| Description |
In the latter half of the twentieth century, neoliberal capitalism has become the governing mode of reason around the world. Central tenets of this mode of reason include the absolute supremacy of the free market and the supposition that consumer choice is the best way to ensure maximum freedom and well-being for human individuals. It follows that private property rights are regarded as sacrosanct. Many thinkers fear that such an emphasis on economic activity, the conversion of other spheres, such as the domestic and the political, into economic spheres, jeopardizes the project of democracy. Many of these critics of neoliberalism cite commons theory as signaling an avenue of resistance to the economization of life. Commons theory posits that communities are capable of cooperating in order to manage resources in a way that maximizes the real freedom of individuals across society. This thesis puts the science fiction novels Waslala by Gioconda Belli and De cuando en cuando Saturnina by Alison Spedding in dialogue with commons theory. Analysis of both texts suggests that reclaiming the cultural commons, especially the stories that people share, is a vital step in the reclaiming of material commons such as water, forests, and mineral resources. |
