Why There Cannot be Stakeholders in Occupy
Modern politics, as well as development discourse, have grown increasingly fond of the word ‘stakeholders’ in recent years. This, I will argue, is a tactic that serves to divorce people and consequence, as it singles out small groups who [...]
Post-OLSX
Sometimes you don’t realise how hard something is until it’s over. A battle. Parenthood. Divorce. That kind of thing. Camping all through the winter in the city, unexpectedly, with strangers, with increasing numbers of vulnerable [...]
Consumption Always and Everywhere – On the Extension of a Metaphor
When looking for theories on the idea of consumption, its origins and the related human mechanism of desire from a more basic perspective, I stumbled across a collection of essays by David Graeber. Graeber, known as the man for consumer-critical [...]
The Less Radical Side of Occupy Oakland: Tipi Tents and Turtles
Occupy Oakland (#OccupyOakland #OO) is known for its radial tactics and violent confrontations with the police. On January 28th, some 400 people were arrested, and demonstrators broke into the City Hall and burnt an American flag. Regardless [...]
We Need Caveats On Inclusivity
The Occupy movement is based on some core principles of structure and process: non-violence, inclusivity, democratic decision making and a non-hierarchical horizontal structure being the most obvious. I’m a fan of them all, but talking [...]
Disguising, Mythologising & Protest
I was a little disconcerted on my first couple of visits to OccupyLSX by the number of people walking around with their faces entirely covered. There is a healthy contingent of Anonymous UK occupiers who wear the iconic Guy Fawkes mask from [...]
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