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argorden's review against another edition
3.0
Took my a while to get going with this one, since it's written for a field, political theology, with which I was not previously familiar, and engages heavily with a number of works of which I have only read one (Polyani's The Great Transformation). Once I got over the hurdles, though, I found it very interesting. The central idea is a definition of 'demonization' lifted from Christian theology, where Satan etc. are said to have had free will which was used in order to rebel, establishing their blameworthiness. A similar idea exists in the neoliberal idea of economic freedom, where negative outcomes are blamed not on systemic issues, but on the nominally free decisions of individuals. What is important is that freedom under neoliberalism exists, not to uplift humanity, but to establish that each individual is nominally free to make economic choices and, thus, blameworthy for their own economic circumstances.
fisumlucas's review against another edition
4.0
A versão de teologia política que o Kotsko apresenta é-me bem apelativa.
Also, este livro para mim apresenta uma crítica da meritocracia (como legitimação do processo de demonização) bem mais interessante que a do Sandel
Also, este livro para mim apresenta uma crítica da meritocracia (como legitimação do processo de demonização) bem mais interessante que a do Sandel
nick_jenkins's review against another edition
4.0
Terrifically generative and insightful, but it feels rushed or unfinished, as if he could grab only the most obvious examples or the ones most familiar to him.
tdwightdavis's review against another edition
5.0
So much to chew on in such a tiny volume. I’ll need to read it again before I feel like I can adequately engage with it. But as of right now this is one of the most important books on political theology and capital that I’ve read.
piccoline's review
5.0
Another marvelous and provocative work from Kotsko. This can be read alone, but is especially rich when considered alongside its predecessor The Prince of This World.
This book, though, feels so timely. Kotsko is making a bold suggestion of how political theology should henceforward be viewed and practiced. To then argue, first by showing the dead ends of previous modes (many hamstrung by what Kotsko calls Arendt’s axiom, the clear delineation of the economic and the political) and then by fruitfully deploying his new mode in an analysis of our own absurd, dark, and chaotic moment, is quite persuasive.
That he somehow manages to offer some glimmers of hope and even inspiration in the closing pages was a welcome surprise.
Great stuff. Highly recommended.
This book, though, feels so timely. Kotsko is making a bold suggestion of how political theology should henceforward be viewed and practiced. To then argue, first by showing the dead ends of previous modes (many hamstrung by what Kotsko calls Arendt’s axiom, the clear delineation of the economic and the political) and then by fruitfully deploying his new mode in an analysis of our own absurd, dark, and chaotic moment, is quite persuasive.
That he somehow manages to offer some glimmers of hope and even inspiration in the closing pages was a welcome surprise.
Great stuff. Highly recommended.
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