Everyday antagonisms: Organising economic practices in Mercado Bonpland, Buenos Aires

Abstract

In 2001, Argentina experienced a profound social political and economic crisis. In response, a broad and diverse social and economic movement was created, involving autonomous politics, horizontal organisation, autogestion, neighbourhood assemblies and state rupture. The creation of alternative economic systems played an important role in this challenge to capitalist hegemony, producing a different and more humanising kind of economics focused on the provision of opportunities for more stable, sustainable and dignified production. This paper uses an innovative theoretical approach, drawing on both Marxism and diverse economy literature, to explore data collected during empirical research between 2013 and 2016 into a solidarity retail market in Buenos Aires, the Mercado de Econom ıa Solidaria Bonpland. It argues that such interventions in the interstices of capitalism offer a radical and alternative solution through a politics of everyday antagonism. By insisting on economic plurality in the present via a series of oppositions and compromises, the Mercado both drew attention to the failings of capitalism, and created a genuine and visible social and economic alternative.

Towards a post-foundational geography: Spaces of negativity, contingency, and antagonism

“…In light of this unscalable scope, the point of post-foundationalism is to acknowledge the myriad of potential and/or existing conflicts—from the most mundane bickering about whether or not to put the butter in the fridge to trans-national diplomatic efforts against dictators—to be grounded in the same space of antagonism. This space of antagonism unfolds from an ontological terrain, which is nevertheless grounded, and viscerally felt in ontic places (see Habermehl, 2021; Hussey, 2022; Schurr, 2013). Briefly, antagonism emerges from the radical negativity outlined above.…”

Introduction: Anti-politics, austerity and spaces of politicisation

“…That these legacies are ongoing is underlined by the concerted repression of anti-austerity protests in the Autumn of 2019, which also articulated ongoing political demands in opposition to dictatorship era laws (Vergara, 2021). Another Southern Cone country which has experienced both severe political repression and imposition of austerity politics is Argentina and in her contribution to the special issue Victoria Habermehl considers dynamics in the wake of the countries ‘profound social political and economic crisis’ of 2001 (Habermehl, 2021: 536).…”

Multiplying Labour, Multiplying Resistance: Class Composition in Buenos Aires’ Clandestine Textile Workshops

“…But as Arturo shows, this equates not to a lack of agency, but to an expansion of potential sites of antagonism (cf. Habermehl ).…”

“…The next section therefore explores this view’s conceptual and practical limitations, highlighting how such a discourse is counterproductive and weaponised by talleristas (workshop‐owners) to increase exploitation. Finally, the paper explores examples of resistance in‐and‐beyond the workshops, reiterating the multiple lines of antagonism that exist within this (more than) economic system (Habermehl ).…”