Progressive Geographies

We write to express our support for the ideals embodied by the Greek left in advance of the election of June 17th as they articulate the requirements for social and economic democracy under conditions of neo-liberalism. We oppose those forms of international pressure currently brought to bear on the people of Greece to cede their popular sovereignty to a European Union that has, until now, reproduced and strengthened social and economic inequalities throughout Europe and extended forms of intra-European racism through discriminatory economic regulations and austerity measures. We note that the Greek Left (Syriza and the Coalition of the Radical Left) have articulated the rights to work and to education, opposing those neo-liberal economic policies that increase precarity for growing numbers of people, establishing unemployment as a norm, decimating social and health services along with public education, and destroying the very conditions of economic production. We support the efforts of…

National treasure: writings by philosopher Michel Foucault

A news report in English about recent events in relation to the recent designation of Foucault’s archives as a national treasure. Source: Arts Media Agency site, 5 June 2012

The partner of famous French philosopher Michel Foucault putting some 37,000 pages of the late thinker’s writings up for auction. According to the Government, they are a national treasure. Consequently, they cannot leave the country.

Valued at €3.8m, the State has to gather this sum for 2015 as numerous American universities have stated their intention to buy these writings. The French Government told the Journal Officiel that it considered these archives as “essential for the study and comprehension of Michel Foucault’s work.” These writings, dating from the middle of the 1960s until the philosopher’s death in 1948, include lecture notes, manuscripts copies, and studies necessary to the writing of his books.

The Bibliothèque Nationale…