Martell, Luke (2018) Utopianism and social change: materialism, conflict and pluralism. Capital and Class, 42 (3). pp. 435-452. ISSN 0309-8168

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Abstract

This article discusses criticisms that utopia and utopianism undermine social change. It outlines two types of utopia, future and current. It argues against claims that utopianism is idealist and steps aside from material and conflictual dimensions of society and so undermines change, proposing that utopias are material and conflictual and contribute to change. Against liberal and pluralist criticisms that utopianism is end-ist and totalitarian and terminates diversity and change it argues that utopianism can encompass liberal and pluralist dimensions and be dynamic rather than static. It is proposed that criticisms create false conflations and dichotomies. Critical perspectives, rather than being rejected, are answered on their own terms. Utopianism, it is argued, is part of change, materially, now and in the future.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Utopia, Utopianism, Change, Materialism, Conflict, Pluralism
Schools and Departments:	School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Sociology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Luke Martell
Date Deposited:	26 Oct 2017 09:10
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2019 13:45
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/70672

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