In the Digital Age, is Freedom an Illusion?
Advocates of the digital era have promised that this development would set us free: from boredom, from work, from isolation, and from ignorance. Instead, in the age of big data, More
‘Civil’ Discourse as ‘Civic’ Discourse: Problematizing Neutrality
It might seem that the forum for civil discourse has to be neutral for this discourse to occur. In fact, an adherence to neutrality often stifles constructive political discourse. At McGill, administrative appeals to neutrality amid Palestine protests reveal how “civility” and neutrality mask exclusion and suppress dissent. Drawing on theorists Iris Marion Young and Chantal Mouffe, this article argues that true civic/civil discourse demands not politeness but inclusive political communication—an open, sometimes uncomfortable, engagement with difference.
What Is the Answer to Right-Wing Populism? Left Populism.
Few would deny the urgency of addressing democratic backsliding, authoritarian populism, and the global resurgence of the far right. Yet, attempts to respond to these challenges have only deepened ideological More
In Defense of the Anti-Utopian Perspective: The Hopefulness of Tragedy
Utopia is dead. Instead of striving for the unattainable ideal of perfection, we should continually improve our society through democratic conflict and pluralism. Drawing from anti-utopian thinkers like Claude Lefort, Chantal Mouffe, and Ernesto Laclau, this article highlights the importance of perpetuating transgressive, adaptive politics rather than rigid, totalizing idealist visions. Contrary to one’s first instinct, anti-utopian thought offers a more optimistic and practical path forward to change—one that embraces human imperfection and fosters meaningful societal progress.
Biopolitics and the Grievability of Life: Brian Thompson and UnitedHealthcare
While news anchors and politicians have decisively condemned Thompson’s murder, netizens on the other hand have been so extreme as to mock his demise and raise Luigi Mangione, Thompson’s killer, to the status of a “folk hero”. While there exists a consensus that murder is wrong, Thompson’s role as the CEO of UnitedHealth, one of the United States’ largest health insurance companies, makes him complicit in the deaths of many more people. The words of one New Yorker encapsulate this tension: “It’s hard for me to feel sad that the CEO was killed […] I’m uncomfortable that violence was used. But also, it’s nice to finally have some pushback.”
Rethinking Justice: The issue with meritocracy
how exactly is meritocracy undesirable, and perhaps more importantly, how can we retool our popular conceptions of justice?
Instagram and the Politics of Dissent: What does it mean to make an impact?
My social media is constantly flooded with political statements, condemnations, and demands for others to repost. While I empathize with the causes my peers are ardently supporting, I’ve questioned whether More
What is Post-Democracy?
In the past months, Trudeau has survived two non-confidence votes despite just 33 per cent of Canadians approving of the Prime Minister’s leadership. This separation between the popular will and More