Understanding Prefigurative Politics: A Deep Dive
Prefigurative politics is building a new society within the shell of the old by living out the values and social structures you desire for the future ( 1 p.38 p.7 p.8 ). It represents a commitment to aligning the means of social change with its desired ends, arguing that the methods used to achieve transformation must mirror the ultimate goal ( p.38 p.45 p.7-8 ). domination Key Elements: Inseparability of Means and Ends : As expressed in Holloway's analysis of "cracks," the focus is not just on opposing the existing system, but on creating alternative ways of "doing" that prefigure the desired future ( p.45 p38 ). For example, the Zapatistas' principle of "preguntando caminamos" (asking, we walk) embodies this idea of continuous learning and adaptation through practice ( p.9 ). "Cracks" as Sites of Prefiguration : These "cracks" represent instances where the dominant logic of capitalism is disrupted, allowing for the emergence of alternative social r…
