Postliberal Affordances
Death of Liberalism: The Exhaustion of Democracy
Drawing on anthropological perspectives from South Africa, Germany, and beyond, the conversation explores how hopes for justice, equality, and democratic transformation can gradually turn into disappointment, fatigue, and political disillusionment. Rather than simply framing current developments as a “crisis of democracy,” the podcast asks what kinds of expectations people invest in liberal political systems, how long transformative promises can remain credible, and why frustration can take very different political directions.
The discussion also reflects on anthropology’s role in making sense of seemingly disparate political developments across different world regions. By comparing postcolonial critiques of liberal constitutionalism with contemporary right-populist and nativist movements in Europe, the conversation highlights unexpected resonances while remaining attentive to profound historical differences.
Approaching the current situation through the lens of what Olaf Zenker describes as “postliberal affordances,” the podcast explores a moment in which liberalism no longer appears as the only imaginable political horizon. Rather than simply celebrating or rejecting liberalism, the conversation discusses how anthropology can help reassess both the emancipatory promises and the historical failures of actually existing liberal orders — and why this matters politically today.
The full podcast episode is now freely available as video on YouTube and as audio on Spotify or Apple Podcasts:
