IRGAC

In this article Hugo Fanton analyzes, from the largest favela in São Paulo, the dynamics of political territorial disputes - the active participation of business forces aligned around the defense of market principles, conflicting with social movements

Between the Expansion of Markets and the Defence of Rights: Rapprochement and Disputes between Businesspeople and Social Movements in São Paulo’s Largest Favela In this article, Hugo Fanton analyzes, from São Paulos's largest favela, the corporate social performance and the urban territorial political dispute in the rise and crisis of Lulism

It feels, at times, as if the walls are closing in on us: impending crisis or impending doom, few possible pathways seem to exist, most of them have hidden traps, and none appear sufficient to escape it. How to make sense of this scenario?
https://irgac.org/articles/reflections-on-the-crisis-of-the-political-subject-in-a-warming-planet/

Reflections on the Crisis of the Political Subject in a Warming Planet The summer of 2023 was by far the warmest ever recorded. This is not a coincidence, but the confirmation of a global warming trend whose pace seems to have been underestimated even by the sophisticated climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

"Even though in the Second World War every fourth citizen of Belarus was killed, our sites of memory are not numerous. Historical traumas have to battle for a place under the sun of memory" writes Belarusian essayist Olga Bubich

Memory Landscapes: Between Lost Hopes and Temporary Solace Authoritarian regimes are expert in manipulating memories, promoting nostalgia, and celebrating blissful amnesia

Read, interact, learn and have fun with this awesome interactive article created by Pia Monroy Rodriguez based on the book “Beyond Molotovs: A Visual Handbook of Anti-Authoritarian Strategies" for L!NX, the Rosalux-Europa new digital learning platform
https://linx.rosalux.de/en/authoritarianism-what-is-that-and-who-is-authoritarian

Authoritarianism and anti-authoritarianism - movements around the world Authoritarian and right-wing movements are gaining strength around the world and more authoritarian governments are coming into power. What even is authoritarianism? In this article, we explore these questions as well as innovative resistance movements around the world.

As Milei's government approaches a year in office, important changes that were not foreseen a few months ago seem to be signaling the end of the honeymoon. And the Argentine political scene may once again show its traditional vivacity
https://irgac.org/articles/milei-s-government-in-argentina-will-going-against-gravity-work/

Milei's Government in Argentina: Will Going Against Gravity Work? As Milei's government approaches a year in office, important changes that were not foreseen a few months ago seem to be signaling the end of the honeymoon. And the Argentine political scene may once again show its traditional vivacity

Illegal miners, colloquially known as the zama zamas — over 75 percent of whom are undocumented migrants from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Mozambique — risk their lives foraging for leftover minerals, notably gold, in some of the world’s deepest mineshafts
https://irgac.org/articles/authoritarianism-state-violence-and-vigilantism-security-challenges-posed-by-illegal-miners-in-south-africa/

Authoritarianism, State Violence, and Vigilantism: Security Challenges Posed by Illegal Miners in South Africa Illegal miners, colloquially known as the zama zamas — over 75 percent of whom are undocumented migrants from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Mozambique — risk their lives foraging for leftover minerals, notably gold, in some of the world’s deepest mineshafts

In the following interview with Professor Asef Bayat, we discuss the characteristics of twenty-first-century revolutionary movements and their conditions of possibility in the future. The interview also highlights the impact of global political shifts on revolutionary activism. It examines the role of neoliberalism, the emergence of new forms of resistance under authoritarian conditions, and the evolving relationship between state power and social movements. The conversation also considers the significant impact of advancements in technology, particularly surveillance technologies, on the future of social change

“Revolution can happen even if people do not think about it” — an interview with Asef Bayat This interview with Professor Asef Bayat discuss the characteristics of twenty-first-century revolutionary movements and their conditions of possibility in the future and highlights the impact of global political shifts on revolutionary activism

In this interview, we talk to Mehmet Türkmen, President of the United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers’ Union (Birtek-Sen), which is an independent trade union founded in Gaziantep, one of Turkey’s major textile centres, at the beginning of 2022. Since its establishment, Birtek-Sen has played a critical role in numerous strikes, particularly in Gaziantep. The union has also led various struggles in Gaziantep’s surrounding provinces. In an 80-day protest action in Şanlıurfa which started last November, Birtek-Sen gained public attention for their struggle at Özak Tekstil, which manufactures for global brands such as Levi’s.

“We Need a Flood!” – A Young and Independent Union’s Struggle in and through Waves of Local Strikes In this interview, we talk to Mehmet Türkmen, President of the United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers’ Union (Birtek-Sen), which is an independent trade union founded in Gaziantep, one of Turkey’s major textile centres, at the beginning of 2022. Since its establishment, Birtek-Sen has play...

CONTROLLED LANDSCAPES
Berlin film premiere of "Khabur" followed by a discussion

On this evening Nafis Fathollahzadeh and Şermin Güven bring their archival research and field research together to investigate the controlled landscape of Khabur valley focusing on the exploitation and instrumentalization of natural and cultural resources in Northeastern Syria / Rojava. This event is a collaboration with Künstlerhof Frohnau. The screening of Khabur (2023) will be followed by a discussion with Nafis Fathollahzadeh and Şermin Güven. As part of this event, Nafis Fatollahzadeh will present their latest Risoprint artist book, available to be purchased during the event, and produced in the context of the Ruckhaberle Award 2023/24.

Khabur
directed by Nafis Fathollahzadeh, documentary, 2023, 30 min, DE, IR

Khabur is the longest tributary of the Euphrates, a transboundary river crossing the border between Turkey and Northeastern Syria / Rojava.

The film departs at an archaeological site in the valley of the Khabur River and follows the journey of Tell Halaf's archeological collection towards Berlin where it has been kept since 1930.

It traces the circulation of violence in different times and contexts along the Khabur River and engages with the economic and political power relations that have been transforming the landscape of the Khabur valley.

The film addresses photography and archeology as two disciplines emerging from the colonial-imperial enterprise, critically engaging with the imperial grammar of institutionalised archives, and examining the way it could be recycled, reimagined, and rehearsed.

Fathollahzadeh works at the intersection of artistic research, video art and photography.

They were a fellow researcher in the Rosa Luxemburg scholarly program on Authoritarianism and Counter strategies and affiliated with EUME: Forum Transregionale Studien in Berlin. They are art director and co-editor of Momentography of a failure, a multidisciplinary artistic and urban research platform for collaborative thinking, artistic collaborations, digital mapping and publishing.

Şermin Güven is an anthropologist with a focus on Human and Environment Relationships.

She works at the intersection of anthropology, environmental studies, and activism researching on politics of water scarcity in the conflict area in Syria and Iraq, and the intersectional feminist perspective on nature, ecology, and disasters.

She is active in various initiatives such as CENI-The Kurdish Women’s Office for Peace in Berlin and Sister City Project with a municipality in berlin and Derik/North and East Syria, and she is involved in the Spore Initiative - an ecological and cultural space in Berlin/Neukölln. With her focus on transboundary rivers and water she is part of the World Youth Parliament for Water.

More details here: https://irgac.org/events/controlled-landscapes-berlin-film-premiere-of-khabur-followed-by-a-discussion/

In the contemporary era, motivational speaking is just another job, another category in the long line of work one can incorporate into the hustle culture. The creative entrepreneurs deal with the aspiration currency of the present: information
https://irgac.org/articles/the-case-of-the-you-tube-motivational-speakers-as-hustlers-the-privatization-of-hope-in-neoliberal-india/

The Case of the YouTube Motivational Speakers as Hustlers: The Privatization of Hope in Neoliberal India The precarization of life and work in a neoliberal and increasingly authoritarian society has led to the creation of a new class of creative entrepreneurs: the YouTube motivational speakers

Between June 7 and 16, IRGAC took part in a circuit of lectures, conferences and discussions in Mostar, Sarajevo and Belgrade at universities and collective spaces, on the rise of authoritarianism and new forms of counter-strategies and social mobilization. Also brought the book - and an exhibition about - "Beyond Molotovs: a Visual Handbook of anti-authoritarian strategies", opening up space and conversations about art as a form of counter-strategy.

In Mostar, the talk took place in the OKC Abrašević, an Youth Cultural Centre open network of non-governmental organizations, informal groups and individuals that offers a space and support to youth in realizing ideas and it encourages projects that promotes civic society, arts and social cohesion.

In Sarajevo, IRGAC fellows Inés Duràn Matute, Hugo Fanton and Kennedy Manduna presented their research during the Symposium "Internationalizing Anti-Authoritarian Strategies" at the University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Political Sciences.

And in Belgrade, attending the International Conference on CHANGE, at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, IRGAC workshops brought discussions about Social change and ideological contestations, (Anti-) Gender politics (in the Global South), and Rethinking “Change” and “Resistance” in Times of Crisis. Finally, a collective conversation with the RLS office in Belgrade closed the program, with exchanging ideas and experiences about resistance and the future.

Thank you so much to everyone who invited us and gave us such a warm welcome!