Thesis Outline GdG

WHAT?

“The people are multiple,

the people are also divided”

(Chantal Mouffe)

The thesis will be a research on conflictual models for community existence. In particular, I want to talk about alternatives to single hegemonic orders and implications of plural systems of rules and organizations. The sphere of the commons implies a rupture in the identity boundaries and expose individuals to a potential conflict. In this way, we can say that conflict is always a model of communities organizational structures. The minimization of the “struggle of the commons” through democratic, universalist and liberal models of participation cannot overcome the automatic conflictuality of individuals that forms a community. The processes of collaboration, bargain, discussion are processes that belongs to the same factors of conflict: in all of these situations the actors develop strategies to be understood and to predict the internal dynamics.

Conflictual participation is the best-case scenario for an encounter between people and society. It implies a surprise effect and impossibility to rely on previous standards.

“What is interesting from conflictual participation is the critical engagement or the introduction of a post-disciplinary attitude, which can lead to a new production of knowledge”

Individuals that are naturally moved by individual self-interest, are still able to commit to a game of tactical collaboration?

How is this “game” interfacing with the existent law?

NAME DROPPING

*conflictual models
*on the role of order for groups of people
*which are the alternative to hegemonic order?
*acceptance of pluralism in/outside democracy.
*game theory
*common pool strategies.
*alternatives to the tragedy of the commons
*how people organize themselves and their actions in the sphere of the commons
*political paradigms, and exceptions: margins of improvisation within a regulated system.
*why democracy cannot work?
*on processes of immunization in community existence.
*the failure of participative processes
*on conflict and game theory 
*on commitment and co-operation
*theory of interdependence
*individual strategic threats, promises, expectations 
*how to achieve coordination?
*problems of conflict and collaboration: self-interest and common interests
*hegemonic nature of every social order

HOW?

Division Chapters

0. INTRODUCTION

1. INDIVIDUAL AS INDIVIDUAL

The first chapter will explain the commandment of the human being as an individual form. The human being is not only an individual, but also a political animal. The reference for this chapter are system theory such as “The general system theory” of Ludwig von Bertalanffy,

2. INDIVIDUAL AS DIFFERENCE

“Can you get into the space I’m in?”

In this chapter I’ll outline the axiom of “individual identity as relational”. The creation of an identity always implies the establishment of a difference. With “difference” I mean the perception of something other. The perception of an outside.

3. INDIVIDUAL AS OUTSIDE

In this chapter i’ll explore how politics deal with identities as collective identities. Politics constitutes the form of a “we”, which automatically requires the demarcation of a “they”. The relation “we and they” is not necessarily antagonistic, but it can happen that the “other” questions our identity or threats our existence. In this case conflict can arise. Neo liberal theories are based on the assumption that difference should be eliminated without seeing that the relation us/them can be seen as friend / friend and not only friend / enemy. Liberal political theories are based on the "rationalist belief in the availability of a universal consensus based on reason"*. The formation of collective identities cannot be represented by social objectivity but

4. THERE IS NO OUTSIDE

This chapter will illustrate the importance of the formation of collective identities as yes, a relation between inside/outside or us/them, but also as pluralist formations that can be compatible through the demarcation of this difference. In this sense we are neither all "inside" or "outside". The others, the outside, are not enemies to destroy, but better "adversaries" that have ideas that might be fought, as well have the rights to defend their ideas and positions. We all live in different territories, what "makes the difference" is our sole position in the system of the territories we live in. In these territories bodies (individuals) fights to position themselves in the best way. The concept of "Spatial Justice" of Esposito explain how the conflict between individuals that are moved by a desire to occupy space can be re-orientated by law. As he describes law is not "outside", but operates inside the space bodies share. References: “Biotopology 1972” by Warren Brodey, on Radical Software numb.4; “There is no outside” from “Spatial Justice” of Roberto Esposito

5. INSIDE & OUTSIDE

In this chapter I'll underline the importance of recognizing the pluralistic nature of the social world. The social sphere is moved by collective identities that in turn are moved by affects and passion. The collective identities, divided in us & them, inside & outside, is based on the recognition of a pluralism that is compatible with this fundamental distinction. Pluralist democracy is this democracy that recognize and legitimize conflict. The others are fair adversaries to fight and respect.

5.1 Interviews (metalogues, to people from PG and Cembra): list of (impossible) questions:

- Why do we need to be governed?

- To whom you obey?

- Do you command?

- When laws are necessary?

- Why conflict happens?

- How do you remain disassociated?

6. EPILOGUE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Methods

- Theory, discursive part

- Interviews, reports and discussions

- Comics

I want to combine discursive and philosophical narrative with a series of comics that portrayed groups of people in different setups of the city. People in stations, streets, metro, supermarkets, traffic jams, suburbs etc. I will photograph those places and human dynamics from “above“, a distant and voyeristic point of view, an hegemonic position. The narrative of the strips will be an attempt to analyze the behavior of people in public space from their movements.

WHY?

Turn biopolitics into affirmative politics of communities. Look through the notion of public, commons and their specificities. How to create new spaces of freedom?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Warren Brodey: Biotopology 1972, on Radical Softwares n.4 http://www.radicalsoftware.org/volume1nr4/pdf/VOLUME1NR4_art02.pdf
• Roberto Esposito: Immunitas: The Protection and Negation of Life
• Roberto Esposito: Terms of the Political
• Roberto Esposito: "Spatial Justice"
• Giorgio Agamben: Homo Sacer / State of Exceptions
• Augusto Boal: Legislative Theatre
• Freek Lomme: Who Told You So?! The Collective Story vs. the Individual Narrative
• Chantal Mouffe: Agonistic
• Chantal Mouffe: Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism?
• Elinor Ostrom: Reformulating the Commons
• Annie Vigier & Franck Apertet (les gens d’Uterpan): Uchronia, duplicate > do not create, infiltrate > do not exhibit, exceed > do not belong, appear > do not claim, delegate > do not restrict
• Markus Miessen: The Nightmare of Participation

REFERENCES / ARTISTS

• Mireia c.Saladrigues:

• Sander Breure & Witte Van Hulzen: performance "How can we know the dancer from the dance?"

http://sanderbreure-wittevanhulzen.com/?cat=5

• Les Gens d'Uterpan

• Adelita Husni Bey

• Melle Smets

• Varinia Canto Vila

• Marinella Senatore http://www.marinella-senatore.com/index.php?/nui-simu-2010/nui-simu/