Everyday Radicalism and the Democratic Imagination: Dissensus, Rebellion and Utopia

Abstract

The prevalence of social injustice suggests the need for radical transformation of political economy and governance. This article develops the concept of 'everyday radicalism', which positions the everyday as a potential site of social change. Everyday radicalism is based on three main elements: dissensus and a rupture with dominant practices; collective rebellion and the creation of alternatives on a micro-scale; and the connection of these practices with utopian ideas to be able to develop strategies for social justice. The potential application of everyday radicalism is illustrated through a case study of a women's social intervention in Manchester. The article aims to show how everyday radicalism has the potential to contribute knowledge towards the transformation of everyday life and the institutions that govern society.

Governance Lessons from Urban Informality

“…Despite the limited objectives of these organizations, at times they achieve collectivity that transcends traditional social relations-mirroring Atkinson et al's (2018) and Silver's (2018) groups rooted in pragmatism but nonetheless inspired to reach for utopia.…”

“…Dean (2018) takes the ruptural step of categorizing citizen conflict, as well as collaboration, with the state, as a form of participation in governance. Silver's (2018) "everyday radicalism" moves beyond dissensus to rebellion and utopian prefiguration. Finally Atkinson, Dörfler and Rothfuß (2018) classify climate change-directed self-organization into four categories spanning the full spectrum from consensusbuilders comfortably engaged with the state to radical greens bent on utopia-building.…”

Mobilizing Occupation for Social Transformation: Radical Resistance, Disruption, and Re-Configuration: Mobiliser l'occupation pour une transformation sociale : résistance radicale, perturbation et reconfiguration

“…Of central relevance to mobilizing occupation for social transformation, various theoretical frameworks and processes forwarded in critical and transformative scholarship reinforce the centrality of everyday doing for generative disruption (Ackhurst, 2019;Frank & Muriithi, 2015;Levitas, 2003). For example, Silver (2018) and Cooper (2014), in work addressing everyday radicalism and everyday Utopias, centre the transformative power of doing everyday activities differently, particularly as collectives. Grounded in a collective project that involved women living in poverty creating alternative ways of negotiating everyday life, Silver (2018) proposes that collective re-imagining and re-configuration of everyday life can counter acquiescence, transform social relations, and generate knowledge to inform the broader project of "the transformation of everyday life and the institutions that govern society" (p. 161).…”

Coproducing Urban Governance

“…In distinguishing between top down and bottom up approaches, Silver (2018) and Atkinson et al (2018) discuss the role played by critique of existing forms, disruptions to dominant discourses, and the role of dissensus. Wagenaar and Wood (2018) steer us to a consideration of outcomes to adjudicate tensions and conflicts over the social value of innovations.…”

“…The articles by Silver (2018) and Atkinson et al (2018) start to speak to the nature of knowledge production in this field. Both are proponents in their articles of the value of experiential expertise and local knowledge.…”