Title of thesis

Social Antagonism in Theodor W. Adorno

Summary of thesis

This research aims to investigate Theodor W. Adorno's conception of social antagonism. My starting point is the analysis of sociological texts from the second half of the 1960s, in particular those dealing with the so-called sociology of conflict. In these texts, Adorno criticizes both the elevation of conflict to an invariant of social life, and the idea that class struggle necessarily leads to emancipation. In this way, the generalization of conflict as a crucial element of sociability is called into question and its abolition is presupposed for the true reconciliation of society. I intend, finally, to draw the consequences of this problematic for the current debate about radical democracy and the struggle for rights within liberal democracy.

Institution of thesis

Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

Supervisor

Frau Prof. Rahel Jaeggi/ Prof. Dr. Vladimir Safatle

Organisation of Events

Mar 2022: Penser à partir de ruines: Dialectique et politique dans l’idéalisme allemand et la théorie critique
Université Paris 1 - Sorbonne

Nov. 2021: “Wer sagt, er sei glücklich, lügt” Kritische Theorie in Bruchstücken: 70 Jahre Minima Moralia
CMB

Juni 2021: Junges Forum: Masse und Individuum in der kapitalischen Moderne
CMB

Publications

• AFSHAR, Y. "O neomalthusianismo de Jair Bolsonaro". Jacobin Brasil, 2022.
   
• AFSHAR, Y. "Notas sobre o conflito social hoje. A partir de dois seminários" (Translation and Presentation). Cadernos de Filosofia Alemã, São Paulo, 2021. 
   
• AFSHAR, Y. & FRANCO, F. et al: “O sujeito e a ordem do mercado: gênese teórica do neoliberalismo”. In: SAFATLE, V. & SILVA JUNIOR, N. & DUNKER, C. (Orgs.) Neoliberalismo como gestão do sofrimento psíquico. Belo Horizonte: Autêntica Editora, 2021.
   
• AFSHAR, Y. Preface to the Brazilian edition of Grégoire Chamayou's The ungouvernable society. São Paulo: Editora Ubu, 2020.
   
• AFSHAR, Y. “Governing through conflict. On Adorno’s critique of postwar Sociology”. In: Constellations, New York, 2020.
   
• AFSHAR, Y. “Consenso e crise. Adorno e a ideologia da integração no pós-guerra alemão”. Dissonância: Revista de teoria crítica, Campinas, 2020.
   
• AFSHAR, Y. & FIDELIS, M. “Teoria Crítica e Movimento de Protesto. Entrevista com Theodor W. Adorno” (Translation and Presentation). Dissonância: Revista de teoria crítica, Campinas, 2020.
   
• AFSHAR, Y. & FRANCO, F. et al: “Paranóia: Clínica e crítica”. In: SAFATLE, V. & SILVA JUNIOR, N. & DUNKER, C. (Orgs.). Patologias do social. Arqueologias do sofrimento psíquico. Belo Horizonte: Autêntica Editora, 2018.