Today a conversation on Swiss french radio "Espace 2" with Marie-Claire Caloz-Tschopp caught my attention. Caloz-Tschopp is the author of the book Résister en politique, résister en philosophie. Making extensive reference to Hannah Arendt, she reflects on the idea of the freedom and space for imagination, discussion and resistance.
This in particular caught my attention: Belonging is a condition for avoiding war and violence. However, belonging not simply to a mass of people, to a crowd, but to a community. I was thinking about the difference between a crowd and a community. Shopping centers attract crowds. Totalitarian regimes create masses that are all following the same ideologies and orders.
Totalitarism, whether fascist, religious or ultraliberal, erases the public space for reflection, because it is occupied by a person, logic, law, or ideology. Totalitarism kills thought and imagination. Caloz-Tschopp insists that discussion, sharing of opinions and the possibility of dissent is essential, in society as well as in the work place. That's what democracy is about, not democracy à la G.W. Bush, but power to the people.
The news these days are telling us about dissent, imagination, resistance. That's very encouraging indeed.
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Meant to say I have a very good book about resistance in my office - come on over and have a look
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