Friday, 13. July 2012, 16:15

Critical Theory and Plurality - A Debate between Luis Tapia and Alex Demirovič

Public event, Vienna

Time: Friday, 13 July 2012, 6-7.30 pm
Venue: Gartenhotel Altmannsdorf (Hotel 1), Bruno-Kreisky-Saal, Hoffingergasse 26, 1120 Wien (U6 Am Schöpfwerk)
Languages: Englisch and Spanish (with simultaneous translation)
Organisation: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Brussels, Vienna University (Ulrich Brand), Karl Renner Institute
Contact: Marlis Gensler


In the debate:

• Luis Tapia, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés UMSA, La Paz, Bolivia
• Alex Demirovic, Professor for Political Theory at TU Berlin

Luis Tapia from La Paz and Alex Demirovič from Berlin/Basel are two important thinkers in the tradition of critical theory in Latin America and Western Europe. In a common conversation they try to understand better the current situation with the analytical tools of critical theory. Tapia is going to argue that state-centred politics of recent leftist movements in Latin America causes many problems and that politics of resource extractivism are deepening the domination of nature. Demirovič takes up these points and sees a major problem of leftist politics in its tendency towards homogenisation. Moreover, both will criticise dominant social theory and develop some thoughts as to how a critical understanding of society can enhance the space for emancipatory politics. Both argue from very different historical backgrounds that emancipation has to do with self-determination and plurality which goes far beyond the claim for equality.

Facilitation:

Karin Gabbert, Vice president of the Centre of International Dialogue
and Cooperation, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation

See also:

>> Perspectives of Societal Transformation. Public event, Vienna, 11.7.2012
>> How to continue after Rio plus 20? Public event, Vienna, 14.7.2012