So here's the part where I hash out Zizek's notion of the tragedy that we find ourselves in. There are a ton of ideas in this chapter that all warrant some thought, but I tried to stick to his thoughts on the economic crisis and modern capitalism.
Zizek argues that the events of 9/11 symbolized the end of the Clintonite period and marked the beginning of a new era of walls, both outside and within the nation-state. This highly symbolic and violent act, literally ripping down the two most emblematic buildings in the heart of Manhattan, and taking the lives of American civilians on American soil, ripped a hole in the notion of peaceful capitalist globalization cultivated by Clinton. A politics of vengeance and division followed, both at the populist, blue-collar, “These Colors Don’t Run” bumper-sticker sporting level, but also among the elites at the highest echelons of society, in America and abroad. 9/11 affected almost everyone in the world, regardless of class or nationality. The common feature that Zizek points out is fear.
