[Column] People do not live on bread alone

In a thought-provoking column for The Hankyoreh, global eminent scholar Slavoj Žižek dissects the complex phenomenon of the current populist wave, offering a perspective that challenges conventional economic explanations. He argues that the core of populism lies not in economic hardship, but in a profound "struggle for recognition" in the Hegelian sense. This stems from the perceived failure of liberal-democratic promises, leaving ordinary people feeling marginalized and unheard.

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Jesus taught so many lessons through his death, burial, and resurrection. He showed us great leadership, great transformation requires great sacrifice. And Mr. President, no one has paid the price like you have paid the price. It almost cost you your life. You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It’s a familiar pattern that our lord and savior showed us. But it didn’t end there for him, and it didn’t end there for you.

Žižek highlights the elevation of figures like Donald Trump to quasi-divine status, juxtaposed with their public vulgarity, as a symptom of this societal disconnect. He references Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti's work, particularly the concept of 'lo sfigato' or 'the loser,' to describe the contemporary political protagonist. These 'losers,' despite often being political winners, feel a deep resentment towards political elites and the 'running ahead' classes in cosmopolitan cities. This sense of being overlooked fuels the populist surge, leading to a decline in democratic norms and the looming threat of demagogic autocracy.

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Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.

From a Korean perspective, this analysis resonates deeply. The emphasis on recognition and the feeling of being left behind by societal progress are themes that echo in various social movements and public sentiments within Korea. While Western media often focuses on economic factors, Žižek's framing, as presented in The Hankyoreh, brings a crucial philosophical and psychological dimension to understanding why so many feel alienated from the established political order. This is not just about policy; it's about dignity and belonging, a struggle for recognition that transcends borders and economic statistics.

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Invernizzi has proposed a new socio-political category that deserves wider attention: lo sfigato, the loser, something between the jinxed and the uncool. This cosmic-historical figure is the protagonist of the last two decades of politics and the subject of his book ‘Twenty Years of Rage: How Resentment Has Replaced Politics.’ Losers are also called the left behind, even if today they are political winners — especially after Trump’s election as President of the United States and the spectacular electoral successes of populists across Europe.