French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Carabédian, Radical Utopia. Beyond the Imaginary of Cabins and Ruins
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas

Events that until recently belonged to the realm of the improbable, worst-case scenarios, or dystopia have now become our daily reality. Science fiction has turned into our actual life. We live in a mounting chaos, even though here and there, rising from the ruins of capitalism, concrete, localist, and feasible utopias—cabins and shelters—begin to flourish. Yet, are these utopias not often granted, at the margins, by the very people who promise the colonization of space and self-sufficient cities for billionaires?

There is an urgent need to reclaim spaces where our imaginations can unfold in complete freedom. Radical utopia can provide an answer to the extremity of present and future disasters. We can and must dream of emancipatory technologies and intergalactic encounters, and refuse to surrender this power solely to the captains of capitalist starships.

In the face of catastrophe, will we dare to dream of other worlds?

A visionary of open roads, holding a degree in Modern Literature and a Ph.D. in Political Philosophy, Alice Carabédian works on reconceptualizing political utopia within contemporary science fiction. Her research is multifaceted, forging connections with artists, researchers, authors, and activists.

Authored by Alice Carabédian, who holds a Ph.D. in Political Philosophy and specializes in contemporary science fiction, this work investigates how utopian thinking can be reclaimed from capitalist technocracy. The author examines contemporary responses to ecological and social collapse, critiquing the limitations of modest, localized projects like cabins and shelters when they remain tolerated at the margins of dominant economic systems. Rather than retreating into localized survivalism, the book argues for an expansive political imagination capable of envisioning alternative futures on a cosmic scale.

Rooted in the intersection of literary studies and political philosophy, the book will appeal to readers interested in speculative fiction, critical theory, and contemporary political thought. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and anyone seeking to understand how narrative art and science fiction can challenge fatalistic resignation. By positioning speculative world-building as an essential tool for political emancipation, the study invites a rigorous reengagement with the transformative possibilities of collective dreaming.