Žižek: Trump’s Defeat Masks Deeper Systemic Issues
Slavoj Žižek, a philosopher based in Ljubljana, argues that the recent U.S. midterm elections should not lead to complacency. While Donald Trump‘s party faced a significant defeat, Žižek believes the focus on Trump distracts from deeper issues. Žižek’s stance, unchanged since 2016, views Trump as a catalyst exposing systemic flaws rather than the core problem itself.
Žižek, who controversially stated in 2016 that he would vote for Trump, maintains his position. He likens the liberal fixation on Trump to a psychoanalytic fetish, suggesting it avoids addressing class struggle. This perspective, Žižek argues, allows liberals to ignore their own failures by projecting them onto Trump.
Trump as a Symptom, Not the Cause
Žižek draws parallels between Trump and historical figures, arguing that obsessing over Trump allows liberals to ignore their own failures. He criticizes the 2021 Biden inauguration for portraying Trump’s presidency as an anomaly, rather than a symptom of broader issues. The event’s theme of unity, Žižek notes, overlooked the need for radical change, symbolized by Bernie Sanders‘ skeptical presence.
Žižek warns against celebrating Trump’s defeat as a return to normalcy. He views Trump as a sign of liberal consensus disintegration and the left’s inability to offer alternatives. To combat populism, Žižek urges a critical look at liberalism’s weaknesses, emphasizing the need to address underlying class antagonisms.
He references a speech that invoked Václav Havel‘s essay on dissent under communism. The essay explained how the communist system sustained itself through passive compliance, using the example of a greengrocer who displays a political sign despite not believing in it. Žižek argues that today’s situation differs: the liberal order is being dismantled by its creators, not dissidents.
The philosopher questions what will replace the liberal order, pointing to emerging threats like economic warfare, fascism, and ecological collapse. He concludes that the true struggle lies in systemic issues rather than individual leaders.
The Liberal Order’s Unraveling
Žižek argues that the liberal order is unraveling from within, not due to external dissent. He highlights the actions of major powers, particularly the U.S., which no longer find value in the rules-based system they once championed. Free-market competition and international norms, Žižek observes, were upheld only as long as they served America’s interests. Once these rules began to hinder U.S. hegemony, they were discarded, signaling a shift away from the liberal order.
The Future Beyond Liberalism
Žižek’s argument reflects his belief that the real struggle lies in addressing deeper structural issues, not overcoming individual leaders. * Slavoj Žižek, Professor of Philosophy at the European Graduate School, is the author, most recently, of Christian Atheism: How to Be a Real Materialist (Bloomsbury Academic, 2024).
