Espaces transnationaux de mobilisation post-2011 : propositions pour une analyse complexe

Cette thèse aspire à contribuer à la réflexion sur certaines formes transnationales de mobilisation sociale de la deuxième décennie du XXIe siècle. Elle propose pour ce faire trois articles qui étudient différents phénomènes à l’aide d’une approche ethnographique : Occupons Montréal, Global Square et le Forum social mondial. Ce travail doctoral s’inspire des réflexions sur l’importance de la spatialité apportées par la géographie critique (Auyero, 2005; Massey, 1984; Therborn, 2006). Il explore également l’ « espace ouvert », tel que présenté au sein de la littérature sur les Forums sociaux mondiaux (Keraghel et Sen, 2004; Sen, 2008; Wallerstein, 2004; Whitaker, 2000). De plus, ma démarche dialogue avec la littérature issue de la sociologie des mouvements sociaux (Fraser, 1990; Negt, 2007; Tilly, 2004), et lui apporte un complément d’analyse en reconnaissant autant les ambitions d’unité au sein des objets abordés, que leur nature complexe et dynamique. Le premier article offre ainsi une lecture d’Occupons Montréal, installé en automne 2011 au sein du Square Victoria. Observant deux lieux précis de l’occupation, il questionne ce que l’observation de la spatialité d’une mobilisation sociale dite transnationale peut nous apprendre sur les dynamiques qui s’y développent. Le deuxième article de cette thèse présente une analyse de deux mobilisations qui ont coexisté en 2013 : le Forum social mondial qui eut lieu à Tunis, et Global Square. Il permet ainsi de faire dialoguer ce phénomène altermondialiste emblématique avec une initiative composée d’activistes de Occupy, Indignados et du Printemps tunisien, entre autres, qui s’organisaient en ligne pour participer au FSM 2013. Cet article creuse l’argument selon lequel les espaces transnationaux de mobilisation sont mus par certaines tensions qui leur sont inhérentes. Le troisième article – co-écrit avec Nikolas Schall – mobilise la théorie de l’ « assemblage » (DeLanda, 2006, 2016; Nail, 2017; Rabinow, 2011) pour avancer dans la compréhension des espaces transnationaux, et particulièrement du Forum social mondial 2016 à Montréal. La théorie de l’assemblage (assemblage thinking) renouvelle les possibilités d’analyse de l’hétérogénéité constitutive de ces objets transnationaux complexes : ceux-ci apparaissent comme le fruit de l’interaction de multiples composantes autonomes (pouvant elles-mêmes être des « assemblages d’assemblages »), faisant émerger un « tout fragmentaire » (fragmentary whole) toujours en construction (DeLanda, 2006). La conclusion de cette recherche doctorale soumet une synthèse de ses apports. Elle démontre tout d’abord comment les dimensions théoriques présentées en introduction (illustrant les tensions transnationalité/ancrage, hétérogénéité/unité, et horizontalité/relations de pouvoir) transparaissent à travers chaque article. Puis, voulant apporter une réponse à la question générale de la thèse – comment rendre compte des objets transnationaux complexes ? – je propose une grille analytique qui permet d’illustrer leur émergence à l’intersection des différentes dimensions analysées. Les limites de la thèse sont également présentées. Finalement, je suggère la pertinence d’un élargissement de la notion de société civile, afin que celle-ci puisse inclure la pluralité des perspectives présentes au sein des espaces transnationaux de mobilisation.This dissertation aims to contribute to the thinking on certain transnational forms of social mobilization in the second decade of the 21st Century. To do so, it proposes three articles that examine different phenomena using an ethnographic approach: Occupy Montreal, Global Square, and the World Social Forum. The inspiration for this doctoral dissertation are the insights offered by critical geography on the importance of spatiality (Auyero, 2005; Massey, 1984; Therborn, 2006). It also explores “open space,” as presented in the literature on the World Social Forums (Keraghel and Sen, 2004; Sen, 2008; Teivainen, 2004; Wallerstein, 2004; Whitaker, 2000). Furthermore, my approach engages with the sociology literature on social movements (Fraser, 1990; Negt, 2007; Tilly, 2004) and contributes a complementary analysis – recognizing the desire for unity within the initiatives discussed as well as their complex and dynamic natures. The first article offers an interpretation of Occupy Montreal, which occupied Victoria Square in the fall of 2011. Observing two specific locations in the occupation, it questions whether observation of the spatiality of a so-called transnational social mobilization can teach us about the dynamics developed there. The second article of this thesis presents an analysis of two mobilizations that occurred in 2013 – the World Social Forum, held in Tunis, and Global Square. It therefor facilitates a dialogue between this emblematic alter-globalist phenomenon and an initiative comprised of activists from movements such as Occupy, Indignados, and the Jasmine Revolution – which organized on-line to participate in WSF 2013. This article explores the argument that transnational mobilization spaces are propelled by certain inherent tensions. The third article, co-authored with Nikolas Schall – uses the prism of “assemblage thinking” (DeLanda, 2006, 2016; Nail, 2017; Rabinow, 2011) to advance the understanding of transnational spaces, particularly the 2016 World Social Forum in Montreal. Assemblage thinking renews the possibilities for analyzing the constitutive heterogeneity of these complex transnational phenomena, which appear as the fruit of the interaction of multiple autonomous components (they themselves potentially being “assemblages of assemblages”), leading to the emergence of an ever-evolving “fragmentary whole” (DeLanda, 2006). The conclusion of this doctoral research offers a synthesis of these contributions. In the first instance it is shown how the theoretical dimensions presented in the introduction (illustrating the tensions between transnationality/anchorage, heterogeneity/unity, and horizontality/power relationships) are visible in each article. Then in the second instance, wishing to provide a response to the general question posed by this dissertation – how to account for complex transnational phenomena – I propose an analytical matrix for illustrating their emergence at the intersection of the various dimensions analyzed. The limitations of this dissertation are likewise presented. Finally, I suggest the relevance of expanding the concept of civil society to include the plurality of perspectives present in transnational spaces of mobilization

Combinando heterogeneidades em espaços globais de mobilização. Os casos do Fórum Social Mundial e GlobalSquare

O presente artigo propõe desenhar uma antropologia da espacialidade com um olhar crítico para compreender a emergência de diferentes espaços globais de mobilização que se inscrevem em uma perspectiva altermundialista. Para tanto, realiza-se inicialmente, um retrato do contexto histórico que permitiu o surgimento desses espaços. Em seguida, são apresentadas e analisadas comparativamente as lógicas inerentes a cada um dos dois casos selecionados, que aparentam ser particularmente representativos na trajetória dos espaços globais de mobilização (o Fórum Social Mundial e o GlobalSquare). No final, busca-se trabalhar com a hipótese de uma “epistemologia do paradoxo”, que seja capaz de reconhecer as contradições básicas próprias aos processos estudados e que contribua para a compreensão dos processos de mobilização, ampliando seu alcance e sua força.This paper seeks to propose an anthropology of spatiality to understand the emergence of different global mobilization spaces that appear into an alterglobalist perspective. First, we share a portrait of the historical context that allowed the emergence of these spaces. Then, we present, analyze and compare the inherent logic in each one of the two selected cases, which appear to be particularly representative in the trajectory of global spaces of mobilization (the World Social Forum and the GlobalSquare). In the end, we seek to work with the hypothesis of an ‘epistemology of paradox’, that would be able to recognize the basic contradictions, specific to the studied processes and contribute to understanding the processes of mobilization, expanding its reach and strength

Combinando heterogeneidades em espaços globais de mobilização. Os casos do Fórum Social Mundial e GlobalSquare

O presente artigo propõe desenhar uma antropologia da espacialidade com um olhar crítico para compreender a emergência de diferentes espaços globais de mobilização que se inscrevem em uma perspectiva altermundialista. Para tanto, realiza-se inicialmente, um retrato do contexto histórico que permitiu o surgimento desses espaços. Em seguida, são apresentadas e analisadas comparativamente as lógicas inerentes a cada um dos dois casos selecionados, que aparentam ser particularmente representativos na trajetória dos espaços globais de mobilização (o Fórum Social Mundial e o GlobalSquare). No final, busca-se trabalhar com a hipótese de uma “epistemologia do paradoxo”, que seja capaz de reconhecer as contradições básicas próprias aos processos estudados e que contribua para a compreensão dos processos de mobilização, ampliando seu alcance e sua força.This paper seeks to propose an anthropology of spatiality to understand the emergence of different global mobilization spaces that appear into an alterglobalist perspective. First, we share a portrait of the historical context that allowed the emergence of these spaces. Then, we present, analyze and compare the inherent logic in each one of the two selected cases, which appear to be particularly representative in the trajectory of global spaces of mobilization (the World Social Forum and the GlobalSquare). In the end, we seek to work with the hypothesis of an ‘epistemology of paradox’, that would be able to recognize the basic contradictions, specific to the studied processes and contribute to understanding the processes of mobilization, expanding its reach and strength

Acknowledging Strength in Plurality: The World Social Forum 2016 Through the Prism of Assemblage Thinking

In this article, we contribute to debates regarding the nature and role of the World Social Forum (WSF) in the post-2010 period by employing the prism of assemblage thinking. By using the WSF 2016 held in Montreal, Canada as a case study, we outline the political potential of the assemblage approach, which allows activists and researchers of social justice and contemporary contentious spaces to address some of the intrinsic paradoxes in such mobilizations. The observation of some paradigmatic moments from the WSF 2016 offers a glimpse into the heterogeneity that shapes it. We address elements as diverse as actors' intentionalities, migration policies, urban landscapes, power relations, contents, and absences, arguing that assemblage thinking opens up innovative possibilities for analyzing multidimensional phenomena such as the WSF