Corona Pandemic, symptom of the event The transformation of Neoliberal policies to a social imaginary

In Deleuze's views “event” is not an occurrence in the present, it is a process of becoming, which simultaneously is attached to past and future. It belongs to the trans-historical realm of Aion that in accord with the historical realm of Chronos creates a kind of perception which makes the event contingent. It is not a phenomenon or a thing, it is a creative, complex, yet immaterial force, something of thought and consciousness. Since, potentially, it has different possibilities for historical change in itself, by the break that it brings into historical perception of society, creates something new. Neoliberalism by its fundamental critique of the welfare state in Iran provided a condition in which, at least at the theoretical level, the withdrawal of the government from the social spheres has been considered as an imperative. Accordingly, a new social order was formed, the neoliberalism actualized its principals in society, but life has become more and more exhausting and unbearable for the lower classes. The Corona Pandemic better than any other occurrence exposed the falsity of the neoliberal perspectives. Not only Coronavirus did convince most of the people for the government's return to society, it also at the expense of neoliberal individualism revived the social. The misery of present situation from one side destroys the social imaginary that caused the application of neoliberal policies as historical event on life of people; from other side it brings to society a chance to imagine a better future. In this article by leaning on Deleuze view of “event”, we are going to show how neoliberalism by transforming itself to a “social imaginary” became a path breaking event that promised to open up a new era of socio-political life in Iran. The study offers how corona pandemic discloses the neoliberal disguise on the progress and welfare; it attempts to reveal the delusion neoliberal promise, particularly in its relation to lower classes of society.

Corona Pandemic, symptom of the event The transformation of Neoliberal policies to a social imaginary Keywords:

Corona Pandemic , neoliberalism , Deleuze , Event , Welfare State