New Proposals Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Volume 11, Number 1, Summer 2020 New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Volume 11, Number 1, Summer 2020 ISSN 1715-6718 © New Proposals Editorial Collective Our Mandate This journal represents an attempt to explore issues, ideas, and problems that lie at the intersection between the academic disciplines of social science and the body of thought and political practice that has constituted Marxism over the last 150 years. New Proposals is a journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry that is dedicated to the radical transformation of the contemporary world order. We see our role as providing a platform for research, commentary, and debate of the highest scholarly quality that contributes to the struggle to create a more just and humane world, in which the systematic and continuous exploitation, oppression, and fratricidal struggles that characterize the contemporary sociopolitical order no longer exist. Volume 11:1 Issue Editor Charles R. Menzies Editorial Collective Charles R. Menzies, Sharon R. Roseman, Steve Striffler Design and Layout Kenneth Campbell International Advisory Panel Avram Bornstein, Karen Brodkin, August Carbonella, A. Kim Clark, Kate Crehan, John Gledhill, Linda Green, Sharryn Kasmir, Ann Kingsolver, Richard B. Lee, Winnie Lem, David McNally, Susana Narotzky, Bryan Palmer, Thomas C. Patterson, R. S. Ratner, Gerald M. Sider, Alan Smart, Gavin A. Smith Contact Us New Proposals online at http://www.newproposals.ca New Proposals Blog and Discussion at http://newproposals.blogspot.com Email [email protected] Cover: Activist Avatar. From Calico & Camouflage: Assemblée by Skawennati. Installation on the walls of the Montreal World Trade Centre, February, 2020. New Proposals Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Volume 11, Number 1, Summer 2020. ISSN 1715-6718 Contents Introduction Responsible Anthropology in the Pandemic 5 Articles A Snapshot of Precarious Academic Work in Canada 7 Deidre Rose Value Proposition: Canadian Freelance Writers at the Intersection of Exploitation and Alienation 18 Robert Bertuzzi Rereading The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte: The Phenomenon of Bonapartism as a Capitalist State Without Popular Representation 34 Spyros Sakellaropoulos Comments and Arguments On Fascism and Capitalism 48 Michał Herer Capitalism And Utopia In The Social Theory Of André Gorz 59 Silvio Camargo New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Vol. 11, No. 1 (Summer 2020) Pp. 5-6 Introduction Charles R. Menzies New Proposals Editorial Collective Responsible Anthropology in the Pandemic nthropologists have a mixed legacy of com- teers employing low paid marginalized workers have plicity with colonial powers and support for been the center of the worst effects of the pandemic. pro-localA progressivism. Both strains of anthropology The need to throttle the wider economy arises from share a desire to travel among “othered” peoples. As a the same ideas of lean management and finding ‘effi- guild, anthropologists are aware of this intersectional ciencies’ in our healthcare system. Here we see our conflict in disciplinary identity and desire. Neo- hospitals lack the adequate resilience to respond to Trotskyist anthropologist Kathleen Gough called for a serious crisis without shutting down all other ser- anthropologists to subsume themselves in the anti- vices, pushing people out of care, and then closing colonial and anti-capitalist struggles and, in so doing, the rest of society. transform anthropology. For a brief moment in the It didn’t have to be this way and it doesn’t need discipline’s history Gough’s call resonated within the to be this way in the future. It will be up to historians discipline as part of a global social movement for to dissect how we got here, but we can all focus on justice and the overthrow of propertied elites who how we should move forward today. There is much commanded the heights of national states. But as to learn from the earlier generation of progressives movement after movement was defeated, anthropol- like Gough. They argued for a locally relevant anthro- ogists turned away from material struggles for change pological practice that was tied to an emancipatory to explore nuance in experimental representations of social justice practice. It was also an anthropology their research in print and visual media instead. It that was interested as much in making changes in the was a crisis in the global order of rule that created home nation and communities, as it was oriented to the opportunity for a progressive social moment in changes elsewhere. In fact, the most committed of the 1960s and 1970s. the earlier generation of progressives were far less In the context of the global COVID-19 pan- interested in making professional milestones than in demic a similar moment of crisis of authority and the facilitating progressive change at home and globally. normal is occurring. We see the effects of decades of So where does this take us? How can we practice privatization, underfunding, and tax cutting in the anthropology responsibly in the pandemic? We can tidal wave of death sweeping through long term start with doing anthropology where we are. It has care facilities for our elders. Facilities left to profi- been the luxury of global travel that propelled the dif- fusion of the virus globally into a pandemic. Combine Step three – act locally for social justice. The global travel with key cultural events – lunar New impacts of the current pandemic are magnified by Year in Asia and Spring Break in North America – longstanding historic injustices. Long-term care for and we have a recipe for disaster. Anthropologists, the elderly has been driven primarily by a privatized despite their claims otherwise, perform very much for profit sector that pays poorer wages to people with like cruise ship voyagers travelling to hot spots of inadequate job security, the result in the pandemic has interest and feel totally empowered to do so. So, step been needless early death of our elders. Our hospitals one, stop travelling for research. have been managed to run lean at near 100 percent Step two – study local. Work where we are, in capacity with over-paid specialists at one end and our own neighbourhoods, networks, and commu- poorly-paid core staff at the other, with the net effect nities of account. Especially in the pandemic this that our hospitals don’t have the resilience or capacity reduces adverse impacts of crossing social boundar- to respond without shutting down society and dis- ies. This also addresses issues of power imbalances charging thousands of people who needed care. that social scientists have identified with middle class A responsible anthropology in the pandemic researchers heading off to study groups of historically would thus be local and engaged in fundamental marginalized peoples. political, social, and economic changes. New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Vol. 11, No. 1 (Summer 2020) Pp. 7-17 A Snapshot of Precarious Academic Work in Canada Deidre Rose University of Guelph Abstract: In much of the developed world, tendencies associated with neoliberalism, the “corporatization” of the university, and cuts to government funding have led to a growing reliance on contingent or “non-regular” faculty. The vast majority of these academic workers are in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Precariously employed, these non-regular faculty constitute a reserve of low-paid and marginalized academic workers, and an increase in the number of doctorates granted each year in Canada guarantees a continuous supply of highly exploitable workers. While many books, articles, and blog posts discuss this phenomenon in the United States, less information is available for Canada. Using data collected by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and other published literature, this paper will measure the extent of the reliance on precariously employed contract faculty across Canada and offer suggestions for further research on the plight of these workers in Canada. Keywords: Academic Labour, Precarious Work, Corporatization, Neoliberal University, Non-regular Faculty Introduction n much of the developed world, tendencies associ- also growing in support work as well. In some cases, Iated with neoliberalism, the “corporatization” of the universities and colleges are using attrition to get university, and cuts to government funding have led around collective agreement language preventing to a growing reliance on contingent or “non-regular” layoffs in order to replace permanent positions with faculty. Precariously employed, these non-regular fac- casual and temporary positions. [CUPE 2018] ulty constitute a reserve of low-paid and marginalized For the most part, contingent faculty, as a collec- academic workers, and an increase in the number of tivity, are confined to teaching and often precluded doctorates granted each year in Canada guarantees from even applying for many of the larger, more pres- a continuous supply of highly exploitable workers. tigious research grants. Universities pay significantly While many books, articles, and blog posts discuss this lower salaries, provide fewer benefits, reduce reported phenomenon in the United States, less information is employment time frames, and, as a result, reduce pen- available for Canada. This paper will measure the extent sionable earnings. In short, contract academic faculty of the reliance on precariously employed contract