David, Hillary, Gerry et al
I was there and didn't even notice the blue van....
Lots and lots of lovely surveillance there though - including two very
suspicious characters who when challenged claimed to be
reporters for the Daily Mail...!!
The nail was truly hit on the head by a previous mailer when it was
said that a range of tactics can and should be drawn upon in order
to protest - it is by usinf al avaqiable approaches that dominant /
hegemonic practices are best undermined. The use of the market
against itself (sic) can be useful, but ultimately the critique is of the
market itself and the structures that have been set up to ensure
dominance by large players e.g. the G8.
One of my main points (rehearsed awkwardly in Space and Polity)
is that all of these forms of protest are elements of 'active' or
'engaged' citizenship - the point is that some of the actions are
viewed benevolently and others are not. In one sense the direct
action movement is part of a wider discursivity aimed, as Gerry
says, at deepening understandings of issues or at least making
people stop and ask 'why?' Then the project of 'counter-
enlightenment' or is it re-colonising the lifeworld? really gains
momentum...
I'll get my coat...
Gavin
Dr Gavin Parker
School of Management Studies
University of Surrey
GUILDFORD
Surrey GU2 5XH
Direct Tel: +44 1483 876366
Fax: +44 1483 259387
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