Affiliation:
1. Department of Philosophy, College of Arts, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Abstract
In this paper, I use insights from post-structuralist anarchism to consider the relationship between a sense of the future, or “futurity”, and the notion of utopia for anarchist movements. At issue is whether anarchism requires a vision or sense of the future at all and, if so, whether that futurity should be utopian. Drawing from the post-structuralist anarchism of Todd May, Saul Newman, and Lewis Call, I consider the problems with utopia, as well as the potential irrelevance or impossibility of even thinking the future. I then argue for the necessity of both and contend that post-structuralist anarchism does not preclude either futurity or provisional forms of utopia. I conclude by sketching the outlines of a utopia that would be acceptably post-structuralist and acceptably anarchist.
Subject
History and Philosophy of Science,Philosophy
Reference28 articles.
1. Rousselle, D., and Evren, S. (2011). Post-Anarchism: A Reader, Pluto Press.
2. Newman, S. (2016). Postanarchism, Polity Press.
3. Call, L. (2002). Postmodern Anarchism, Lexington Books.
4. Newman, S. (2001). From Bakunin to Lacan: Anti-Authoritarianism and the Dislocation of Power, Lexington Books.
5. May, T. (1994). The Political Philosophy of Poststructuralist Anarchism, Pennsylvania State University Press.