Post-Fukushima Activism

Politics and Knowledge in the Age of Precarity

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Social Science
Cover of the book Post-Fukushima Activism by Azumi Tamura, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Azumi Tamura ISBN: 9781351654067
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: May 23, 2018
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Azumi Tamura
ISBN: 9781351654067
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: May 23, 2018
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Political disillusionment is widespread in contemporary society. In Japan, the search for the ‘outside’ of a stagnant reality sometimes leads marginalised young people to a disastrous image of social change. The Fukushima nuclear disaster was the realisation of such an image, triggering the largest wave of activism since the 1960s. The disaster revealed the interconnected nature of contemporary society. The protesters regretted that their past indifference to politics prefigured such a catastrophe and became motivated to protest in the streets. They did not share any totalising ideology or predetermined collective identity. Instead, the activism provided a space for each body to encounter others who forced them to feel and think, which also introduced an ethical dimension to their politics.

In this book, Azumi Tamura proposes a concept of politics as a series of endless experiments based on creative responses to unexpected forces. Instead of searching for a transcendental reference for politics, she investigates an immanent force within individuals that motivates them to become involved in political action. Referencing Deleuzian philosophy, Tamura provides a different epistemological and ontological approach to the social movement studies. She suggests social movements themselves generate knowledge about how one may live better in a complex society and where our lives are exposed to uncertainty. This knowledge is neither empirical knowledge, nor normative political theory of ‘how we should live’. Instead, social movements bring affective knowledge into politics as they offer a space for experimenting with ‘how we might live.’ The encounter with such knowledge galvanizes our desire for ‘how we want to live’ and encourages new experiments.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Political disillusionment is widespread in contemporary society. In Japan, the search for the ‘outside’ of a stagnant reality sometimes leads marginalised young people to a disastrous image of social change. The Fukushima nuclear disaster was the realisation of such an image, triggering the largest wave of activism since the 1960s. The disaster revealed the interconnected nature of contemporary society. The protesters regretted that their past indifference to politics prefigured such a catastrophe and became motivated to protest in the streets. They did not share any totalising ideology or predetermined collective identity. Instead, the activism provided a space for each body to encounter others who forced them to feel and think, which also introduced an ethical dimension to their politics.

In this book, Azumi Tamura proposes a concept of politics as a series of endless experiments based on creative responses to unexpected forces. Instead of searching for a transcendental reference for politics, she investigates an immanent force within individuals that motivates them to become involved in political action. Referencing Deleuzian philosophy, Tamura provides a different epistemological and ontological approach to the social movement studies. She suggests social movements themselves generate knowledge about how one may live better in a complex society and where our lives are exposed to uncertainty. This knowledge is neither empirical knowledge, nor normative political theory of ‘how we should live’. Instead, social movements bring affective knowledge into politics as they offer a space for experimenting with ‘how we might live.’ The encounter with such knowledge galvanizes our desire for ‘how we want to live’ and encourages new experiments.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Crises and Cycles in Economic Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Elite Girls' Schooling, Social Class and Sexualised Popular Culture by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Stormtroopers (RLE Nazi Germany & Holocaust) by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book The Future of Relationship Marketing by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Christian Faith and English Language Teaching and Learning by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Sustainability Reporting for SMEs by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Alcohol, Tobacco and Obesity by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book International Terrorism and World Security by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book The Evolved Structure of Human Social Behaviour and Personality by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Studies in Economic and Social History: Essays Presented to Professor Derek Aldcroft by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book The Dying Body as a Lived Experience by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Peace and Reconciliation by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Indigenous Religions by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology by Azumi Tamura
Cover of the book The New Arthurian Encyclopedia by Azumi Tamura
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy