The family is at the heart of neoliberalism. Thus argues Melinda Cooper in her 2017 book Family Values. Usually when I hear the term neoliberalism I think about the individual and personal responsibility. Yet, Cooper demonstrates, the family is central to its operations and maintenance. I think Arendt’s critique of the family can be especially helpful in illuminating this claim. But, she also naturalizes the family in a way — similar to neoliberalism. Personal responsibility equals family … [Read more...]
Introducing “At Home with Arendt,” a new blog series
Welcome to “At Home with Arendt,” a special series that explores questions of home and belonging. I welcome my collaborators in sharing this digital space: Dr. Rita A. Gardiner, an Assistant Professor in Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies (CPELS) in the Faculty of Education at Western University Harshita Jaiprakash, a PhD student in CPELS at Western Janet Jones, a PhD student in Applied Philosophy at the University of Waterloo Together, the four of us will … [Read more...]
Immigration as good economics
There was a lot wrong with the recent billboards promoting anti-immigration sentiments and the new ultra-right-wing People's Party of Canada. Countering the claim from the leader of the People's Party of Canada that "the billboard was 'only controversial for the totalitarian leftist mob who want to censor it,'" experts have pointed out that these billboards were dogwhistles, as "mass immigration" is an inaccurate descriptor of the facts about immigration. These billboards try to promote a … [Read more...]
Citizenship Week 2018: New Canadians are new workers are new family members
During Citizen Week (October 8-14), I attended a facilitated conversation at CIGI/The Balsillie School with the Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship. Hussen gave a brief talk, answered some questions asked by Prof. Anna Esselment (Political Science, University of Waterloo), then answered general questions from the audience. Refugees are joining the family Given my research project on refugees and the family as a structure for political … [Read more...]
On having status
For professional and personal reasons, this week I've been thinking about what it means to have status within a political community. It just so happens that events in my personal biography have corresponded with two days calling for attention to status in various respects: Wednesday was World Refugee Day, and yesterday was National Indigenous People's Day in Canada. (I'm celebrating the latter belatedly by attending the Faculty Association's Reading Circle on Indigeneity and the University … [Read more...]