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Back to the Future of Democratization: Tahrir Square to OWS Revisted

Mon, August 18, 2:30 to 4:10pm, TBA

Abstract

In 2011, it seemed that a world-historical transformation was nascent as a result of the progressive mobilizations from the Arab Spring to the Indignado and Occupy movements, characterized by demands for democratization, economic justice, human rights, feminism, and labor rights. Three years on, hope for meaningful social change within nation-states as well as the wider global system has in large part dissipated. But rather than wallow in despair, we would argue that the road to genuine democracy (economic, political and cultural) is a long, slow process fostered by dialectical contradictions. The progressive movements of 2011 were the result of much earlier transformations, primarily the spread of neoliberalism that in turn generated vast inequalities and a growing “precariat” (Standing 2012), along with the rise of ITCs that enabled information to be widely circulated outside of government or corporate control. Along the way there were many expressions of resistance and contestation, though with limited media coverage. We argue that 2011 marked the entry of a new political generation, bearers of a fully democratic vision, into the political arenas. To paraphrase Marx, women and men make history, but not under conditions of their own choosing; agency is generated and constrained by structures, and structure is challenged by collective action. Although the structures that were the targets of the progressive movements appear resilient, they will continue to foster crises, emotional reactions, progressivmobilizing processes, and the articulations of new frames, hope and emancipatory visions for dignity and social justice.

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