Overview

This book examines constructive resistance practices that range from street protests to the use of photographic images, and displays their role in local and global political processes. By building on a rich selection of interview material and other empirical research, the book elaborates on different cases of constructive resistance, where close attention is paid to the productive qualities that are involved. It offers new perspectives on the undertakings of different epistemic battles that occur around current issues such as gender, nationalism, climate change, migration and the right to land, and explores personal narratives, artistic expressions and public statements that are utilized as means of resistance, and performed in order to negotiate different established truths. More specifically, the book discusses the discursive struggles regarding migrant bodies, where artifacts that pertain to the hardship are presented in Swedish museums; the Preah Vihear temple conflict between Cambodia and Thailand; the border conflict in West Sahara; the self-making of (self-defined) women politicians in Cambodia; and climate activism communication. Through discussions on the importance of figurations, posters, narratives, photographs, artifacts and buildings in the establishing of contemporary discussions and world views, the book inquires how and why these representations are (re)imparted with meaning and the effect that this has. The book does not only illustrate different forms of resistance, but also contributes theoretically to our understanding of repetitions, emotions and time, which are properties that must be embarked upon in order to capture the various dimension of resistance. Given that the type of constructive resistance that is expanded upon is about processes of significations, the time aspect—how alternative truths are repeated and thereby established over time—becomes crucial. And, resistance has a temporality of its own; for example, close authorities are instantly resisted here and now, while meaning-making resistance suffers from the inescapable time-lag of processes of signification. In all forms of resistance, emotions prevail as an important engine of political struggles and, as is displayed in this book, emotions are an important means of constructive resistance.

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9781538149942

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Reviews

Through a nuanced conceptualization of constructive resistance, Mona Lilja provides a sophisticated window into the relationship between everyday resistance, power, knowledge, repetition and the social construction of subjectivities. This is a highly original and important work from one of the foremost contemporary theorists of resistance studies. -- Mark Haugaard, Professor in the School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Constructive Resistance provides a fresh, theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich analysis of forms of resistance that often remain unseen, but which should be central to our understanding of politics, power and being human. Expertly weaving together discussions around resistance, power, temporality, bodies and emotions, it is a ground-breaking study by one of the world's leading resistance scholars at the very top of her intellectual powers. I am in no doubt that this book changes the way we understand resistance, while at the same time, it has a wider relevance and importance far beyond the field of resistance studies. -- Richard Jackson, University of Otago, New Zealand Lilja's conceptualization proposes a distinctive and innovative characterization of those aspects of resistance that exceed opposition and create alternative discourses, ways of life, desires and bodies. Her concept of constructive resistance is an original and complex combination of theoretical reflections inspired by a series of case studies analyzed and discussed both at the level of practices and in terms of discourses.... Overall, Lilja's book is a brilliant contribution to recent efforts in conceptualizing resistance beyond its oppositional stance...Constructive Resistance is a fundamental and much needed contribution to the emerging field of resistance studies, but it also promises to influence debates on power and resistance in philosophy and social sciences. * Foucault Studies * Mona Lilja's new book moves beyond the one-dimensional conceptualization of resistance in power terms, and argues that resistance produces alternatives for social and political transformation. This is a thorough and innovative exploration that demonstrates how constructive resistance is performed, displayed, and repeated (p. 2).... The book makes an important contribution to the growing scholarship on conceptualizing resistance beyond power terms. Lilja blends innovative theoretical concepts with empirical evidence from different societies and various forms of resistance. As a result, the book is lucidly argued and contests established truths with alternative knowledge. The author's flexible conception of resistance allows societies to think of and practice new forms of defiance. Overall, this inspiring book should be widely read. * International Affairs *

Author Information

Mona Lilja is Professor of Peace and Development Studies at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg.

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