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Europe in Crisis: A Dialogue
A dialogue between Bruno Latour and Bruno Karsenti on the European crisis, exploring its ecological, theologico-political, and geopolitical dimensions, along with personal reflections and key concepts.
French
France
PoliticsEuropean UnionFranceEuropeEnvironmentReligionCrisis
KibbutzUnion Soviétique
Bruno LatourBruno KarsentiTolstoyLenin
- What is the 'pivot class' and how is it defined?
- The concept of 'pivot class' is defined as the social class around which the mobility of modern society revolves. Karsenti's personal experience as a young Zionist socialist in a kibbutz in the 1980s shaped his perspective, drawing parallels between the creation of Israel and the reimagining of Europe.
- What potential positive aspects of the current situation are mentioned?
- Karsenti identifies a potential positive aspect: the climate emergency fosters new alliances between politicians and scientists. The resurgence of the theologico-political dimension highlights the continued significance of religion. The concept of 'nationalization', the gradual incorporation of different social groups into a nation-state, is also discussed.
- What are the main aspects of the European crisis according to Bruno Karsenti?
- Bruno Latour and Bruno Karsenti discuss the European crisis, which Karsenti describes as ecological, theologico-political, and geopolitical. The ecological crisis stems from the destructive nature of Europe's production model, while the theologico-political crisis involves the changing role of religion in secular societies and the geopolitical crisis involves the shifting dynamics of East-West relations.
- What is the overall significance of the dialogue between Latour and Karsenti?
- The dialogue between Latour and Karsenti offers insights into the multifaceted nature of the European crisis, combining personal reflections with a broader analysis of ecological, religious, and geopolitical factors. The discussion is described as fruitful and sustained, with concepts like "pivot class" and "nationalization" being central to the conversation.
- How did Karsenti's personal experience in a kibbutz influence his perspective on Europe?
- Karsenti's kibbutz experience, described as more Tolstoyan than Leninist, influenced his understanding of Europe. He links Israel's foundation to the reimagining of Europe after the Holocaust and its legitimacy to the diaspora.