A work-in-progress politics of space: activist projects and the negotiation of throwntogetherness within the hostile environment of Hungarian politics

Bodden, S. (2022) A work-in-progress politics of space: activist projects and the negotiation of throwntogetherness within the hostile environment of Hungarian politics. City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action, 26(2-3), pp. 397-410. (doi: 10.1080/13604813.2022.2055930)

[img] Text
267478.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

4MB

Abstract

For Doreen Massey, space is a challenge of multiplicity, encounter and relation: a ‘throwntogetherness’ that demands ongoing negotiation. Space, Massey argues, is open—it is capable of being made otherwise. Drawing on Massey’s ideas, this essay reflects on the everyday political work of community projects to open up space for new possibilities of living with difference within hostile political environments. Through a combination of ethnographic storytelling, photography and diagrammatic sketches, I follow ‘stories-so-far’ from the Auróra community centre in Budapest, Hungary and its members’ project to build a community garden. Rather than focus on prevailing discourses which frame Hungarian politics as a battle between an illiberal government and a liberal opposition, I shift attention to everyday experiences of this hostile political environment by examining projects as mundane and local techniques through which community groups describe, assemble, and work on their own better possible futures. In so doing, I also argue for a praxeological, rather than ontological reading of Massey’s work: rather than presuming a priori that all space is open, we should follow Massey in analysing the situated and ongoing ‘terms of engagement’ through which people open up—and close down—better possible spaces and better ways of living with difference.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was funded through a Principal’s Career Development Scholarship for PhD researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bodden, Dr Shawn
Authors: Bodden, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:1360-4813
ISSN (Online):1470-3629
Published Online:31 March 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Author
First Published:First published in City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action 26(2-3): 397-410
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record