The Subversion of Politics: European Autonomous Social Movements and the Decolonization of Everyday Life - Softcover

George Katsiaficas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904859534 ISBN 13: 9781904859536

Publisher: AK Press, 2007

Synopsis

George Katsiaficas provides a unique portrayal of direct-action European social movements in Italy, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and Denmark from 1968 to 1996. Paying special attention to the role of autonomous feminist movements, he traces the effect of squatters and feminists on the disarmament movement and on efforts to shut down nuclear power, and also discusses antifascist social movements developed in response to the neo-Nazi upsurge. In addition to providing a rare depiction of these often overlooked movements, Professor Katsiaficas develops a specific notion of autonomy from the statements and aspirations of these movements. Autonomy is seen as a type of freedom transcending neo-Kantian individualism and postmodern consumerism - as the political form appropriate to contemporary societies. Drawing from the practical actions of social movements, his analysis is extended into a universal standpoint of the species, a perspective he develops by uncovering the partiality of Antonio Negri's workerism, Seyla Benhabib's feminism, and notions of uniqueness of the German nation.

About this title

About the Author

George Katsiaficas is a Fulbright fellow, a student of Herbert Marcuse, a long-time activist, and Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. He has authored and/or edited more than 10 books. Professor Katsiaficas is also the Managing Editor of "New Political Science", a popular academic journal.

Edition details

• Publisher: AK Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1904859534
• ISBN 13: 9781904859536
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 312