The Politics of Becoming

Reviews / Votes

The Politics of Becoming presents a striking and creative reworking of key aspects of democratic theory and practice, inviting the reader to rethink what presence, democratic spaces, equality, pluralism, and freedom now can and should mean. This revelation of ways to be democratic is essential reading for anyone interested in the contemporary prospects for democracy. * John Dryzek * Social movement studies have often noted that, while normative standards aim at inclusivity, participatory spaces often discriminate marginalised subjects. This important volume reflects on how a politics of becoming can contribute to improve democratic qualities. * Donatella della Porta * How does one write about the future and past of citizenship, without neglecting the praxis of the present? Asenbaum provides a much needed synthesis of science and practice, important for scholars and the general public. This uniquely relevant book draws a map to our civic future, and invites us to digitally transport ourselves there. * Zizi Papacharissi * Hans Asenbaum is a leading voice in a new generation of democratic theorists. The Politics of Becoming embodies his impressive capacity to weave together diverse political and sociological insights into a compelling narrative. His work on the democratic character of anonymity is ground-breaking. * Graham Smith * In this innovative and provocative new book, Asenbaum challenges sharply our thinking about identity and democratic politics. Drawing on a wide range of cases and debates, not least the assembling of identities in cyberspace, he highlights new and emerging domains of democratic thinking and practice with real insight and clarity. The discussion of anonymity and democratic possibility is especially compelling. * Michael Saward * From the secret ballot through political graffiti to the wearing of masks in public protests, anonymity is central to democracy. Yet democratic theory, to date, has not adequately conceptualized anonymity. Not, that is, until now. In The Politics of Becoming, Hans Asenbaum sets out an original account of anonymity as a mode of disidentification within a politics of becoming. In innovative fashion, he examines how anonymity as disidentification plays out in digital space, how it allows for a digital politics of presence that mitigates some of the power asymmetries present in offline activity at the same time as a politics of becoming attentive to the multiplicity of the individual self. Topical, erudite, engaging, and bristling with insight, The Politics of Becoming is an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. * Moya Lloyd * At a time when the wearing of masks has become virtually obligatory, Hans Asenbaum explores the emancipatory potential that is opened up when concealing one's identity becomes a conscious political choice rather than a government directive. While democracy is usually associated with appearing in the public space, Asenbaum argues that democratic politics today is as much about invisibility and anonymity. In this highly original book, he aims to think through the deadlock of identity politics by proposing an alternative politics of disidentification. * Saul Newman *