Undoing Punishment: Toward a New Democratic Imaginary.

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Critical Criminology, Green Criminology, and the Law

Abstract

This research examines the role of prison abolitionist struggles in shaping a democratic imaginary, using Chantal Mouffe’s theoretical framework. The study aims to: (1) analyze Mouffe’s concept of democracy; (2) explore contemporary abolitionist perspectives; and (3) highlight the relevance of these struggles in forming an anti-punitive democratic imaginary. Mouffe’s writings will be analyzed for her view of democracy as a way of life, the affective dimension in politics, and the creation of a new democratic imaginary. The research will also consider abolitionist approaches advocating for a non-punitive society and alternative conflict resolution methods. The central argument is that fostering a new democratic imaginary and radicalizing democracy requires strengthening a non-punitive social framework, which in turn demands deeper democratic structures. As societal punishment increases, democracy diminishes. This investigation engages with Mouffe’s theory of democracy and the abolitionist movement, recognizing that while she does not explicitly address prison abolition, her goals align with those of the movement.

Author

• Laura Danielle Lima Santos, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil