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I agree with Raj... There are some critical geographers who, unfortunately, are not very good at taking criticism. It does not help the development of critical thought of any kind, if once you argue that someone else is wrong on something, you are labelled as "dogmatic" or as failing to be insufficiently "inclusive". All good critical theorising and political activitism should engage in perpetual self-criticism in light of changing circumstances and priorities, allowing for the possibility that those you disagree with may be correct. But practical politics requires defining boundaries of what you regard as right/wrong, acceptable/unacceptable, correct/incorrect, as the basis for defining aims and objectives capable of challenging those dogmatic and exclusive power structures that resolutely resist fundamental change. Yes, there are dangers in this...practical politics is often a messy, unpleasant business, where mistakes are made, people are sometimes treated unfairly, and some unintended consequences flow. But, such are the nuts and bolts of trying to change structures and processes that serve some interests at the expense of others. The alternative to this is political immobility and irrelevance...which only serves to reinforce the far greater injustices and inequalities that many of us want to change. Michael. Priority: normal Date sent: Fri, 2 May 2003 14:42:00 +0100 Send reply to: Raju Das <[log in to unmask]> From: Raju Das <[log in to unmask]> Organization: Dundee University Subject: critical discussions missing -- but why? To: [log in to unmask] Since the debate on class, etc. a few years ago, I have concluded that it is a bit difficult to have interesting and politically stimulating debates in this forum. This is partly because many of us are critical of some things (e.g. patriarchy) but not of others (e.g. capitalism). And the moment you critique the ideas/practices which some people consider as beyond serious criticism (e.g. capitalism/class is here to stay, so what is the point in being so much critical about it?), you are accused of trying to claim the high moral ground, or of raking up old debates, or whatever. Some people also take academic critiques too personally, rather than in a friendly way. The continuation of the debate is discouraged in certain ways. What I have felt is that people do not enjoy critiques from the standpoint of radical political economy. I always look forward to reading comments in this forum on (e.g.) how capitalist/class/imperialist exploitation contributes to, and is reproduced through, the regimes of oppression based on gender, race, sexuality, disability, and so on. Unfortunately, there is very little about all this. Raju ======================================== Dr Raju Das Lecturer e: [log in to unmask] w: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/geography t: +44 1382 348073 f: +44 1382 344434 Department of Geography University of Dundee Perth Road Dundee DD1 4HN UK Dr Michael Fisher Business School Greenwich University London SE10 9LS Tel: 0208 331 9740