IDEAS Podcast

Fearing and Fighting for Freedom

The meaning of freedom, as the final significant element, the final piece in constructing this mosaic of the political, is offered through a set of reminders as to the meaning that is personal, but the focus is on its political implications. For example, the issues addressed are the limitations of „negative“ freedom and the potential of positive freedom, freedom of the will, freedom from necessity, self-determination, and self-actualization. The author of the text is Jelisaveta Blagojević. The text is read by Daša Duhaček References: Jelisaveta Blagojević, Politics of the Unthinkable/ Politike nemislivog, Beograd: Centar za medije i komunikacije, FMK, Unverzitet Singidunum, 2014.

Concept of the Political

In order to restore the meaning of political activism and the importance of political engagement, this episode differentiates between politics and political. As opposed to politics, which is restricted to the institutionalized sphere and, albeit insisting on the necessity of both, the episode introduces the concept of the political, it is predicated on contingency, conflict, negotiations and uncertainty, in short – the space of freedom. The author of the text is Jelisaveta Blagojević. The text is read by Daša Duhaček References: Hannah Arendt, The Promise of Politics, New York: Schocken Books, 2005.

Is Love all we need?

This episode also covers a full range of relevant issues, but from the outset suggests that any representation of love, its manifestation is public, or more specifically, it is political. It is connected to power (of love), but, importantly, „the true revovlutionary power of love should not reaffirm any fixed identity, but should be open to change, to constant becoming...thus giving it political potential for growth“ The author of the text is Jelisaveta Blagojević. The text is read by Daša Duhaček References: Jelisaveta Blagojević, The Community of those without a Community/Zajednica onih koji nemaju zajednicu, Beograd: fmk, 2008.

Politics of Friendship

This episode raises many different issues, ranging from questioning what would one think of one’s own friendship(s) to the political aspect of building a friendship, such as connections of brotherhoods, fraternities, and the like. This leads to the question, is friendship gendered? Is it male - dominated? What about sisterhoods? What about friendships between women? The author of the text is Jelisaveta Blagojević. The text is read by Daša Duhaček References: Jacques Derrida, Politics of Friendship, London, New York: Verso, 1997.

Issues of Collective Political Responsibility

The episode is constructed as an interview, and, unfolds the significant issue of political responsibility. In the interview, led by Jelisaveta Blagojević, Daša Duhaček responds by drawing on the political theory of Hannah Arendt. References: Hannah Arendt, „Personal Responsibility Under Dictatorship“ in Responsibility and Judgment, Jerome Kohn ed., New York: Schocken Books, 2003. Hannah Arendt, „Collective Responsibility“ in Responsibility and Judgment, Jerome Kohn ed., New York: Schocken Books, 2003.