Wendy Brown on Neoliberalism, Democracy, and Leftist Hope

Political theorist Wendy Brown diagnoses the fragility of democracy under neoliberalism and neoconservatism, arguing that the left must abandon nostalgia for liberal democracy and instead foster democratic experiences that empower citizens to govern themselves. Drawing on Foucault and Kant, she identifies a modern rupture with the past and critiques the totalizing market rationality that permeates all spheres of life. Brown introduces the concept of "de-democratization" to describe the erosion of democratic demands and the acceptance of inequality. She examines the symbolic role of 21st-century walls (e.g., US-Mexico, Palestine) as icons of waning state sovereignty, ultimately ceding power to capital and religion. While pessimistic about reversing de-democratization, Brown points to feminism as a radical emancipatory desire that can re-enchant democracy by refusing fixed identities and advocating for participation. She also cites movements like the Indignados, the Pirate Party, Tahrir Square, and student protests in Quebec and Chile as examples of democratic experimentation. The article, published in artpress2 n°27 "Villa Gillet : Amérique, mode d'emploi," reflects on Brown's works including "Les Habits neufs de la politique mondiale" (2007), "Murs" (2009), and "Edgework" (2005).