Prefigurative Politics in Anti-Neoliberal Activism: a Critique

Prefiguration is at the heart of today's anti-neoliberal activism while also having a long history in progressive politics. Prefigurative movements aim to unite their means with their aims; in other words, the process is to be harmonized with the objective. The appeal of prefiguration is related to a widespread perception that corruption and hypocrisy are all-pervasive in mainstream political space. However, the current practice of prefigurative activism has some important flaws. The problems are particularly acutely evident in large-scale mobilizations bringing together diverse ideological positions and activists with typically highly individualistic personalities. This article provides a critique of prefigurative politics by highlighting the limitations it has imposed on the recently dominant forms of anti-neoliberal resistance.