CSS Lunch Series: Susanne Ekman about violation

Violation ¨C about expectations for the good life and a solidarity welfare contract in crisis

In his book ¡°Loss,¡± Andreas Reckwitz calls modernity¡¯s belief in progress an ¡®anti-tragic program.¡¯ The expectation is that we are constantly moving towards better times and thus less suffering. I would like to talk about the implications of this program when our welfare contract is tied to it. For it is an impossible task, since human life by definition contains tragedy and suffering ¨C and welfare efforts are often at the forefront of dealing with these. The anti-tragic program for the welfare state thus becomes in practice a tragedy for the welfare community, as it creates constant experiences of failure, disappointment and guilt among all parties. How can we find a program that accepts loss and tragedy as a human premise, and that organizes welfare on that basis?In his book ¡°Loss,¡± Andreas Reckwitz calls modernity¡¯s belief in progress an ¡®anti-tragic program.¡¯ The expectation is that we are constantly moving towards better times and thus less suffering. I would like to talk about the implications of this program when our welfare contract is tied to it. For it is an impossible task, since human life by definition contains tragedy and suffering ¨C and welfare efforts are often at the forefront of dealing with these. The anti-tragic program for the welfare state thus becomes in practice a tragedy for the welfare community, as it creates constant experiences of failure, disappointment and guilt among all parties. How can we find a program that accepts loss and tragedy as a human premise, and that organizes welfare on that basis?
 

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