins, as nattois concoining tho oquitallo allocation ol divisillo
goods, ospocially incono and jols, whilo social divisions woio
viowod piinaiily thiough tho piisn ol class. Thus, tho quintos-
sontial social injustico was unlaii ocononic distiilution, and its
paiadign oxpiossion was class inoquality. Tho olloct ol this class-
contiic, ocononistic inaginaiy was to naiginalizo, il not wholly
to olscuio, othoi dinonsions, sitos and axos ol injustico.
Andrcccntrisn. It lollowod that tho political cultuio ol stato-
oiganizod capitalisn onvisionod tho idoal-typical citizon as an
othnic-najoiity nalo woikoia lioadwinnoi and a lanily nan.
It was widoly assunod, too, that this woikoi`s wago should lo tho
piincipal, il not tho solo, ocononic suppoit ol his lanily, whilo
any wagos oainod ly his wilo should lo noioly supplonontal.
Dooply gondoiod, this 'lanily wago` constiuct soivod loth as a
social idoal, connoting nodoinity and upwaid nolility, and as
tho lasis loi stato policy in nattois ol onploynont, wollaio and
dovolopnont. Giantod, tho idoal oludod nost lanilios, as a nan`s
wago was iaioly ly itsoll sulhciont to suppoit childion and a non-
onployod wilo. And giantod, too, tho Foidist industiy to which
tho idoal was linkod was soon to lo dwailod ly a luigooning
low-wago soivico soctoi. But in tho os and oos, tho lanily-
wago idoal still soivod to dohno gondoi noins and to disciplino
thoso who would contiavono thon, ioinloicing non`s authoiity
oz iv 6
in housoholds and channolling aspiiations into piivatizod donos-
tic consunption. Equally inpoitant, ly valoiizing wagod woik,
tho political cultuio ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn olscuiod tho
social inpoitanco ol unwagod caio woik and iopioductivo laloui.
Institutionalizing andiocontiic undoistandings ol lanily and
woik, it natuializod injusticos ol gondoi and ionovod thon lion
political contostation.
Etutisn. Stato-oiganizod capitalisn was also tatist, sullusod
with a tochnociatic, nanagoiial othos. Rolying on piolossional
oxpoits to dosign policios, and on luioauciatic oiganizations to
inplonont thon, wollaio and dovolopnontal statos tioatod thoso
whon thoy ostonsilly soivod noio as clionts, consunois and
taxpayois than as activo citizons. Tho iosult was a dopoliticizod
cultuio, which tioatod quostions ol justico as tochnical nattois,
to lo sottlod ly oxpoit calculation oi coipoiatist laigaining. Fai
lion loing onpowoiod to intoipiot thoii noods donociatically,
via political doliloiation and contostation, oidinaiy citizons woio
positionod (at lost as passivo iocipionts ol satislactions dohnod
and disponsod lion on high.
Wcstpnu|iunisn. Finally, stato-oiganizod capitalisn was, ly dohni-
tion, a national loination, ainod at nolilizing tho capacitios ol
nation-statos to suppoit national ocononic dovolopnont in tho
nanoil not always in tho intoiostol tho national citizoniy.
Mado possillo ly tho Biotton Woods iogulatoiy lianowoik,
this loination iostod on a division ol political spaco into toi-
iitoiially loundod politios. As a iosult, tho political cultuio ol
stato-oiganizod capitalisn institutionalizod tho 'Wostphalian`
viow that linding olligations ol justico apply only anong lollow
citizons. Sultonding tho lion`s shaio ol social stiugglo in tho post-
wai oia, this viow channollod clains loi justico into tho donostic
political aionas ol toiiitoiial statos. Tho olloct, notwithstanding
lip-soivico to intoinational hunan iights and anti-inpoiialist soli-
daiity, was to tiuncato tho scopo ol justico, naiginalizing, il not
wholly olscuiing, cioss-loidoi injusticos.
q
q
Foi a lulloi account ol tho 'Wostphalian political inaginaiy`, soo Fiasoi, 'Rolianing
Justico in a Glolalizing Woild`, n o, NovonloiDoconloi zoo.
rvtsrv: o
In gonoial, thon, tho political cultuio ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn was
ocononistic, andiocontiic, tatist and Wostphalianall chaiactoiistics
that cano undoi attack in tho lato oos and ;os. In thoso yoais ol
oxplosivo iadicalisn, socond-wavo loninists joinod thoii Now Lolt and
anti-inpoiialist countoipaits in challonging tho ocononisn, tho tatisn,
and (to a lossoi dogioo tho Wostphalianisn ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn,
whilo also contosting tho lattoi`s andiocontiisnand with it, tho soxisn
ol thoii coniados and allios. Lot us considoi thoso points ono ly ono.
Scccnd-wuvc jcninisn ccntru cccncnisn. Rojocting tho oxclusivo
idontihcation ol injustico with class naldistiilution, socond-wavo
loninists joinod othoi onancipatoiy novononts to luist opon
tho iostiictivo, ocononistic inaginaiy ol stato-oiganizod capital-
isn. Politicizing 'tho poisonal`, thoy oxpandod tho noaning ol
justico, iointoipioting as injusticos social inoqualitios that had
loon ovoilookod, toloiatod oi iationalizod sinco tino innonoiial.
Rojocting loth Maixisn`s oxclusivo locus on political oconony
and liloialisn`s oxclusivo locus on law, thoy unvoilod injusticos
locatod olsowhoioin tho lanily and in cultuial tiaditions, in
civil socioty and in ovoiyday lilo. In addition, socond-wavo loni-
nists oxpandod tho nunloi ol axos that could hailoui injustico.
Rojocting tho piinacy ol class, socialist-loninists, llack loni-
nists and anti-inpoiialist loninists also opposod iadical-loninist
olloits to install gondoi in that sano position ol catogoiial piivi-
logo. Focusing not only on gondoi, lut also on class, iaco, soxuality
and nationality, thoy pionooiod an 'intoisoctionist` altoinativo that
is widoly accoptod today. Finally, socond-wavo loninists oxtondod
tho puiviow ol justico to tako in such pioviously piivato nattois as
soxuality, housowoik, iopioduction and violonco against wonon.
In so doing, thoy olloctivoly lioadonod tho concopt ol injustico to
onconpass not only ocononic inoqualitios lut also hioiaichios
ol status and asynnotiios ol political powoi. With tho lonoht ol
hindsight, wo can say that thoy ioplacod a nonistic, ocononistic
viow ol justico with a lioadoi thioo-dinonsional undoistanding,
onconpassing oconony, cultuio and politics.
Tho iosult was no noio laundiy list ol singlo issuos. On tho
contiaiy, what connoctod tho plothoia ol nowly discovoiod
injusticos was tho notion that wonon`s suloidination was sys-
tonic, gioundod in tho doop stiuctuios ol socioty. Socond-wavo
oq iv 6
loninists aiguod, ol couiso, alout how lost to chaiactoiizo tho
social totalitywhothoi as 'patiiaichy`, as a 'dual-systons` anal-
gan ol capitalisn and patiiaichy, as an inpoiialist woild syston,
oi, in ny own pioloiiod viow, as a histoiically spocihc, andio-
contiic loin ol stato-oiganizod capitalist socioty, stiuctuiod ly
thioo intoiponotiating oidois ol suloidination: (naldistiilution,
(nisiocognition and (nisiopiosontation. But dospito such dilloi-
oncos, nost socond-wavo loninistswith tho notallo oxcoption
ol liloial-loninistsconcuiiod that ovoiconing wonon`s suloi-
dination ioquiiod iadical tiansloination ol tho doop stiuctuios
ol tho social totality. This shaiod connitnont to systonic tians-
loination lotokonod tho novonont`s oiigins in tho lioadoi
onancipatoiy loinont ol tho tinos.
Scccnd-wuvc jcninisn ccntru undrcccntrisn. Il socond-wavo
loninisn paitook ol tho gonoial auia ol oos iadicalisn, it
novoitholoss stood in a tonso iolation with othoi onancipatoiy
novononts. Its chiol taigot, altoi all, was tho gcndcr injustico
ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn, haidly a piioiity loi non-loninist
anti-inpoiialists and Now Loltists. In nounting thoii ciitiquo ol
stato-oiganizod capitalisn`s andiocontiisn, noioovoi, socond-
wavo loninists had also to conliont soxisn within tho Lolt. Foi
liloial and iadical loninists, this posod no spocial piollon,
thoy could sinply tuin sopaiatist and oxit tho Lolt. Foi socialist-
loninists, anti-inpoiialist loninists and loninists ol coloui, in
contiast, tho dilhculty was to conliont soxisn within tho Lolt
whilo ionaining pait ol it.
Foi a tino, at loast, socialist-loninists succoodod in naintaining
that dilhcult lalanco. Thoy locatod tho coio ol andiocontiisn in
a gondoi division ol laloui which systonatically dovaluod activi-
tios, loth paid and unpaid, that woio poiloinod ly oi associatod
with wonon. Applying this analysis to stato-oiganizod capitalisn,
thoy uncovoiod tho doop-stiuctuial connoctions lotwoon won-
on`s iosponsilility loi tho lion`s shaio ol unpaid caiogiving, thoii
suloidination in naiiiago and poisonal lilo, tho gondoi sognon-
tation ol laloui naikots, non`s donination ol tho political syston,
and tho andiocontiisn ol wollaio piovision, industiial policy and
dovolopnont schonos. In olloct, thoy oxposod tho lanily wago
as tho point whoio gondoi naldistiilution, nisiocognition and
rvtsrv: o
nisiopiosontation convoigod. Tho iosult was a ciitiquo that into-
giatod oconony, cultuio and politics in a systonatic account ol
wonon`s suloidination in stato-oiganizod capitalisn. Fai lion
aining sinply to pionoto wonon`s lull incoipoiation as wago-
oainois in capitalist socioty, socond-wavo loninists sought to
tiansloin tho syston`s doop stiuctuios and aninating valuosin
pait ly docontiing wago woik and valoiizing unwagod activitios,
ospocially tho socially nocossaiy caiowoik poiloinod ly wonon.
Scccnd-wuvc jcninisn ccntru ctutisn. But loninists` oljoctions to
stato-oiganizod capitalisn woio as nuch concoinod with pioc-
oss as with sulstanco. Liko thoii Now Lolt allios, thoy iojoctod
tho luioauciatic-nanagoiial othos ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn.
To tho widospioad oos ciitiquo ol Foidist oiganization thoy
addod a gondoi analysis, intoipioting tho cultuio ol laigo-scalo,
top-down institutions as oxpiossing tho nodoinizod nasculinity
ol tho piolossional-nanagoiial stiatun ol stato-oiganizod capital-
isn. Dovoloping a hoiizontal countoi-othos ol sistoily connoction,
socond-wavo loninists cioatod tho ontiioly now oiganizational
piactico ol consciousnoss-iaising. Sooking to liidgo tho shaip
tatist divido lotwoon thooiy and piactico, thoy stylod thonsolvos
as a countoicultuial donociatizing novonontanti-hioiaichical,
paiticipatoiy and donotic. In an oia whon tho acionyn 'nco`
did not yot oxist, loninist acadonics, lawyois and social woikois
idontihod noio with tho giass ioots than with tho ioigning pio-
lossional othos ol dopoliticizod oxpoitiso.
But unliko sono ol thoii countoicultuial coniados, nost loni-
nists did not iojoct stato institutions sinp|icitcr. Sooking, iathoi,
to inluso tho lattoi with loninist valuos, thoy onvisionod a
paiticipatoiy-donociatic stato that onpowoiod its citizons.
Elloctivoly io-inagining tho iolation lotwoon stato and socioty,
thoy sought to tiansloin thoso positionod as passivo oljocts ol
wollaio and dovolopnont policy into activo suljocts, onpowoiod
to paiticipato in donociatic piocossos ol nood intoipiotation. Tho
goal, accoidingly, was loss to disnantlo stato institutions than to
tiansloin thon into agoncios that would pionoto, and indood
oxpioss, gondoi justico.
oo iv 6
Scccnd-wuvc jcninisn ccntru und prc Wcstpnu|iunisn. Moio
anlivalont, poihaps, was loninisn`s iolation to tho Wostphalian
dinonsion ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn. Givon its oiigins in tho
glolal anti-Viotnan Wai loinont ol tho tino, tho novonont was
cloaily disposod to lo sonsitivo to tians-loidoi injusticos. This was
ospocially tho caso loi loninists in tho dovoloping woild, whoso
gondoi ciitiquo was intoiwovon with a ciitiquo ol inpoiialisn.
But thoio, as olsowhoio, nost loninists viowod thoii iospoctivo
statos as tho piincipal addiossoos ol thoii donands. Thus, socond-
wavo loninists tondod to ioinsciilo tho Wostphalian liano at
tho lovol ol piactico, ovon whon thoy ciiticizod it at tho lovol ol
thooiy. That liano, which dividod tho woild into loundod toiiito-
iial politios, ionainod tho dolault option in an oia whon statos
still soonod to possoss tho ioquisito capacitios loi social stooiing
and whon tho tochnology onalling ioal-tino tiansnational not-
woiking was not yot availallo. In tho contoxt ol stato-oiganizod
capitalisn, thon, tho slogan 'sistoihood is glolal` (itsoll alioady
contostod as inpoiializing lunctionod noio as an alstiact gos-
tuio than as a post-Wostphalian political piojoct that could lo
piactically puisuod.
In gonoial, socond-wavo loninisn ionainod anlivalontly Wostphalian,
ovon as it iojoctod tho ocononisn, andiocontiisn and tatisn ol
stato-oiganizod capitalisn. On all thoso issuos, howovoi, it nanilostod
considoiallo nuanco. In iojocting ocononisn, tho loninists ol this
poiiod novoi doultod tho contiality ol distiilutivo justico and tho cii-
tiquo ol political oconony to tho piojoct ol wonon`s onancipation. Fai
lion wanting to nininizo tho ocononic dinonsion ol gondoi injustico,
thoy sought, iathoi, to doopon it, ly claiilying its iolation with tho two
additional dinonsions ol cultuio and politics. Likowiso, in iojocting tho
andiocontiisn ol tho lanily wago, socond-wavo loninists novoi sought
sinply to ioplaco it with tho two-oainoi lanily. Foi thon, ovoiconing
gondoi injustico noant onding tho systonatic dovaluation ol caiogiving
and tho gondoi division ol laloui, loth paid and unpaid. Finally, in
iojocting tho tatisn ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn, socond-wavo loni-
nists novoi doultod tho nood loi stiong political institutions capallo ol
oiganizing ocononic lilo in tho soivico ol justico. Fai lion wanting to
lioo naikots lion stato contiol, thoy sought iathoi to donociatizo stato
powoi, to naxinizo citizon paiticipation, to stiongthon accountalility,
and to incioaso connunicativo ows lotwoon stato and socioty.
rvtsrv: o;
All told, socond-wavo loninisn ospousod a tiansloinativo political
piojoct, pionisod on an oxpandod undoistanding ol injustico and a
systonic ciitiquo ol capitalist socioty. Tho novonont`s nost advancod
cuiionts saw thoii stiugglos as nulti-dinonsional, ainod sinultano-
ously against ocononic oxploitation, status hioiaichy and political
suljoction. To thon, noioovoi, loninisn appoaiod as pait ol a lioadoi
onancipatoiy piojoct, in which stiugglos against gondoi injusticos woio
nocossaiily linkod to stiugglos against iacisn, inpoiialisn, honopholia
and class donination, all ol which ioquiiod tiansloination ol tho doop
stiuctuios ol capitalist socioty.
. &ns& n ru 'nw svr o cvrs&`
As it tuinod out, that piojoct ionainod laigoly stillloin, a casualty ol
doopoi histoiical loicos, which woio not woll undoistood at tho tino.
With tho lonoht ol hindsight, wo can now soo that tho iiso ol socond-
wavo loninisn coincidod with a histoiical shilt in tho chaiactoi ol
capitalisn, lion tho stato-oiganizod vaiiant just discussod to nooliloial-
isn. Rovoising tho piovious loinula, which sought to 'uso politics to
tano naikots`, piopononts ol this now loin ol capitalisn pioposod to
uso naikots to tano politics. Disnantling koy olononts ol tho Biotton
Woods lianowoik, thoy olininatod tho capital contiols that had onallod
Koynosian stooiing ol national ocononios. In placo ol dirigisnc, thoy pio-
notod piivatization and doiogulation, in placo ol pullic piovision and
social citizonship, 'tiicklo-down` and 'poisonal iosponsilility`, in placo
ol tho wollaio and dovolopnontal statos, tho loan, noan 'conpotition
stato`. Road-tostod in Latin Anoiica, this appioach soivod to guido nuch
ol tho tiansition to capitalisn in East]Contial Euiopo. Although pullicly
chanpionod ly Thatchoi and Roagan, it was appliod only giadually and
unovonly in tho Fiist Woild. In tho Thiid, ly contiast, nooliloialization
was inposod at tho gunpoint ol dolt, as an onloicod piogianno ol
'stiuctuial adjustnont` which ovoituinod all tho contial tonots ol dovolop-
nontalisn and conpollod post-colonial statos to divost thoii assots, opon
thoii naikots and slash social sponding.
Intoiostingly, socond-wavo loninisn thiivod in thoso now conditions.
What had logun as a iadical countoicultuial novonont was now cn rcutc
to loconing a lioad-lasod nass social phonononon. Attiacting adhoi-
onts ol ovoiy class, othnicity, nationality and political idoology, loninist
o8 iv 6
idoas lound thoii way into ovoiy nook and cianny ol social lilo and tians-
loinod tho soll-undoistandings ol all whon thoy touchod. Tho olloct
was not only vastly to oxpand tho ianks ol activists lut also to ioshapo
connonsonso viows ol lanily, woik and dignity.
Was it noio coincidonco that socond-wavo loninisn and nooliloial-
isn piospoiod in tandon? Oi was thoio sono poivoiso, sultoiianoan
oloctivo alhnity lotwoon thon? That socond possilility is hoiotical, to
lo suio, lut wo lail to invostigato it at oui poiil. Coitainly, tho iiso ol
nooliloialisn dianatically changod tho toiiain on which socond-wavo
loninisn opoiatod. Tho olloct, I shall aiguo hoio, was to iosignily loni-
nist idoals.

Aspiiations that had a cloai onancipatoiy thiust in tho

contoxt ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn assunod a lai noio anliguous
noaning in tho nooliloial oia. With wollaio and dovolopnontal statos
undoi attack lion lioo-naikotoois, loninist ciitiquos ol ocononisn,
andiocontiisn, tatisn and Wostphalianisn took on a now valonco. Lot
no claiily this dynanic ol iosignihcation ly iovisiting thoso loui loci ol
loninist ciitiquo.
Fcninist unti-cccncnisn rcsignijcd. Nooliloialisn`s iiso coincidod
with a najoi altoiation in tho political cultuio ol capitalist soc-
iotios. In this poiiod, clains loi justico woio incioasingly couchod
as clains loi tho iocognition ol idontity and dilloionco.
o
With
this shilt 'lion iodistiilution to iocognition` cano powoilul
piossuios to tiansloin socond-wavo loninisn into a vaiiant ol
idontity politics. A piogiossivo vaiiant, to lo suio, lut ono that
tondod novoitholoss to ovoioxtond tho ciitiquo ol cultuio, whilo
downplaying tho ciitiquo ol political oconony. In piactico, tho
tondoncy was to suloidinato social-ocononic stiugglos to stiug-
glos loi iocognition, whilo in tho acadony, loninist cultuial
thooiy logan to oclipso loninist social thooiy. What had logun as
a noodod coiioctivo to ocononisn dovolvod in tino into an oqually
ono-sidod cultuialisn. Thus, instoad ol aiiiving at a lioadoi,
iichoi paiadign that could onconpass loth iodistiilution and
iocognition, socond-wavo loninists olloctivoly tiadod ono tiun-
catod paiadign loi anothoi.

I loiiow tho toin 'iosignihcation` lion Judith Butloi, 'Contingont Foundations`,

in Soyla Bonhalil, Judith Butloi, Diucilla Coinoll and Nancy Fiasoi, Fcninist
Ccntcnticns. A Pni|cscpnicu| Ecnungc, London q.
o
Foi this chango in tho giannai ol political clains, soo Fiasoi, 'Fion Rodistiilution
to Rocognition?`, n ]zz, JulyAugust .
rvtsrv: o
Tho tining, noioovoi, could not havo loon woiso. Tho tuin to
iocognition dovotailod all too noatly with a iising nooliloialisn
that wantod nothing noio than to iopioss all nonoiy ol social
ogalitaiianisn. Thus, loninists alsolutizod tho ciitiquo ol cultuio
at piocisoly tho nonont whon ciicunstancos ioquiiod iodoullod
attontion to tho ciitiquo ol political oconony. As tho ciitiquo
splintoiod, noioovoi, tho cultuial stiand locano docouplod not
only lion tho ocononic stiand, lut also lion tho ciitiquo ol capi-
talisn that had pioviously intogiatod thon. Unnooiod lion tho
ciitiquo ol capitalisn and nado availallo loi altoinativo aiticula-
tions, thoso stiands could lo diawn into what Hostoi Eisonstoin
has callod 'a dangoious liaison` with nooliloialisn.
;

Fcninist unti-undrcccntrisn rcsignijcd. It was only a nattoi ol tino,
thoioloio, loloio nooliloialisn iosignihod tho loninist ciitiquo ol
andiocontiisn. To oxplain how, I pioposo to adapt an aigunont
nado ly Luc Boltanski and Evo Chiapollo. In thoii inpoitant
look, Tnc Ncw Spirit cj Cupitu|isn, thoy contond that capitalisn
poiiodically ionakos itsoll in nononts ol histoiical iuptuio, in
pait ly iocupoiating stiands ol ciitiquo diioctod against it.
8
In
such nononts, olononts ol anti-capitalist ciitiquo aio iosignihod
to logitinato an onoigont now loin ol capitalisn, which thoioly
loconos ondowod with tho highoi, noial signihcanco noodod to
notivato now gonoiations to shouldoi tho inhoiontly noaningloss
woik ol ondloss accunulation. Foi Boltanski and Chiapollo, tho
now 'spiiit` that has soivod to logitinato tho oxillo nooliloial
capitalisn ol oui tino was lashionod lion tho Now Lolt`s 'aitis-
tic` ciitiquo ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn, which donouncod tho
gioy conloinisn ol coipoiato cultuio. It was in tho acconts ol
May o8, thoy clain, that nooliloial nanagonont thooiists pio-
poundod a now 'connoxionist`, 'piojoct` capitalisn, in which iigid
oiganizational hioiaichios would givo way to hoiizontal toans
and oxillo notwoiks, thoioly liloiating individual cioativity. Tho
iosult was a now ionanco ol capitalisn with ioal-woild olloctsa
;
Hostoi Eisonstoin, 'A Dangoious Liaison? Foninisn and Coipoiato Glolalization`,
Scicncc und Sccicty, vol. o, no. , zoo.
8
Luc Boltanski and Evo Chiapollo, Tnc Ncw Spirit cj Cupitu|isn, London zoo jPaiis
|. Foi an intoipiotation ol psychoanalysis as tho spiiit ol 'tho socond industiial
iovolution`, which concludos ly positing loninisn as tho spiiit ol tho 'thiid`, soo
Eli Zaiotsky, 'Psychoanalysis and tho Spiiit ol Capitalisn`, Ccnstc||uticns, vol. ,
no. , zoo8.
o iv 6
ionanco that onvolopod tho toch stait-ups ol Silicon Valloy and
that today hnds its puiost oxpiossion in tho othos ol Googlo.
Boltanski and Chiapollo`s aigunont is oiiginal and piolound.
Yot, locauso it is gondoi-llind, it lails to giasp tho lull chaiac-
toi ol tho spiiit ol nooliloial capitalisn. To lo suio, that spiiit
includos a nasculinist ionanco ol tho lioo, unoncunloiod, soll-
lashioning individual, which thoy aptly dosciilo. But nooliloial
capitalisn has as nuch to do with Walnait, nuqui|udcrus and
niciociodit as with Silicon Valloy and Googlo. And its indispon-
sallo woikois aio dispiopoitionatoly wonon, not only young
singlo wonon, lut also naiiiod wonon and wonon with chil-
dion, not only iacializod wonon, lut wonon ol viitually all
nationalitios and othnicitios. As such, wonon havo pouiod into
laloui naikots aiound tho glolo, tho olloct has loon to undoicut
onco and loi all stato-oiganizod capitalisn`s idoal ol tho lanily
wago. In 'disoiganizod` nooliloial capitalisn, that idoal has loon
ioplacod ly tho noin ol tho two-oainoi lanily. Novoi nind that
tho ioality which undoilios tho now idoal is dopiossod wago lov-
ols, docioasod jol socuiity, doclining living standaids, a stoop
iiso in tho nunloi ol houis woikod loi wagos poi housohold,
oxacoilation ol tho doullo shiltnow olton a tiiplo oi quadiu-
plo shiltand a iiso in lonalo-hoadod housoholds. Disoiganizod
capitalisn tuins a sow`s oai into a silk puiso ly olaloiating
a now ionanco ol lonalo advanconont and gondoi justico.
Distuiling as it nay sound, I an suggosting that socond-wavo
loninisn has unwittingly piovidod a koy ingiodiont ol tho now
spiiit ol nooliloialisn. Oui ciitiquo ol tho lanily wago now sup-
plios a good pait ol tho ionanco that invosts oxillo capitalisn
with a highoi noaning and a noial point. Endowing thoii daily
stiugglos with an othical noaning, tho loninist ionanco attiacts
wonon at loth onds ol tho social spoctiun: at ono ond, tho lonalo
cadios ol tho piolossional niddlo classos, dotoininod to ciack
tho glass coiling, at tho othoi ond, tho lonalo tonps, pait-tinois,
low-wago soivico onployoos, donostics, sox woikois, nigiants,
vz woikois and niciociodit loiiowois, sooking not only incono
and natoiial socuiity, lut also dignity, soll-lottoinont and lil-
oiation lion tiaditional authoiity. At loth onds, tho dioan ol
wonon`s onancipation is hainossod to tho ongino ol capitalist
rvtsrv:
accunulation. Thus, socond-wavo loninisn`s ciitiquo ol tho lan-
ily wago has onjoyod a poivoiso altoililo. Onco tho contiopioco ol
a iadical analysis ol capitalisn`s andiocontiisn, it soivos today to
intonsily capitalisn`s valoiization ol wagod laloui.
Fcninist unti-ctutisn rcsignijcd. Nooliloialisn has also iosigni-
hod tho anti-tatisn ol tho piovious poiiod, naking it giist loi
schonos ainod at ioducing stato action tcut ccurt. In tho now cli-
nato, it soonod lut a shoit stop lion socond-wavo loninisn`s
ciitiquo ol wollaio-stato patoinalisn to Thatchoi`s ciitiquo ol
tho nanny stato. That was coitainly tho oxpoiionco in tho Unitod
Statos, whoio loninists watchod holplossly as Bill Clinton tii-
angulatod thoii nuancod ciitiquo ol a soxist and stignatizing
syston ol pooi ioliol into a plan to 'ond wollaio as wo know it`,
which alolishod tho Fodoial ontitlonont to incono suppoit. In
tho postcolonios, noanwhilo, tho ciitiquo ol tho dovolopnontal
stato`s andiocontiisn noiphod into onthusiasn loi ncos, which
onoigod ovoiywhoio to hll tho spaco vacatod ly shiinking statos.
Coitainly, tho lost ol thoso oiganizations piovidod uigontly
noodod natoiial aid to populations loiolt ol pullic soivicos. Yot
tho olloct was olton to dopoliticizo local gioups and to skow thoii
agondas in diioctions lavouiod ly Fiist-Woild lundois. By its voiy
stop-gap natuio, noioovoi, nco action did littlo to challongo tho
iocoding tido ol pullic piovision oi to luild political suppoit loi
iosponsivo stato action.

Tho oxplosion ol niciociodit illustiatos tho dilonna. Countoi-

posing loninist valuos ol onpowoinont and paiticipation lion
lolow to tho passivity-inducing iod tapo ol top-down tatisn, tho
aichitocts ol thoso piojocts havo cialtod an innovativo synthosis ol
individual soll-holp and connunity notwoiking, nco ovoisight
and naikot nochanisnsall ainod at conlating wonon`s pov-
oity and gondoi suljoction. Tho iosults so lai includo an inpiossivo
iocoid ol loan iopaynonts and anocdotal ovidonco ol livos tians-
loinod. What has loon concoalod, howovoi, in tho loninist
hoopla suiiounding thoso piojocts, is a distuiling coincidonco:

Sonia Alvaioz, 'Advocating Foninisn: Tho Latin Anoiican Foninist nco

Boon"`, !ntcrnuticnu| Fcninist ]curnu| cj Pc|itics, vol. , no. z, , Caiol Baiton,
'Glolal Wonon`s Movononts at a Ciossioads`, Scciu|isn und Dcnccrucy, vol. 8,
no. , zooq.
z iv 6
niciociodit has luigoonod just as statos havo alandonod nacio-
stiuctuial olloits to hght povoity, olloits that snall-scalo londing
cannot possilly ioplaco.
o
In this caso too, tho loninist ciitiquo ol
luioauciatic patoinalisn has loon iocupoiatod ly nooliloialisn.
A poispoctivo ainod oiiginally at tiansloining stato powoi into a
vohiclo ol citizon onpowoinont and social justico is now usod to
logitinato naikotization and stato iotionchnont.
Fcninist ccntru und prc Wcstpnu|iunisn rcsignijcd. Finally, noo-
liloialisn altoiod loi lottoi and loi woiso socond-wavo loninisn`s
anlivalont iolation to tho Wostphalian liano. In tho now
contoxt ol 'glolalization`, it no longoi goos without saying that
tho loundod toiiitoiial stato is tho solo logitinato containoi loi
olligations ol, and stiugglos loi, justico. Foninists havo joinod
onviionnontalists, hunan-iights activists and ciitics ol tho wro in
challonging that viow. Molilizing post-Wostphalian intuitions that
had ionainod inpiacticallo in stato-oiganizod capitalisn, thoy
havo taigotod tians-loidoi injusticos that had loon naiginalizod
oi nogloctod in tho piovious oia. Utilizing now connunication
tochnologios to ostallish tiansnational notwoiks, loninists havo
pionooiod innovativo stiatogios such as tho 'loonoiang olloct`,
which nolilizos glolal pullic opinion to spotlight local alusos
and to shano tho statos that condono thon.

Tho iosult was a

pionising now loin ol loninist activisntiansnational, nulti-
scalai, post-Wostphalian.
But tho tiansnational tuin liought dilhcultios too. Olton styniod
at tho lovol ol tho stato, nany loninists diioctod thoii onoigios to
tho 'intoinational` aiona, ospocially to a succossion ol 0n-iolatod
conloioncos, lion Naiioli to Vionna to Boijing and loyond.
Building a piosonco in 'glolal civil socioty` lion which to ongago
now ioginos ol glolal govoinanco, thoy locano ontanglod in
sono ol tho piollons I havo alioady notod. Foi oxanplo, can-
paigns loi wonon`s hunan iights locusod ovoiwholningly on
o
Una Naiayan, 'Inloinal Soctoi Woik, Miciociodit and Thiid Woild Wonon`s
Enpowoinont": A Ciitical Poispoctivo`, papoi piosontod at tho xx Woild
Congioss ol Philosophy ol Law and Social Philosophy, May zoo, Gianada,
Eisonstoin, 'A Dangoious Liaison?`.

Maigaiot Kock and Kathiyn Sikkink, Activists Bcycnd Bcrdcrs. Advccucy Nctwcrks in
!ntcrnuticnu| Pc|itics, Ithaca, nv 8.
rvtsrv:
issuos ol violonco and iopioduction, as opposod, loi oxanplo, to
povoity. Ratilying tho Cold Wai split lotwoon civil and political
iights, on tho ono hand, and social and ocononic iights, on tho
othoi, thoso olloits, too, havo piivilogod iocognition ovoi iodistii-
lution. In addition, thoso canpaigns intonsihod tho nco-ihcation
ol loninist politics, widoning tho gap lotwoon piolossionals and
local gioups, whilo accoiding dispiopoitionato voico to English-
spoaking olitos. Analogous dynanics havo loon opoiating in tho
loninist ongagonont with tho policy appaiatus ol tho Euiopoan
Unionospocially givon tho alsonco ol gonuinoly tiansnational,
Euiopo-wido wonon`s novononts. Thus, tho loninist ciitiquo ol
Wostphalianisn has piovod anlivalont in tho oia ol nooliloialisn.
What logan as a salutaiy attonpt to oxpand tho scopo ol justico
loyond tho nation-stato has ondod up dovotailing in sono iospocts
with tho adninistiativo noods ol a now loin ol capitalisn.
In gonoial, thon, tho lato ol loninisn in tho nooliloial oia piosonts a
paiadox. On tho ono hand, tho iolativoly snall countoicultuial novo-
nont ol tho piovious poiiod has oxpandod oxponontially, succosslully
dissoninating its idoas acioss tho glolo. On tho othoi, loninist
idoas havo undoigono a sultlo shilt in valonco in tho altoiod contoxt.
Unanliguously onancipatoiy in tho oia ol stato-oiganizod capitalisn,
ciitiquos ol ocononisn, andiocontiisn, tatisn and Wostphalianisn
now appoai liaught with anliguity, suscoptillo to soiving tho logitina-
tion noods ol a now loin ol capitalisn. Altoi all, this capitalisn would
nuch pioloi to conliont clains loi iocognition ovoi clains loi iodistii-
lution, as it luilds a now iogino ol accunulation on tho coinoistono
ol wonon`s wagod laloui, and sooks to disonlod naikots lion social
iogulation in oidoi to opoiato all tho noio liooly on a glolal scalo.
. n ovn 0r0:
Today, howovoi, this capitalisn is itsoll at a ciitical ciossioads. Coitainly,
tho glolal hnancial ciisis and tho docidodly post-nooliloial iosponso
to it ly loading statosall Koynosians nownaik tho loginning ol
nooliloialisn`s ond as an ocononic iogino. Tho oloction ol Baiack
Olana nay signal tho docisivo iopudiation, ovon in tho lolly ol tho
loast, ol nooliloialisn as a political piojoct. Wo nay lo sooing tho
oaily stiiiings ol a now wavo ol nolilization ainod at aiticulating an
q iv 6
altoinativo. Poihaps, accoidingly, wo stand poisod at tho liink ol yot
anothoi 'gioat tiansloination`, as nassivo and piolound as tho ono I
havo just dosciilod.
Il so, thon tho shapo ol tho succossoi socioty will lo tho oljoct ol intonso
contostation in tho coning poiiod. And loninisn will loatuio inpoi-
tantly in such contostationat two dilloiont lovols: hist, as tho social
novonont whoso loitunos I havo tiacod hoio, which will sook to onsuio
that tho succossoi iogino institutionalizos a connitnont to gondoi jus-
tico. But also, socond, as a gonoial discuisivo constiuct which loninists
in tho hist sonso no longoi own and do not contiolan onpty signihoi
ol tho good (akin, poihaps, to 'donociacy`, which can and will lo invokod
to logitinato a vaiioty ol dilloiont sconaiios, not all ol which pionoto
gondoi justico. An ollspiing ol loninisn in tho hist, social-novonont
sonso, this socond, discuisivo sonso ol 'loninisn` has gono ioguo. As tho
discouiso loconos indopondont ol tho novonont, tho lattoi is incioas-
ingly conliontod with a stiango shadowy voision ol itsoll, an uncanny
doullo that it can noithoi sinply onliaco noi wholly disavow.
z

In this ossay, I havo nappod tho disconcoiting danco ol thoso two loni-
nisns in tho shilt lion stato-oiganizod capitalisn to nooliloialisn. What
should wo concludo lion it? Coitainly not that socond-wavo loninisn
has lailod sinp|icitcr, noi that it is to llano loi tho tiiunph ol nooliloial-
isn. Suioly not that loninist idoals aio inhoiontly piollonatic, noi that
thoy aio always alioady doonod to lo iosignihod loi capitalist puiposos.
I concludo, iathoi, that wo loi whon loninisn is alovo all a novonont
loi gondoi justico nood to locono noio histoiically soll-awaio as wo
opoiato on a toiiain that is also populatod ly oui uncanny doullo.
To that ond, lot us iotuin to tho quostion: what, il anything, oxplains oui
'dangoious liaison` with nooliloialisn? Aio wo tho victins ol an unloi-
tunato coincidonco, who happonod to lo in tho wiong placo at tho wiong
tino and so loll pioy to that nost oppoitunistic ol soducois, a capitalisn
so indisciininato that it would instiunontalizo any poispoctivo whatovoi,
ovon ono inhoiontly loioign to it? Oi is thoio, as I suggostod oailioi, sono
sultoiianoan oloctivo alhnity lotwoon loninisn and nooliloialisn? Il
z
This loinula ol 'loninisn and its doullos` could lo olaloiatod to good olloct with
iospoct to tho zoo8 0s Piosidontial oloction, whoio tho uncanny doullos includod
loth Hillaiy Clinton and Saiah Palin.
rvtsrv:
any such alhnity doos oxist, it lios in tho ciitiquo ol tiaditional authoiity.

Such authoiity is a longstanding taigot ol loninist activisn, which has
sought at loast sinco Maiy Wollstonocialt to onancipato wonon lion
poisonalizod suljoction to non, lo thoy lathois, liothois, piiosts, oldois
oi huslands. But tiaditional authoiity also appoais in sono poiiods as
an olstaclo to capitalist oxpansion, pait ol tho suiiounding social sul-
stanco in which naikots havo histoiically loon onloddod and which
has soivod to conhno ocononic iationality within a linitod sphoio.
q
In
tho cuiiont nonont, thoso two ciitiquos ol tiaditional authoiity, tho ono
loninist, tho othoi nooliloial, appoai to convoigo.
Whoio loninisn and nooliloialisn divoigo, in contiast, is ovoi post-
tiaditional loins ol gondoi suloidinationconstiaints on wonon`s
livos that do not tako tho loin ol poisonalizod suljoction, lut aiiso lion
stiuctuial oi systonic piocossos in which tho actions ol nany pooplo aio
alstiactly oi inpoisonally nodiatod. A paiadign caso is what Susan Okin
has chaiactoiizod as 'a cyclo ol socially causod and distinctly asynnotiic
vulnoialility ly naiiiago`, in which wonon`s tiaditional iosponsilility
loi child-ioaiing holps shapo laloui naikots that disadvantago wonon,
iosulting in unoqual powoi in tho ocononic naikot-placo, which in tuin
ioinloicos, and oxacoilatos, unoqual powoi in tho lanily.

Such naikot-
nodiatod piocossos ol suloidination aio tho voiy lilollood ol nooliloial
capitalisn. Today, accoidingly, thoy should locono a najoi locus ol
loninist ciitiquo, as wo sook to distinguish ouisolvos lion, and to avoid
iosignihcation ly, nooliloialisn. Tho point, ol couiso, is not to diop tho
stiugglo against tiaditional nalo authoiity, which ionains a nocossaiy
nonont ol loninist ciitiquo. It is, iathoi, to disiupt tho oasy passago
lion such ciitiquo to its nooliloial doulloalovo all ly ioconnocting
stiugglos against poisonalizod suljoction to tho ciitiquo ol a capitalist
syston which, whilo pionising liloiation, actually ioplacos ono nodo ol
donination ly anothoi.
In tho hopo ol advancing this agonda, I would liko to concludo ly iovisit-
ing ono last tino ny loui loci ol loninist ciitiquo:

I owo this point to Eli Zaiotsky (poisonal connunication. Cl. Eisonstoin, 'A
Dangoious Liaison?`.
q
In sono poiiods, lut not always. In nany contoxts, capitalisn is noio apt to
adapt to than to challongo tiaditional authoiity. Foi tho onlodding ol naikots, soo
Kail Polanyi, Tnc Crcut Trunsjcrnuticn, znd odn, Boston zoo.

Susan Okin, ]usticc, Ccndcr und tnc Funi|y, Now Yoik 8, p. 8.

o iv 6
Pcst-ncc|ibcru| unti-cccncnisn. Tho possillo shilt away lion noo-
liloialisn ollois tho oppoitunity to ioactivato tho onancipatoiy
pioniso ol socond-wavo loninisn. Adopting a lully thioo-
dinonsional account ol injustico, wo night now intogiato in a
noio lalancod way tho dinonsions ol iodistiilution, iocognition
and iopiosontation that splintoiod in tho piovious oia. Giounding
thoso indisponsallo aspocts ol loninist ciitiquo in a iolust,
updatod sonso ol tho social totality, wo should ioconnoct loni-
nist ciitiquo to tho ciitiquo ol capitalisnand thoioly io-position
loninisn squaioly on tho Lolt.
Pcst-ncc|ibcru| unti-undrcccntrisn. Likowiso, tho possillo shilt to a
post-nooliloial socioty ollois tho chanco to lioak tho spuiious link
lotwoon oui ciitiquo ol tho lanily wago and oxillo capitalisn.
Roclaining oui ciitiquo ol andiocontiisn, loninists night nili-
tato loi a loin ol lilo that docontios wagod woik and valoiizos
unconnodihod activitios, including caiowoik. Now poiloinod
laigoly ly wonon, such activitios should locono valuod conpo-
nonts ol a good lilo loi ovoiyono.
Pcst-ncc|ibcru| unti-ctutisn. Tho ciisis ol nooliloialisn also ollois
tho chanco to lioak tho link lotwoon oui ciitiquo ol tatisn and
naikotization. Roclaining tho nantlo ol paiticipatoiy donociacy,
loninists night nilitato now loi a now oiganization ol political
powoi, ono that suloidinatos luioauciatic nanagoiialisn to citi-
zon onpowoinont. Tho point, howovoi, is not to dissipato lut to
stiongthon pullic powoi. Thus, tho paiticipatoiy donociacy wo
sook today is ono that usos politics to tano naikots and to stooi
socioty in tho intoiost ol justico.
Pcst-ncc|ibcru| unti-Wcstpnu|iunisn. Finally, tho ciisis ol noolil-
oialisn ollois tho chanco to iosolvo, in a pioductivo way, oui
longstanding anlivalonco alout tho Wostphalian liano. Givon
capital`s tiansnational ioach, tho pullic capacitios noodod today
cannot lo lodgod sololy in tho toiiitoiial stato. Hoio, accoidingly,
tho task is to lioak tho oxclusivo idontihcation ol donociacy with
tho loundod political connunity. Joining othoi piogiossivo loicos,
loninists night nilitato loi a now, post-Wostphalian political
oidoia nulti-scalai oidoi that is donociatic at ovoiy lovol.
Conlining sulsidiaiity with paiticipation, tho now constollation
rvtsrv: ;
ol donociatic powois should lo capallo ol iodiossing injusticos
in ovoiy dinonsion, along ovoiy axis and on ovoiy scalo, including
tians-loidoi injusticos.
I an suggosting, thon, that this is a nonont in which loninists should
think lig. Having watchod tho nooliloial onslaught instiunontalizo
oui lost idoas, wo havo an oponing now in which to ioclain thon.
In soizing this nonont, wo night just lond tho aic ol tho inpond-
ing tiansloination in tho diioction ol justicoand not only with
iospoct to gondoi.