Streaming and blocking: how to take back the streets (for democratic theory)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The built environment matters for democracy: certain forms of political action require particular types of physical space, and decisions about designing such spaces are eminently political. Specific spaces have received more attention than others, though. Relatively few theorists have sought to identify the functions of streets in a democracy. This article revisits, but also relativizes two arguments for democratic street life: an epistemic-cum-moral one about the experience of diversity, and one concerning political community-building. The article argues that streets remain crucial for certain forms of protest, and that the advantages of street life to do with diversity and community-building might in fact most plausibly be realized in moments of protest. Finally, two threats to political street life are discussed and suggestions are offered of how they might be countered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalContemporary Political Theory
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Political Science and International Relations

Keywords

  • Civil disobedience
  • Democratic theory
  • Freedom of assembly
  • Privacy
  • Urbanism

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