In Defense of Lost Causes by Slavoj Žižek is a sweeping philosophical manifesto that boldly confronts the prevailing liberal-democratic consensus, advocating for a re-engagement with radical politics and the revolutionary ideals of the past. Žižek’s work is both a critical examination and a daring re-evaluation of historical totalitarian movements, aiming to uncover and revitalize their latent emancipatory potential.
The book opens with a provocative inquiry: Is the quest for global emancipation truly a lost cause? In an era dominated by the disillusionment with grand narratives and the rise of a seemingly inevitable economic liberalism, Žižek challenges the notion that universal values are outdated relics. Instead, he argues that the fear of totalitarianism has led to a complacent acceptance of a ‘miserable third way’—a politics characterized by administrative technocracy and economic liberalism that eschews radical change for incremental adjustments.
Žižek’s examination is both historical and theoretical. He delves into the complexities of historical figures and movements often dismissed as failures or horrors. For instance, he scrutinizes Martin Heidegger’s flirtation with fascism and Michel Foucault’s engagement with the Iranian Revolution. Žižek provocatively suggests that these were “right steps in the wrong direction,” implying that their ideological errors were accompanied by a kernel of truth that has been obscured by contemporary political orthodoxy.
Central to Žižek’s thesis is the argument that revolutionary terror, as embodied by Robespierre, Mao, and the Bolsheviks, contains a vital, though buried, idealism. Despite their horrific outcomes, Žižek believes these movements were animated by a genuine commitment to egalitarianism and universal emancipation. He contends that the soft, consensual politics of the liberal-democratic consensus has sanitized and diluted these ideals, leading to a form of politics that is both ineffectual and complacent in the face of systemic crises.
Žižek’s call for a return to revolutionary principles is framed against the backdrop of the imminent ecological crisis and the limitations of current political structures. He argues for the reinvention of concepts such as the “dictatorship of the proletariat” and “revolutionary terror,” suggesting that these tools might be necessary to confront and address the fundamental injustices of the current global order. Žižek invokes Samuel Beckett’s injunction: “Try again. Fail again. Fail better,” to underscore his belief in the necessity of risking catastrophic failure in the pursuit of transformative change.
The book is a comprehensive critique of the contemporary political landscape, which Žižek views as fundamentally flawed and compromised by its own reluctance to embrace bold, radical solutions. He challenges the prevailing tendency towards incrementalism and technocratic governance, arguing that such approaches are inadequate for addressing the profound and systemic issues facing the world today.
Žižek’s analysis also extends to the role of populism in modern politics. He acknowledges its dual nature, recognizing that while populism can sometimes disrupt entrenched political structures, it also often simplifies complex issues and can devolve into xenophobic and reactionary rhetoric. Žižek’s nuanced critique highlights the limitations of populism as a theoretical framework while considering its practical implications.
Throughout the book Žižek’s writing is marked by its provocative, often confrontational tone. He engages with and reinterprets the ideas of Marxism and psychoanalysis, suggesting that these theories, despite their historical failures, continue to offer valuable insights into the nature of political struggle and the potential for radical change. Žižek argues that both Marxism and psychoanalysis are inherently tied to the struggle against the prevailing ideologies, and that their histories of failure and discord offer important lessons for future political projects.
Žižek’s book is a call to action for those disillusioned with the status quo, urging a courageous and critical re-engagement with the revolutionary causes of the past. It is an intellectually rigorous exploration of how past failures can inform and inspire future struggles for justice and emancipation. Žižek’s work challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about political change and to embrace the radical, transformative potential of lost causes as they grapple with the crises of the present and future.
Simon Gros 
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