About the book
When Crisis Becomes the Norm: What Can We Do to Demand Change?
Crisis dominates the present historical moment. The economy is in crisis, politics in both its past and present forms is in crisis and our own individual lives are in crisis, made vulnerable by the fluctuations of the labor market and by the undoing of social and political ties we inherited from modernity. Yet, traditional views of crises as just temporary setbacks do not seem to hold any longer; this crisis seems permanent, with no way out and no alternatives on the horizon.
Reconstructing a political genealogy of the term from the Greek world to today's neoliberalism, this book demonstrates that crisis, understood as a \"choice\" between revolution and conservation, is a peculiarity of the modern era that does not apply to the present day. However, since its origin, the trope of crisis has proven to be one of the most effective instruments of social discipline and administration. The analytical trajectory followed by this book - which spans from Plato to Hayek, from the juridical and medical science of antiquity to the current technocracy, passing through the \"weapons of criticism\" of Marx and Gramsci - finally identifies, following Benjamin and Foucault, precariousness as the \"form of life\" that characterizes crisis understood as an art of government. But we still need to answer the question: \"How can we recreate the possibility of political alternatives?\"
Editions of The Age of Precarity
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781788733809
- EBook
- ISBN 9781788733823
Read an Excerpt
When Crisis Becomes the Norm: What Can We Do to Demand Change?
Crisis dominates the present historical moment. The economy is in crisis, politics in both its past and present forms is in crisis and our own individual lives are in crisis, made vulnerable by the fluctuations of the labor market and by the undoing of social and political ties we inherited from modernity. Yet, traditional views of crises as just temporary setbacks do not seem to hold any longer; this crisis seems permanent, with no way out and no alternatives on the horizon.
Reconstructing a political genealogy of the term from the Greek world to today's neoliberalism, this book demonstrates that crisis, understood as a \"choice\" between revolution and conservation, is a peculiarity of the modern era that does not apply to the present day. However, since its origin, the trope of crisis has proven to be one of the most effective instruments of social discipline and administration. The analytical trajectory followed by this book - which spans from Plato to Hayek, from the juridical and medical science of antiquity to the current technocracy, passing through the \"weapons of criticism\" of Marx and Gramsci - finally identifies, following Benjamin and Foucault, precariousness as the \"form of life\" that characterizes crisis understood as an art of government. But we still need to answer the question: \"How can we recreate the possibility of political alternatives?\"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Age of Precarity about?
When Crisis Becomes the Norm: What Can We Do to Demand Change?
Crisis dominates the present historical moment. The economy is in crisis, politics in both its past and present forms is in crisis and our own individual lives are in crisis, made vulnerable by the fluctuations of the labor market and by the undoing of social and political ties we inherited from modernity. Yet, traditional views of crises as just temporary setbacks do not seem to hold any longer; this crisis seems permanent, with no way out and no alternatives on the horizon.
Reconstructing a political genealogy of the term from the Greek world to today's neoliberalism, this book demonstrates that crisis, understood as a \"choice\" between revolution and conservation, is a peculiarity of the modern era that does not apply to the present day. However, since its origin, the trope of crisis has proven to be one of the most effective instruments of social discipline and administration. The analytical trajectory followed by this book - which spans from Plato to Hayek, from the juridical and medical science of antiquity to the current technocracy, passing through the \"weapons of criticism\" of Marx and Gramsci - finally identifies, following Benjamin and Foucault, precariousness as the \"form of life\" that characterizes crisis understood as an art of government. But we still need to answer the question: \"How can we recreate the possibility of political alternatives?\"
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Age of Precarity?
Society and Social Sciences > Politics and government > Political science and theory
Where can I read a sample of The Age of Precarity?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781788733809
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Age of Precarity?
Dario Gentili
Who is the Publisher of the book The Age of Precarity?
Verso Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Age of Precarity is available as paperback(ISBN 9781788733809) and ebook(ISBN 9781788733823)
Where can I buy The Age of Precarity online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Age of Precarity from below
Where can I buy The Age of Precarity?