Antagonism, Dependence, and Domination

This working paper develops a conceptual framework for understanding the structural relation between dependence, asymmetry, domination, antagonism, and accountability in modern institutional societies. The paper argues that antagonism cannot be eliminated because it arises from ontological dependence and asymmetry, and therefore ethics should aim not at reconciliation but at accountability within antagonism. The paper also introduces the concept of ethical withdrawal to describe how modern institutional and technological systems diffuse and anonymize responsibility. This paper is part of a broader research project on responsibility, institutional power, and ethical accountability in procedural societies.