Archive of Étienne Balibar

In the aftermath of May 68, the question of the school was omnipresent in French philosophy. In this interview Etienne Balibar discusses the different critiques of the school in post-68 French thought and the challenges involved in developing a Marxist theory of the 'school apparatus'. 

The philosopher Étienne Balibar reflects on humanity's uniqueness as a species, and the pandemic's reminder of our existence at the crossroads of biology, medicine and anthropology.

On the 31st August, renowned sociologist and the inaugurator of world-systems analysis Immanuel Wallerstein died aged 88. Alongside his monumental four-volume series on The Modern World-System, one of his most influential works was Race, Nation, Class, written in dialogue with Etienne Balibar. In this interview, conducted by Manuela Bojadžijev, Balibar and Wallerstein discuss how the volume came about, and its continuing relevance thirty years later.

After President Macron’s speech and with the ‘gilets jaunes’ movement continuing, Etienne Balibar explains its origins and examines some of its political implications.

Racial inequality is not only systematic; it is also actively encouraged or passively tolerated by the state. Through strike action and demonstrations, the anti-racist 'Rosa Parks' collective seeks to challenge racial inequality in the name of the equality of all those affected by precariousness and abuses of the state. For this reason, argues Étienne Balibar, it is crucial to support the collective in the two days of action it is organising this Friday and Saturday.