This research cluster will open a discussion on the emergence of new social movements. Its main focus is the discursive articulation of the new protests that since 2011 have emerged in Spain, Egypt, Chile and the US, among other countries, as a result of the financial crisis.
There is substantial difference between the social movements that took place in the 1960s and the new protests that are shaping a new political scenario today, the moment of what the experts have called the hugest crisis in global economy. We will examine this new context and the way different critiques have traced it. Find below the dates/times we will meet.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Monday, January 30th, 2pm-4pm: ON “OCCUPY” MOVEMENTS
(Readings: Wolfgang Streeck, “The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism”. New Left Review 71 (Sept‐October 2011); Mike Davis, “Spring Confronts Winter” New Left Review 72 (Nov-‐Dec
2011))
Monday, March 5th, 4pm-6pm: ON SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND THE RE-EMERGENCE OF THE IDEA OF COMMUNISM
(Readings: Alain Badiou, “The Idea of Communism”; Jacques Rancière, “Communists Without Communism?”; Peter Hallward, “Communism of the Intellect, Communism of the Will”; all articles from The Idea of Communism)
Monday, March 19th, 4pm-6pm: ON VIOLENCE
(Readings: Walter Benjamin, “On the Critique of Violence”; Susan Buck-Morss, “Sovereign Right and the Global Left” Cultural Critique 69 (Spring 2008): 145-‐171)
Monday, April 2nd, 4pm-6pm: ON MODERN POLITICS, RELIGION AND LIBERALISM
(Readings: Slavoj Zizek, “Only Communism Can Save Liberal Democracy” and “The Revolt of the Salaried Bourgeoisie”; Marilena Chauí, “Political Theology, Religious Fundamentalism and Modern Politics” Radical Philosophy 171 (Jan/Feb 2012))
All meetings in BuTo 799.
Questions: Rita de Grandis, rita.degrandis@ubc.ca, and Elixabete Ansa, elixabete.ansa@ubc.ca.