The revival of political imagination : utopias as methodology

__The Revival of Political Imagination__ offers a unique examination of the methodological aspects of utopia. Discussing utopia as a tool for social criticism, method and imaginative spaces - rather than in terms of its content - this volume analyses the function of utopias, to develop utopias as methodology and to show how instrumental utopian modes of thought can be in such diverse fields such as education, labour, and housing. Including discussions of traditional and contemporary utopias, as well as various forms of expression of utopian hope, from literature to social science and cultural practices, __The Revival of Political Imagination__ is both analytical and practical in its elucidation of how political theory can function to foster our imaginative skills. Front Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Notes On Contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Part I: Diagnosis -- 1: Introduction: Utopias And The Revival Of Imagination -- The Specificity Of Absolutist Utopias -- Towards A Methodological Understanding Of Utopianism -- Utopianism Facilitating Transformation -- The Purpose Of This Book And The Content Of The Chapters -- Notes -- References -- 2: Disruptive Utopianism: Opening The Present -- Utopia As Critical Counter-image Of The Present -- Dynamic Utopias -- Utopian Counter-practice: The Crack Cracks In Walls: Interstitial Strategy -- Conclusion -- References -- 3: The Privatization And Recollectivization Of Hope -- The State Of Utopias: Anxiety -- Mechanisms Of The Privatization Of Utopias: The Subjectification, Ethos And Life-narrative Of Entrepreneurship -- Mechanisms Of The Privatization Of Utopias: Retrotopia And Neoliberalism -- The Role Of A Social Scientist -- Conclusions -- References -- Part Ii: Case Studies And Utopian Methodologies -- 4: Quilombist Utopias: An Ethnographic Reflection -- Runaway Slaves Or Diversified Local Economies? The Method Of Hope And Quilombist Knowledge -- Kilombo Tenondé: Capoeira Angola With Permaculture -- Anarchist And Afrocentric Currents In Quilombo Cecília -- Quilombist Hopes -- Notes -- References -- 5: Social Dreaming And Uses Of Narrativity, Tellability And Experientiality In Literary Dystopia -- Literary Dystopia As A Contemporary Form Of Utopian Thinking -- The Handmaid's Tale: 'a Canary In The Coal Mine'? -- 'what I Need Is A Perspective': Dystopia Against The Normal And Everyday -- Writing And Reading Literary Dystopia As An 'act Of Hope' -- Conclusions -- Note -- References 6: Utopian Education: May The Hope Be With You -- Forward Dawning -- From Utopian Pedagogy Came Forward Movement -- From Despair To Hope: Utopian Education In Practice -- Dynamic Connection Of Hope And Despair -- References -- Part Iii: Perspectives On Utopias -- 7: The Significance Of Humor And Laughter For Utopian Thought -- Laughing At Utopia -- Laughing With Utopia -- Laughing In Utopia -- Endgame -- Notes -- References -- 8: Architectural Utopias As Methods For Experimenting With The (im)possible -- Modernist Architecture As A Degenerate Utopia? -- Utopia Turned Ideology From Abstract Utopianism To Experimental Utopias -- Architectural Utopias As Methods For Experimenting With The (im)possible -- Notes -- References -- 9: Democracy As Utopia: On Locating Radical Roots -- Limited Utopian Concepts -- Utopian Democracy -- Hegemonic Democracy As A Hybrid Form -- Limitations To Democratic Politics -- The Implications Of Liberalism -- Open Future And The Significance Of Imagination -- Saving The Utopian Potential Of Concepts And Ways Forward -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- Index Edited By Teppo Eskelinen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Electronic Reproduction. Ann Arbor, Mi Available Via World Wide Web.

The Revival of Political Imagination offers a unique examination of the methodological aspects of utopia. Discussing utopia as a tool for social criticism, method and imaginative spaces - rather than in terms of its content - this volume analyses the function of utopias, to develop utopias as methodology and to show how instrumental utopian modes of thought can be in such diverse fields such as education, labour, and housing. Including discussions of traditional and contemporary utopias, as well as various forms of expression of utopian hope, from literature to social science and cultural practices, The Revival of Political Imagination is both analytical and practical in its elucidation of how political theory can function to foster our imaginative skills.

"The Revival of Political Imagination ofrece un análisis de los aspectos metodológicos de la utopía. El libro considera la utopía como una herramienta y explora sus aplicaciones en campos como la educación, el trabajo o la vivienda. Incluye un recorrido por las utopías tradicionales y contemporáneas, así como por diversas formas de expresión de la esperanza utópica, desde la literatura hasta las ciencias sociales. Los autores subrayan la utilidad de la utopía para fomentar nuestra habilidades imaginativas."_ Editor