Jewish Thought, Utopia, and Revolution

Elena Namli is Professor of Ethics and research director for the Centre of Russian and Eurasian Studies at Uppsala University. Jayne Svenungsson is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Stockholm School of Theology. Alana Vincent is Lecturer in Jewish Studies at the University of Chester.

”During an age when we never lack catastrophes but are becoming more and more short of imagination and courage for utopia and revolution, when the idea of universalism sounds most unpopular in a world obsessed with clash of identities, these authors bravely revisit and redefine the notions of utopia, revolution and universalism, through examining Jewish thought, which irreplaceably inspired and informed the thinking and praxis of revolutions in the 20th century, and exploring their universal significance and new potentialities … This collection of insightful essays provides richly diverse perspectives - theological, political, philosophical, and aesthetic - but conveys the same strong message: one always has the right to hope for a better future.” - Dr. Hai Wang, Lecturer in Comparative Literature, Renmin University

• Elena Namli, Jayne Svenungsson, and Alana M. Vincent: Introduction Victor Jeleniewski Seidler: Tikkun Olam—“Repairing the World”: Embodying Redemption and UtopiaCatherine Chalier: Jewish Hope Versus Revolutionary Hope Mattias Martinson: Adorno, Revolution, and Negative Utopia Michael Löwy: Utopia and Revolution: The Romantic Socialism of Gustav Landauer and Martin Buber Jayne Svenungsson: A Secular Utopia: Remarks on the Löwith-Blumenberg Debate Carl Cederberg: Thinking Revolution With and Beyond LevinasAlana M. Vincent: Topos and Utopia: The Place of Art in the RevolutionOleg Budnitskii: Berlin Debates: The Jews and the Russian Revolution Elena Namli: Jewish Rationalism, Ethics, and Revolution: Hermann Cohen in Nevel Alexandra Polyan: Reflections of Revolutionary Movements in American Yiddish Poetry: The Case of Proletpen Jon Wittrock: Nihilism and the Resurrection of Political Space: Hannah Arendt’s Utopia? Björn Thorsteinsson: Left (in) Time: Hegel, Benjamin, and Derrida Facing the Status Quo Works Cited About the Contributors Index