Utopianism in the Work of Zygmunt Bauman - Sociologi - Aalborg ...

words, that until the contrary is proved, reality of some attributes of the world and
utopianism of their alternatives are both conditional on the continuation of some
practices which, in principle, can be modified or altered (Bauman 1991b:280-
281).
This is indeed a very poignant summary of the critical core in his own work, a
self-description of the qualities of critical social thinking that he wants to stress
either overtly or implicitly through his sociology. Bauman, though, is not a
critical theorist per se – he insistently refuses to wear the badge of allegiance of
whatever kind or represent any traditions or schools of thought. Though, the
utopian and also adversarial element immanent in many parts of critical think-
ing (Alexander 2001; Benhabib 1986; Calhoun 1995; Cohen & Arato 1992) is a
key in understanding the utopian strand that Bauman pursues throughout his
many books whether he is writing on a critique of modernity, the characteristics
of postmodernity or attempts to draw attention to the liquefied contours of con-
temporary society. Bauman’s utopian journey, as the above by no means ex-
haustive account has illustrated, consists of a mosaic of impressions, inspira-
tions and changes. The utopian element derives as much vigour and inspiration
from the ‘French connection’ constituted by Camus and his literary focus on the
ability of acting otherwise, Castoriadis and his political vision of the autono-
mous society and individual equally a precondition for each other, and Levinas
and his appreciation of the moral responsibility developed through human prox-
imity, as to some of the major ideas advanced by critical thinking or humanistic
Marxism. They all share, in different guises and degrees, a concern with uto-
pian ideals.
Modernist Utopia as Predicament, Prediction and Postponement
Utopia has always remained the terra incognita, the unknowable and intangible
that despite being mapped and meticulously described in many a book still
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