301271 State power, transregional politics and authoritarian practices (S) (SoSe 2022)

Recent cycles of right-wing populism, radical conservatism, or seemingly irreconcilable antagonisms have characterized global tendencies of authoritarian practices within democratic systems. In contrast to conventional forms of authoritarianism as a regime type, we are witnessing transregionally intertwined authoritarian practices that are neither limited to electoral struggles nor graspable by the concept of the nation-state. Although the state plays an important role in shaping such practices, the policies and contexts that influence them are not limited to state borders. This seminar will examine the coexistence of authoritarian practices and democratic processes, with particular attention to recent studies of the Americas. After an introduction of the theoretical lens (authoritarian practices and state power), we will explore three subthemes. First, we focus on processes of militarization and relate them with the political-economic phenomenon of neo-extractivism. Second, we analyze the role of media control and global processes of medialization in interaction with politics of enmity and general brutalization of public communication. Third, we take a close look at power asymmetries in regional cannabis legalization processes shaped via medical classification policies and practices. The pessimistic outlook on authoritarian practices is countered with an invitation to rethink the state and engage with proposals for emancipatory politics in a transregional context.

This course will be taught in English.

Bibliography

Background readings:

• Mezzadra, Sandro & Brett Neillson (2019): Politics of Operations: Excavating contemporary capitalism. Durham and London
• Jessop, Bob (2007): State power. Cambridge
• Kaltmeier, Olaf et.al (Eds.) (2020): The Routledge Handbook of the Political Economy and Governance in the Americas. Milton Park
• Goldberg, David Theo (2021): DREAD: Facing Futureless Futures. Cambridge
• Cooper, Davina et. al. (Eds.) (2020): Reimagining the State: Theoretical challenges and transformative possibilities. New York
• Tansey, Oisín (2016): The International Politics of Authoritarian Rule. Oxford