utopianism capital and class revised submission.pdf (192.49 kB)
Utopianism and social change: materialism, conflict and pluralism
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.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Capital and ClassISSN
0309-8168Publisher
SAGE PublicationsExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
42Page range
435-452Department affiliated with
- Sociology and Criminology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-10-26First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-10-26First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-10-25Usage metrics
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