Formally neutral liberal states in capitalist orders produce homogeneous life outcomes, not real pluralism

Evidence

First, from a normative point of view it allows one to approach the question of the relevance of the idea of the good life for social and political theory from a different standpoint than the state-centered one that has dominated the liberal-communitarian debate in political philosophy during the last two decades of the twentieth century. … In Rosa’s view this is precisely the case in modern liberal polities, not as a positive result of state action, but because they are embedded in capitalist socioeconomic orders. For this reason, the apparently extensive and endlessly celebrated individual liberty that is supposedly ensured by the neutral or impartial norms of liberal constitutions leads to a surprisingly homogeneous and limited set of realized possibilities with regard to conceptions of the good, possible careers, educational options, personality structures, consumption choices, leisure activities, and family structure, among others. “Liberal freedom” ironically turns out to go hand in hand with “capitalist necessity.” This reality is occluded by the usual state-centric focus of the “right versus good” debate in mainstream political philosophy. — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration, 44

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the general theme of freedom under capitalism versus actual constraint — echoes arguments about ‘one-dimensional’ outcomes from earlier reading on the bias of communication and cultural studies. — connects to: Neutral liberal states channel citizens toward one homogeneous capitalist form of life. — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration: A New Theory of…, 44; Liberal state neutrality presupposes cultural homogeneity among the governed — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2: Identity…, 358; Modern capitalist societies experience themselves as pluralistic rather than unified (+4 more)
• DEFINE: Frames the state-centric ‘right versus good’ liberal-communitarian debate as the wrong level of analysis for questions of the good life.

Broader Connections

• Neutral liberal states channel citizens toward one homogeneous capitalist form of life. #corroborates (1.00) — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration, 44
• Liberal state neutrality presupposes cultural homogeneity among the governed #expands (0.85) — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 358
• Modern capitalist societies experience themselves as pluralistic rather than unified #contradicts (0.85)
• Liberal autonomy is class-stratified and state-regulated rather than universal #expands (0.80)
• Class equilibrium creates the appearance of a neutral, autonomous state #expands (0.75)
• Racial states claim neutrality while acting as agents of the ruling racial class #qualifies (0.75) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1694
• Formal political equality and market exchange produce economic domination when property is unequal #expands (0.70) — Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Schooling in Capitalist America, 582