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Anarchist Critique of Radical Democracy: The Impossible Argument
This book addresses the conflictual nature of radical democracy. By analyzing democratic conflict in Husby, a marginalized Stockholm city district, it exposes democracy’s core division – between governors and governed – as theorized by Jacques Rancière. Tracing the genealogy of that critique, the book interrogates a historical tradition generically adverse to every form of governance, namely anarchism. By outlining the divergent and discontinuous relationship between democracy and anarchy – within the history of anarchist thought – the author adds to democratic theory ‘The Impossible Argument’: a compound anarchist critique of radical democracy.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2018
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May 7, 2024
The name I'm most often called when I express my anarchist views and opinions with normies is “naïve.” It makes sense because the world I envision is radical and even though people have experienced bits and pieces here and there, they really have to stretch their imagination to see it being feasible on a large scale. Honestly, so do I. I don't think a world like this will ever exist, outside of small pockets, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop fighting for it, and acting as if it already exists (because it kind of does). People who believe their outlandish goals are possible tend to justify not so great actions they take by saying the ends justifies the means, when in reality the means are the end.
Anarchist Critique of Radical Democracy is broken down into three main parts. First Lundstrom talks about an uprising that took place in Sweden; he dissects the the governors-governed antagonism and the different beliefs and goals residents had while fighting the police. He then, in the second part, discusses the history of anarchist critiques of democracy. From those that believe that we need more of a direct democracy where everyone has a chance to have their voices heard about everything, to those that think any kind of democracy takes away from people's individuality, to those that think a more direct democracy is ok but only if it's on the path to total anarchy. Finally he talks about the impossible argument, which is the section that I understood the least.
I didn't find much new information in this book, in fact there were parts that left me more confused than I was before I started, but at 64 pages it was a quick read and overall I feel good that I read it. Most of all, I don't feel so alone in my so-called naivety.
Anarchist Critique of Radical Democracy is broken down into three main parts. First Lundstrom talks about an uprising that took place in Sweden; he dissects the the governors-governed antagonism and the different beliefs and goals residents had while fighting the police. He then, in the second part, discusses the history of anarchist critiques of democracy. From those that believe that we need more of a direct democracy where everyone has a chance to have their voices heard about everything, to those that think any kind of democracy takes away from people's individuality, to those that think a more direct democracy is ok but only if it's on the path to total anarchy. Finally he talks about the impossible argument, which is the section that I understood the least.
I didn't find much new information in this book, in fact there were parts that left me more confused than I was before I started, but at 64 pages it was a quick read and overall I feel good that I read it. Most of all, I don't feel so alone in my so-called naivety.
Displaying 1 of 1 review