Denouncing elites reinforces the cynicism that sustains capitalist realism.

Evidence

That ontological dimension is what is missing from the progressive populist model, in which the masses cannot but appear as a dupes, fooled by the lies of the elite but ready to effectuate change the moment they are made aware of the truth. The reality, of course, is that the “masses” are under few illusions about the ruling elite (if anyone is credulous about politicians and “capitalist parliamentarianism”, it is the middle classes). The Subject Supposed Not To Know is a figure of populist fantasies — more than that: the duped subject awaiting factual enlightenment is the presupposition on which progressive populism rests. If the most crucial political task is to enlighten the masses about the venality of the ruling class, then the preferred mode of discourse will be denunciation. Yet, this repeats rather than challenges the logic of the liberal order; it is no accident that the Mail and the Express favour the same denunciatory mode. Attacks on politicians tend to reinforce the atmosphere of diffuse cynicism upon which capitalist realism feeds. What is needed is not more empirical evidence of the evils of the ruling class but a belief on the part of the subordinate class that what they think or say matters; that they are the only effective agents of change. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 497

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Capitalist realism reflects social decomposition, not just individual persuasion. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1644; Anti-capitalist messages on screen can end up reinforcing capitalist realism — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 2223; Shared cynical beliefs sharply distinguish activists from disengaged cynics — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 1152 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Anti-capitalist messages on screen can end up reinforcing capitalist realism #corroborates (0.85) — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 2223
• Capitalist realism reflects social decomposition, not just individual persuasion. #expands (0.82) — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 1644
• Anti-state rhetoric across the spectrum now sustains capitalist realism #exemplifies (0.80) — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 1580
• Shared cynical beliefs sharply distinguish activists from disengaged cynics #qualifies (0.75) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 1152