Neo-feudalism and neo-nihilism | 82 comments (82 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Agit-Prop (4.00 / 5)

I like using the word "neo-feudalism" to describe what is happening because it's a useful shorthand. Most people don't know jack about feudalism, they only know it was 'Bad' and they usually bring-up serfs. At that point I can point-out serfs were tied to the land whereas today people are tied into peonage: "A system by which debtors are bound in servitude to their creditors until their debts are paid."

When you get right down to it, under feudalism the economic basis of the system was land; who had it; who controlled it. Under neo-feudalism the economic basis is money; who has it; who controls it. And for my purposes, that's good enough.

For me, the phrase is about constructing a emotionally compelling Narrative in which to hang Messages.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Thu Jan 13th, 2011 at 01:13:11 PM EST

It does, however, help to have on tap ... (4.00 / 4)

... the fact that the central organizing principle of authority in feudalism was a large property owner granting authority of specific kinds over specific portions of their domain to subordinates, or vassals, just as the central organizing principle of authority in corporate capitalism is the senior executives of the corporation granting specific authority to specific managers of distinct divisions and operations.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Thu Jan 13th, 2011 at 01:35:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Agit-Prop (none / 1)

It's still land. Without mortgages people would not have debt. They would have savings. "Neo-feudalism" is very much exactly correct analogy of "neo-liberalism."

by kjr63 on Thu Jan 13th, 2011 at 06:32:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Neo-feudalism and neo-nihilism | 82 comments (82 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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