Dear Saed (and all),
Thank you response! I'll try to offer some clarity to address your concerns.
> i find these on interpersonal matters useful strategies to consider; but
> i wonder how effective they can be, given that we are actually
> institutionally pitted against each other in many ways
I absolutely share your concern about institutionalised competition
and am upset about the damaging effects it has on myself and others. I
find convincing the argument that subjectivity is the effect of
practices -- in practising competition and hierarchy folk are likely
to become (to varying degrees) hardened, disconnected, and to accept
domination as inevitable/natural.
Counterpractices of listening and care, thus seem to me crucial in
order to nurture autonomous subjectivities (folk who both assert their
own needs and respect those of others through connection rather than
domination) and support transitions to different forms of
organisational practice.
These counterpractices are in no way seperate from or an alternative
to grassroots organising, critical research, liberation pedagogy or
other practices of resistance. To me, they are entirely complementary:
the political is always also personal. (So, please don't read me as
saying we just all have to be nice and it will all be ok! :) )
> so, what should we do, practically, besides employing practices of
> mutual care? don't we need to struggle for, arrive at conditions that
> foster such mutual caring?
I reckon (in a prefigurative kind of way), arriving at such conditions
involves practising them in the here and now.
> now, how do we organise ourselves and others to implement them? given
> constraints on how much we can do on a quotidian basis, how do we divide
> up the tasks and what do we prioritise?
I've been thinking recently that the most emotionally sustainable
tasks are the ones that most directly meet the needs of those
involved. A proposed model for considering priorities:
1) What are you struggling with yourself?
2) Who else who you are close to (geographically, emotionally,
politically) is similarly struggling? (this may involve inviting
'strangers' to participate or not, depending on what seems right for
you)
3) Get together and explore overlaps and differences in your struggles.
4) Find or create practices that allow for mutual support in those
struggles. (e.g., skill sharing, grassroots union organising,
networking outside the university, space to express
anger/despair/hope/joy/frustration/etc, transnational solidarity,
etc).
5) Practise, discuss, refine, grow, change
Warm regards,
Jamie
> Jamie Heckert wrote:
> > Dear Angela & all,
> >
> > I see I'm a little late stepping into the discussion, which I'm very
> > excited to see happening. I want to comment on the last subheading
> > which is the most 'personal' one. I'd love to see this expanded to
> > reflect the emotional/embodied/interpersonal complexity of resisting
> > neoliberalism. Maybe something like:
> >
> > The Political Is Personal
> >
> > * Take care yourself. Neoliberalism is a social relationship which
> > depends on disconnection, obedience and participation in one's own
> > exploitation. Find practices that support you in your ability to pay
> > attention to how you feel and what you need rather than what you are
> > 'supposed' to want/do/feel. These practices may be labelled
> > 'therapeutic', 'spiritual', 'exercise' or 'playing'.
> >
> > * Listen to others - deeply, with care. Helpful practices might
> > include Non Violent Communication (NVC -- http://www.cnvc.org), and
> > The Work That Reconnects (http://www.joannamacy.net).
> >
> > * Create spaces where folk can connect with each other, sharing
> > struggles, skills and knowledge. This could range from local
> > solidarity/support groups to conferences or gatherings. (See e.g.,
> > https://www.knowledgelab.org.uk/ and also Part III of Jeff Schmidt's
> > 'Disciplined Minds: A Critical Look at Salaried Professionals and the
> > Soul-Battering System That Shapes Their Lives.' (Rowman &
> > Littlefield, 2001) )
> >
> > Other thoughts welcome!
> >
> > Warm wishes,
> > Jamie
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