This Maverick Thinker Is the Karl Marx of Our Time
New York Times, Opinion, Christopher Caldwell | Wolfgang Streeck
On Taking Back Control? States and State Systems After Globalism by Wolfgang Streeck
In his Opinion on Wolfgang Streeck’s book Taking Back Control? States and State Systems After Globalism, Christopher Caldwell praises the German sociologist for his keen observations on the political and economic crises engendered by neoliberalism. Tracing the historical developments that have fueled populist movements around the world, Caldwell writes, Streeck asks a central question: Are democracy and a globalized economy fundamentally compatible? His book offers a compelling analysis of the paradoxes of neoliberalism and the structural tensions between markets and democracy. Streeck argues that globalism inevitably breeds antagonism, which manifests in both right-wing and left-wing populist movements. His provocative thesis is that populism is not the root problem but rather a predictable response to a system that persistently ignores a majority of the population. Taking Back Control? is a wake-up call for anyone seeking to understand the rise of movements like Donald Trump’s and their global resonance.
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