Glossary of the Present 2.0

In 2004, the Glossary of the Present was published. As the editors put it at the time, the 44 entries in that volume sought to examine »concepts that are ›reasonably well-known‹, but fulfil a significant strategic function and occupy a key position in contemporary debates.«

Now, some 20 years later, with the global financial crisis behind us and the rise of right-wing populist parties and the palpable effects of climate change looking us in the face, it is time for an update. Today's thinkers recognise themselves in new key concepts: »disruption« replaces »normality«, the »planetary« replaces »globalisation«, »resilience« replaces »prevention«. Other terms, such as »decolonisation« or »post-truth«, have no equivalent in the previous volume. The articles written for version 2.0 of this glossary function as probes designed to determine how we see ourselves in the present.