What exactly is the role of speculation in contemporary capitalist society? How do we untangle finance capitalism’s formidable imagination—to make sense of its impact on the ways we live now? How do we imagine genuinely alternative life patterns that can go beyond the oppressive forces of finance capitalism? As we are increasingly bombarded with capitalism’s future promises, our imagination becomes more speculative, ranging from our choices of partners to our choices of government. At the same time, the speculative imaginary becomes a central site of struggle in contemporary society, the very ground in which new struggles for power are fought.

This event is conceived as a dialogue between Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou and Ali Riza Taskale in the debate around the speculative imagination of finance and new forms of resistance to the pernicious impact of finance. Ali Riza Taskale will first briefly talk about his Marie Curie-project, “Fighting for the Future: Speculative Finance/Speculative Fiction,” which he is currently conducting at the Department of Social Sciences and Business at Roskilde University. Then the floor will be given to Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, the author of Speculative Communities: Living with Uncertainty in a Financialized World (University of Chicago Press, 2022). He is Associate Professor of Sociology at the UCL Social Research Institute, where he leads the Sociology & Social Theory Research Group. Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou will talk about the long history and radical politics of speculation. The event will conclude with an opportunity to ask questions.

Attendance is free of charge. The event will be held in English.
There will be some coffee, tea, and cake at the event.