Soundings a journal of politics and culture |
The
special theme of this issue of Soundings is 'transversal politics'
- a term which attempts to conceptualise a democratic practice of talking
across difference. The idea is to find ways of doing things which involve
neither the imposition of a single universal which refuses to to recognise
that there really are 'differences', nor the retreat into those differences
as tightly-bound, exclusivist and essentialist; to find creative ways of
crossing (and possibly redrawing) the borders that mark significant politicised
differences; and to find forms of empathy not based on sameness, ways of
shifting which don't involve tearing up your roots.
The essays are based on a series of dialogues between groups involved in bridge-building or translating projects - whether in war-riven and violent countries and communities, within the complexities of anti-racist politics, or through the sharing of experiences through community writing and theatre.
Linked to these themes is the argument, in a major essay from Bruno Latour, for a reestablishment, and redifinition, of the differentiation between left and right. Soundings 12 also includes an essay on racism in Southeast London, and an analysis of Scotland after home rule.
Contributors and Contents:
Part I
Editorial: Space for Co-existence?
Doreen Massey
Ein Ding ist ein Thing - A philosophical Platform for a Left (European)
Party
Bruno Latour
The Sharp Edge of Stephen's City
Nick Jeffrey
Poems: Gregory warren Wilson, Michael Young, Elizabeth Barrett, Felicity
Wyvern, Okello Oculi
The Changing Debate in Scotland: Devolution, Home Rule and self Government
Gerry Hassan
Reviews
Jo Littler, Mike Waite, Jude Rosen
Part II: Transversal Politics
Introduction: Transversal
Politics and Translating Practices
Cynthia Cockburn and Lynette Hunter
What is 'Transversal Politics'?
Nira Yuval-Davis
Crossing Borders: comparing ways of Handling Conflictual Differences
Cynthia Cockburn
Difficult Alliances: Treading the Minefield of Identity and Solidarity Politics
Pragna Patel
Inclusive Movements/Movements for Inclusion
Marie Mulholland and Pragna Patel
The Values of Community Writing
Lynette Hunter and Rebecca O'Rourke
Theatre and Reconciliation: Reflections on work in Northern Ireland and
Eritrea
Gerry Moriarty and jane Plastow
Sharing Stories
MAMA East African Women's Group
The Way I Live
Rosie