2Precious2Mine: Post-politics, Colonial Imaginary, or Hopeful Political Moment?

Sophie Bond*, Gradon Diprose, Andrew McGregor

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    30 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Radical democrats and geographers have argued that democracy requires a vibrant contestatory politics to challenge the contemporary "post-political" conjuncture. Despite suggestions of post-political processes in Aotearoa New Zealand, there are signs of a more vibrant politics. In 2010 an environmental campaign called "2Precious2Mine" captured the national geographic imaginary. Drawing on this example, we argue that although a space was opened for a vibrant contestatory politics, its effects were paradoxical. The campaign both reinforced the hegemonic narratives of neoliberal (post)colonial Aotearoa New Zealand, and simultaneously produced moments that challenged this apparent post-politicising trajectory. While we argue that such frameworks are useful, there is a risk that without cognisance of the situated nature of politics and closure, they both lose their political and academic explanatory purchase. Post-politics becomes at risk of constructing that which it seeks to describe, while radical democracy ends up falling short of its aims.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1161-1183
    Number of pages23
    JournalAntipode
    Volume47
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2015

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of '2Precious2Mine: Post-politics, Colonial Imaginary, or Hopeful Political Moment?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this