Young Alter-Activists: Global Causes, Personal Activism

“Alter-Activism” refers to a culture of activism that enact a profoundly personal and ethical commitment. Building on four case studies of young people in Chile, Belgium, China and Texas, this talk will focus on subjective dimensions of this form of activism that is at once deeply personal and collective, social, and often global. Two of the case studies (Texas and Beijing) draw on analyses of social media press articles. The two others (Belgium and Santiago) build on interviews and two series of focus groups conducted both during and after major phases of protests. In addition to being urgent social and political issues, their causes (climate change, an anti-abortion law, inequality or an authoritarian regime) deeply affect their subjectivity and the way they construct themselves as persons. Far from a selfish or self-realization-focused individualism, this alter-activist culture proposes to articulate the process of construction of oneself as a person (personal subjectification) with the will to become an actor (political subjectification), the encounter with others and the prefigurative dimensions of activism. Such personalized forms of activism challenge some core features of how social movements have been analyzed. It has profoundly transformed the way movements organize, building on fluid interpersonal networks and personal commitment. It also pleads for a shift in our way of conceptualizing social movements. While social movements are built by collectives of individual actors, they also cross individuals. The struggle for a fairer, more democratic and greener world is at play in society as well as within each individual. However, analyzing how “alter-activists” mobilize also unveils misunderstandings and shortcomings. These forms of activism are too often reduced to individualization processes and their focus on cultural claims. Generations of feminist movements and concrete implementation of the “alter-activist” culture show that their movements are as deeply collective and social/political as personal and subjective.