Citation

Drainville AC. Int. Soc. Sci. J. 2008; 59(192): 235-246.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, UNESCO, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2451.2009.00695.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Social forces at the core of the world economy were sheltered from world-ordering processes for more than a century before being abruptly exposed in the current phase of globalisation. In this context, resistance appears as a new political movement, with its own finalities and tactics, and a proper – if insubstantial – subject of reference (the “we” who are part of the anti-globalisation movement everywhere). Another world is possible, but to make it happen we must use proper politics. At the periphery, social forces have always constituted themselves in their meeting with world order. “We”, whoever we may be, have been there before. Against this history, current resistance is not defined by the political form it now may be taking or the subject on whose behalf a different world order is now envisioned or argued for, but in relation to how other social forces at other moments have defined their connection to world order. Informed by these complementary perspectives, we can better understand the depth of present resistance to neo-liberal globalisation, and think about ways to marshal its transformative potential.