Jolyon Agar
@joelyagar.bsky.social
BA (1) (QUB) politics; PhD (QUB) political philosophy. Author of 2 books with Routledge, plus many articles: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jolyon-Agar
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Jolyon Agar
@joelyagar.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Confronting the neoliberal challenge: Recognition, social freedom and depth realism
This article explores how Axel Honneth's critical theory, when adapted to a materialist depth realism, can be utilised as a critique of Fredrick Hayek's ‘neoliberalism’, an antipolitics influenced by...
doi.org
My latest academic article "Confronting the challenge of neoliberalism" has just been published with Theoria. It is a critique of Hayek utilising aspects of Honneth, Adorno & critical realism. #CriticalTheory #Neoliberalism
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
doi.org/10.1111/theo...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
doi.org/10.1111/theo...
Are we really supposed to debate whether Trump incited an insurrection to overthrow a democratic election? He instructed the mob to "fight like hell", failed to distance himself from the rioters & pardoned them. This is how far into an Orwellian "war is peace" post-truth dystopia we have fallen.
November 10, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Are we really supposed to debate whether Trump incited an insurrection to overthrow a democratic election? He instructed the mob to "fight like hell", failed to distance himself from the rioters & pardoned them. This is how far into an Orwellian "war is peace" post-truth dystopia we have fallen.
Witness the coming response of the US ruling class to Zohran Mamdani's win. Remember - it only permits "democracy" if we never threaten its wealth & power. It will now mobilise all its propaganda & physical force to destroy him.
This outbreak of real democracy will not go unpunished.
This outbreak of real democracy will not go unpunished.
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Witness the coming response of the US ruling class to Zohran Mamdani's win. Remember - it only permits "democracy" if we never threaten its wealth & power. It will now mobilise all its propaganda & physical force to destroy him.
This outbreak of real democracy will not go unpunished.
This outbreak of real democracy will not go unpunished.
Don't get me wrong - Rachel Reeves is truly terrible. But I'm so disgusted with the ghouls who told everyone austerity and Brexit would be wonderful lining up to pontificate on economic mismanagement. These people are idiotic cretinous fools who should never be forgiven for what's they done.
November 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Don't get me wrong - Rachel Reeves is truly terrible. But I'm so disgusted with the ghouls who told everyone austerity and Brexit would be wonderful lining up to pontificate on economic mismanagement. These people are idiotic cretinous fools who should never be forgiven for what's they done.
It really is quite something to witness those who championed austerity & Brexit rushing to condemn Rachel Reeves for economic mismanagement, like arsonists making a living from giving health & safety advice.
These people's credibility is matched only by their self-awareness - zero.
These people's credibility is matched only by their self-awareness - zero.
November 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
It really is quite something to witness those who championed austerity & Brexit rushing to condemn Rachel Reeves for economic mismanagement, like arsonists making a living from giving health & safety advice.
These people's credibility is matched only by their self-awareness - zero.
These people's credibility is matched only by their self-awareness - zero.
The fatal flaw with the dead-behind-the-eyes McSweeney types in charge of the party that calls itself "Labour" is that it operates with a 1990s Blairite logic that can neglect its base without consequence. The dealignment of politics today proves this strategy cannot work. See Caerphilly for details
October 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The fatal flaw with the dead-behind-the-eyes McSweeney types in charge of the party that calls itself "Labour" is that it operates with a 1990s Blairite logic that can neglect its base without consequence. The dealignment of politics today proves this strategy cannot work. See Caerphilly for details
The lesson the govt will most certainly never learn from the Caerphilly byelection is that simply trying to make neoliberalism work better is a failed strategy.
The system is BROKEN. But the visionless dreary hacks in charge of "Labour" are pathologically wedded to its preservation.
The system is BROKEN. But the visionless dreary hacks in charge of "Labour" are pathologically wedded to its preservation.
October 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The lesson the govt will most certainly never learn from the Caerphilly byelection is that simply trying to make neoliberalism work better is a failed strategy.
The system is BROKEN. But the visionless dreary hacks in charge of "Labour" are pathologically wedded to its preservation.
The system is BROKEN. But the visionless dreary hacks in charge of "Labour" are pathologically wedded to its preservation.
So in the age of Trumpian post-truth we are expected to laud Trump's genius when he secures a ceasefire that involves a continuation of the killing on a mass scale, while Israeli cabinet ministers openly talk about using the "ceasefire" as an opportunity to "open the gates of hell on Gaza".
October 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
So in the age of Trumpian post-truth we are expected to laud Trump's genius when he secures a ceasefire that involves a continuation of the killing on a mass scale, while Israeli cabinet ministers openly talk about using the "ceasefire" as an opportunity to "open the gates of hell on Gaza".
The consequences for Western governments' enablement of the Gaza genocide are incalculable.
Much more than Palestinian lives have been incinerated in the rubble of Gaza - Western illusions of civilisational superiority lie alongside the burnt corpses.
#GazaGenocide
Much more than Palestinian lives have been incinerated in the rubble of Gaza - Western illusions of civilisational superiority lie alongside the burnt corpses.
#GazaGenocide
October 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The consequences for Western governments' enablement of the Gaza genocide are incalculable.
Much more than Palestinian lives have been incinerated in the rubble of Gaza - Western illusions of civilisational superiority lie alongside the burnt corpses.
#GazaGenocide
Much more than Palestinian lives have been incinerated in the rubble of Gaza - Western illusions of civilisational superiority lie alongside the burnt corpses.
#GazaGenocide
Take it from someone from Northern Ireland who lived through and studied my own peace process:
A "Peace Plan" that does not involve one side in the conflict & nowhere recognises its basic *right* to statehood is not a peace plan, but a manifesto of continuing oppression & thus conflict.
A "Peace Plan" that does not involve one side in the conflict & nowhere recognises its basic *right* to statehood is not a peace plan, but a manifesto of continuing oppression & thus conflict.
October 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Take it from someone from Northern Ireland who lived through and studied my own peace process:
A "Peace Plan" that does not involve one side in the conflict & nowhere recognises its basic *right* to statehood is not a peace plan, but a manifesto of continuing oppression & thus conflict.
A "Peace Plan" that does not involve one side in the conflict & nowhere recognises its basic *right* to statehood is not a peace plan, but a manifesto of continuing oppression & thus conflict.
@hibou2.bsky.social is a perfect example of the delusional state of Starmerism. Clutching at any available straws.
I was going to say that Starmerism must be destroyed as an electoral force, but its dreary adherents are doing a pretty fine job of it themselves.
I was going to say that Starmerism must be destroyed as an electoral force, but its dreary adherents are doing a pretty fine job of it themselves.
October 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM
@hibou2.bsky.social is a perfect example of the delusional state of Starmerism. Clutching at any available straws.
I was going to say that Starmerism must be destroyed as an electoral force, but its dreary adherents are doing a pretty fine job of it themselves.
I was going to say that Starmerism must be destroyed as an electoral force, but its dreary adherents are doing a pretty fine job of it themselves.
Starmer's "Labour" Party is lost. An irredeemably bad, visionless, decrepit vehicle of moribund capital. Their only electoral strategy is to scare voters with the prospect of Reform govt. But the 2-party system is as dead as Starmerism itself. It won't work. People want change & real hope.
October 11, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Starmer's "Labour" Party is lost. An irredeemably bad, visionless, decrepit vehicle of moribund capital. Their only electoral strategy is to scare voters with the prospect of Reform govt. But the 2-party system is as dead as Starmerism itself. It won't work. People want change & real hope.
Just in case anyone was in any doubt whether the Conservatives had given up on even pretending to have an intelligent, positive vision of the world, Robert Jenrick (who?) steps up to reassure us that "One Nation" conservatism is, indeed, dead.
Bovine, dog-whistle politics it is, then.
Bovine, dog-whistle politics it is, then.
October 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Just in case anyone was in any doubt whether the Conservatives had given up on even pretending to have an intelligent, positive vision of the world, Robert Jenrick (who?) steps up to reassure us that "One Nation" conservatism is, indeed, dead.
Bovine, dog-whistle politics it is, then.
Bovine, dog-whistle politics it is, then.
Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza. But FFS, can we not use this 2nd anniversary of the atrocities of Oct 7th - every bit as genocidal in intent - to remember the innocent victims of that day? WHAT IS WRONG WITH US that everything has to be seen through an "us vs. them" prism.
October 7, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza. But FFS, can we not use this 2nd anniversary of the atrocities of Oct 7th - every bit as genocidal in intent - to remember the innocent victims of that day? WHAT IS WRONG WITH US that everything has to be seen through an "us vs. them" prism.
By denying @owenjones.bsky.social access to Conference, Labour is admitting it cannot handle scrutiny. It is a perfect metaphor for how closeted & disconnected from the ordinary people it purports to represent it has become.
Labour is finished. It is now simply a vehicle for elite interests.
Labour is finished. It is now simply a vehicle for elite interests.
September 30, 2025 at 11:39 AM
By denying @owenjones.bsky.social access to Conference, Labour is admitting it cannot handle scrutiny. It is a perfect metaphor for how closeted & disconnected from the ordinary people it purports to represent it has become.
Labour is finished. It is now simply a vehicle for elite interests.
Labour is finished. It is now simply a vehicle for elite interests.
Rather than draconian measures forcing young people into low paid work, Rachel Reeves should devise policies to repair the broken social contract that locks Gen Z out of home ownership & secure work. Why should they work? What is society offering them in return - a chance to earn their poverty?
September 30, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Rather than draconian measures forcing young people into low paid work, Rachel Reeves should devise policies to repair the broken social contract that locks Gen Z out of home ownership & secure work. Why should they work? What is society offering them in return - a chance to earn their poverty?
Welcome to MAGAland - angry, insecure, losers who would rather abuse the opposition than support their own side.
America's unstoppable political and economic decline captured in one cultural/sporting event. Talk about art imitating life.
#RyderCup
America's unstoppable political and economic decline captured in one cultural/sporting event. Talk about art imitating life.
#RyderCup
September 29, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Welcome to MAGAland - angry, insecure, losers who would rather abuse the opposition than support their own side.
America's unstoppable political and economic decline captured in one cultural/sporting event. Talk about art imitating life.
#RyderCup
America's unstoppable political and economic decline captured in one cultural/sporting event. Talk about art imitating life.
#RyderCup
Keir Starmer's recognition of Palestinian statehood is performative nonsense for 2 reasons: (1) There is no state left to recognise: Israel has destroyed Gaza & annexed key parts of the West Bank. (2) Starmer has cheered (1) on & still can't bring himself to call it a genocide.
September 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Keir Starmer's recognition of Palestinian statehood is performative nonsense for 2 reasons: (1) There is no state left to recognise: Israel has destroyed Gaza & annexed key parts of the West Bank. (2) Starmer has cheered (1) on & still can't bring himself to call it a genocide.
The ruling class have their utopian dream within their grasp - the dissolution of the liberal democratic order, the final check on their power & wealth negated.
And they're exploiting the nihilistic despair of an exhausted w/class to their cause.
We stand on brink of nihilistic hyper-capitalism.
And they're exploiting the nihilistic despair of an exhausted w/class to their cause.
We stand on brink of nihilistic hyper-capitalism.
September 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The ruling class have their utopian dream within their grasp - the dissolution of the liberal democratic order, the final check on their power & wealth negated.
And they're exploiting the nihilistic despair of an exhausted w/class to their cause.
We stand on brink of nihilistic hyper-capitalism.
And they're exploiting the nihilistic despair of an exhausted w/class to their cause.
We stand on brink of nihilistic hyper-capitalism.
The murder of Charlie Kirk doesn't signal a sea-change in Trump's authoritarianism - remember the smearing of anti-genocide protests as "antisemitic" last year; rather, it is an opportunity to intensify existing trends towards the police state Trump's billionaire backers demand.
September 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The murder of Charlie Kirk doesn't signal a sea-change in Trump's authoritarianism - remember the smearing of anti-genocide protests as "antisemitic" last year; rather, it is an opportunity to intensify existing trends towards the police state Trump's billionaire backers demand.
Those hoping the long overdue UN declaration of Israeli genocide against Palestine will shift the dial mistakenly presume the US-Israel relation was ever shaped by humanitarianism.
It isn't and never was. Israel is a US proxy, a strategic asset in the US control of the M East.
It isn't and never was. Israel is a US proxy, a strategic asset in the US control of the M East.
September 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Those hoping the long overdue UN declaration of Israeli genocide against Palestine will shift the dial mistakenly presume the US-Israel relation was ever shaped by humanitarianism.
It isn't and never was. Israel is a US proxy, a strategic asset in the US control of the M East.
It isn't and never was. Israel is a US proxy, a strategic asset in the US control of the M East.
Elon Musk is deliberately destabilising liberal democracy b/c he sees it as a threat to his desire for unaccountable power which in turn services his insatiable greed & lust for wealth.
His preferred model - authoritarian nationalism is a sub-category of neoliberalism's hatred of democracy.
His preferred model - authoritarian nationalism is a sub-category of neoliberalism's hatred of democracy.
September 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Elon Musk is deliberately destabilising liberal democracy b/c he sees it as a threat to his desire for unaccountable power which in turn services his insatiable greed & lust for wealth.
His preferred model - authoritarian nationalism is a sub-category of neoliberalism's hatred of democracy.
His preferred model - authoritarian nationalism is a sub-category of neoliberalism's hatred of democracy.
The Labour Party cannot be saved. It is forever lost in the hands of the neo-Blairites, and Starmer's reshuffle is yet another lurch rightwards in a vain attempt to appease nativist voters lost to Reform.
Labour is now simply a vehicle for the interests of Capital. A party of the ruling elite.
Labour is now simply a vehicle for the interests of Capital. A party of the ruling elite.
September 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The Labour Party cannot be saved. It is forever lost in the hands of the neo-Blairites, and Starmer's reshuffle is yet another lurch rightwards in a vain attempt to appease nativist voters lost to Reform.
Labour is now simply a vehicle for the interests of Capital. A party of the ruling elite.
Labour is now simply a vehicle for the interests of Capital. A party of the ruling elite.
When can we start calling out the *real* antisemites - those who still support the actions of this disgusting Israeli govt? The reputation of Jews as a persecuted people has been turned on its head by these deeply depraved apologists for this genocide.
#GazaFamine #GazaGenocide
#GazaFamine #GazaGenocide
August 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
When can we start calling out the *real* antisemites - those who still support the actions of this disgusting Israeli govt? The reputation of Jews as a persecuted people has been turned on its head by these deeply depraved apologists for this genocide.
#GazaFamine #GazaGenocide
#GazaFamine #GazaGenocide
Beyond the performative nonsense, yesterday's meeting was a failure of Euro leaders to accept that the post-war international order of US security is over. This is the new reality & their time would be better spent adjusting to a world their failed policies has helped to create.
#Trump #Ukraine
#Trump #Ukraine
August 19, 2025 at 11:10 AM
If you understand Putin's mindset you can only conclude he got exactly what he came for - treatment as an equal to the US without giving anything up.
A PR triumph for Putin as Trump tickled his toes for the world's cameras.
For Ukraine? Not so good. Zelensky will now be strongarmed into a deal.
A PR triumph for Putin as Trump tickled his toes for the world's cameras.
For Ukraine? Not so good. Zelensky will now be strongarmed into a deal.
August 16, 2025 at 11:22 AM
If you understand Putin's mindset you can only conclude he got exactly what he came for - treatment as an equal to the US without giving anything up.
A PR triumph for Putin as Trump tickled his toes for the world's cameras.
For Ukraine? Not so good. Zelensky will now be strongarmed into a deal.
A PR triumph for Putin as Trump tickled his toes for the world's cameras.
For Ukraine? Not so good. Zelensky will now be strongarmed into a deal.