Next meeting: Wikileaks, 16th of March

Thanks to everyone who put some effort into Judith Butler and participated in what turned out to be quite a spirited discussion.

For the next meeting we decided we'd like to do something a bit different and thought wikileaks would make an interesting topic.

The plan was to find a few articles around the issues of wikileaks as a current phenomena, arguments around transparency and power (one of Assange's arguments is that the more power a group wields the more transparent it needs to be) and effects the leaks are having, particularly in places like Tunisia and Egypt.

So far Zizek and Piliger have been put forward, and they'll be a some other reading selected too.

All That's Solid Melts into Air

For the next meeting we agreed to read All That's Solid Melts into Air by Marshal Berman. Tha plan is to read at least the first three parts (Goethe, Marx and Baudelaire), and to meet on the 12th January. Hopefully see you there.

Wednesday the 24th November: Red Plenty

Just in case it wasn't obvious, this blog is only irregularly updated - best to email and join the mailing list to keep up-to-date. After reading The Shock Doctrine, The Blank Slate and sections of The Origins Of Totalitarianism over the summer we're now starting on Francis Spufford's Red Plenty.

There's a free sample and a review by Steven Rose.

June 30: The Enigma Of Capital

Sorry for the lack of updates. We read The Fragile Absolute last month and this month we're reading David Harvey's The Enigma Of Capital.

31st of March: Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher

We had a quiet turn out for Amusing Ourselves To Death last month, but a good animated discussion. Next book is Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher. Meeting details same as usual: Candid Arts Trust Cafe, 6:30pm for a 7pm start. Email chrisf@goop.org for details.

20th of January: One Dimensional Woman by Nina Power

Over Christmas we'll be reading One Dimensional Woman and meeting up on the 20th of January to discuss. For more details email chrisf@goop.org.

August meetup: Democracy

After reading From Marxism to Post Marxism in July, we're experimenting with an article format for August 5th on the theme of Democracy. The articles I've selected are:

Democracy and democracy-support: a new era, by Christopher Hobson and Milja Kurki

Capitalism and democracy, by Achin Vanaik

The Rise of Illiberal Democracy, by Fareed Zakaria


Is democracy possible? by Bruce Gilley


Political parties in comparative perspective, by Paul Webb


Democracy can be bad for you, by Eric Hobsbawm and Jacques Attali


Power to the People, Executive Summary and Recommendations, Power Report

If it's more convenient I've formatted the above for easy printing at.

There's also an extended list of other interesting articles, which are optional:

No hay mujeres: Latin America women and gender equality, by Kristen Sample


Chile or Venezuela - Which is the Good Democracy?, by Rodrigo Acuña


Democracy for export: principles, practices, lessons, by Daniele Archibugi

The Defeat of Democracy in Luciano Canfora, by Dylan Riley, NLR

Canfora's scandalous history of democracy, by Adam Krzeminski


Nothing to turn back to, by Neal Lawson

California: No longer the Golden State? by Peter Aldhous