Description
Europe might appear like a continent pulling itself apart. Ten years of economic and political crises have pitted North versus South, East versus West, citizens versus institutions. And yet, these years have also shown a hidden vitality of Europeans acting across borders, with civil society and social movements showing that alternatives to the status quo already exist.This book is at once a narrative of the experience of activism and a manifesto for change. Through analysing the ways in which neoliberalism, nationalism and borders intertwine, Marsili and Milanese – co-founders of European Alternatives – argue that we are in the middle of a great global transformation, by which we have all become citizens of nowhere. Ultimately, they argue that only by organising in a new transnational political party will the citizens of nowhere be able to struggle effectively for the utopian agency to transform the world.
Read More
From austerity to climate change, the slogan “not in our name” has become a rallying cry for protest movements around the world. But in what name are we willing to act, if such movements are ever to move beyond indignation to effecting meaningful change? In a text that is both manifesto and blueprint for change, activists Lorenzo Marsili and Niccolo Milanese argue that we are in the middle of a great transformation, one which is fundamentally redefining the nature of both the economy and political participation. But our democracies have so far failed to keep pace with the impact of globalization and technological change, creating a profound sense of dislocation, which has left many of us feeling like “citizens of nowhere.” Drawing on the experiences of activists and movements across Europe, and offering practical lessons on how change might be effected, Marsili and Milanese show that it is possible to conquer widespread disillusionment and energize a new generation of activists. In the process, they outline a new and rejuvenated vision of democracy, one which transcends national borders, and in which the citizens of nowhere are transformed into citizens of the world
Read Less