Viral Social Movements, State(s) of Emergency, and the Insurgent Public Realm: A Philosophical Analysis of China’s 2020 – 2022 Social Movements
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Loki Chan
Abstract
In this article, we argue that a new form of social movements emerged in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, that we characterize as ‘viral social movements’, drawing upon the earlier concept of networked social movements. We analyze three events that capture key developments in the modalities of ‘viral social movements’ in China: the passing of Dr. Li Wenliang, the Shanghai lockdowns, and the White Paper Protests of late 2022. We invoke Benjamin’s concept of the ‘real state of emergency’ in formulating the historical philosophy of these movements. We end by contextualizing the movement within the history of liberal dissent in China. While this new form of social movement can be productive in driving political change in repressive societies, it can prove unsustainable when confronted with powerful repression. Emancipatory philosophy must reckon with both the promises and perils of ’viral social movements’ within the broader context of the ’postmodernization’ of social movements.
Abstract
In this article, we argue that a new form of social movements emerged in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, that we characterize as ‘viral social movements’, drawing upon the earlier concept of networked social movements. We analyze three events that capture key developments in the modalities of ‘viral social movements’ in China: the passing of Dr. Li Wenliang, the Shanghai lockdowns, and the White Paper Protests of late 2022. We invoke Benjamin’s concept of the ‘real state of emergency’ in formulating the historical philosophy of these movements. We end by contextualizing the movement within the history of liberal dissent in China. While this new form of social movement can be productive in driving political change in repressive societies, it can prove unsustainable when confronted with powerful repression. Emancipatory philosophy must reckon with both the promises and perils of ’viral social movements’ within the broader context of the ’postmodernization’ of social movements.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction: From Social Movements to Philosophy (and Back Again) 1
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Section 1: At the Intersection Between Academia and Social Movements
- Critical Social Ontology and Social Movements 13
- Social Movements and Epistemic Injustice 35
- Feminist Research as a Response to Political and Epistemic Violences 45
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Section 2: Contemporary Approaches to the Philosophy of Social Movements
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Social Ontology and Social Movements
- Toward a Liberatory Metaphysics of Sexuality 59
- The Political Ontology of Rawls’ Model of Disobedience: Depoliticization Through Moralization 77
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Social Movements and Epistemology
- How Social Movements Bear Collective Duties 103
- How Politics Shapes the Value of Perceptual Experience: From Epistemic to Prudential Value 121
- The Standpoint of the Oppressed Must Be Conquered by the Oppressed Class Itself: Standpoint Epistemology and Epistemic Autonomy 143
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Section 3: How Specific Social Movements Inform Philosophy
- Climate Social Movements and the Politics of Leadership 169
- Viral Social Movements, State(s) of Emergency, and the Insurgent Public Realm: A Philosophical Analysis of China’s 2020 – 2022 Social Movements 187
- Anchoring Disablement: Social Definitions and Social Ontology in Britain’s Disabled People’s Movement 207
- European Health Social Movements: An Introduction 229
- List of Contributors 251
- Index 253
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction: From Social Movements to Philosophy (and Back Again) 1
-
Section 1: At the Intersection Between Academia and Social Movements
- Critical Social Ontology and Social Movements 13
- Social Movements and Epistemic Injustice 35
- Feminist Research as a Response to Political and Epistemic Violences 45
-
Section 2: Contemporary Approaches to the Philosophy of Social Movements
-
Social Ontology and Social Movements
- Toward a Liberatory Metaphysics of Sexuality 59
- The Political Ontology of Rawls’ Model of Disobedience: Depoliticization Through Moralization 77
-
Social Movements and Epistemology
- How Social Movements Bear Collective Duties 103
- How Politics Shapes the Value of Perceptual Experience: From Epistemic to Prudential Value 121
- The Standpoint of the Oppressed Must Be Conquered by the Oppressed Class Itself: Standpoint Epistemology and Epistemic Autonomy 143
-
Section 3: How Specific Social Movements Inform Philosophy
- Climate Social Movements and the Politics of Leadership 169
- Viral Social Movements, State(s) of Emergency, and the Insurgent Public Realm: A Philosophical Analysis of China’s 2020 – 2022 Social Movements 187
- Anchoring Disablement: Social Definitions and Social Ontology in Britain’s Disabled People’s Movement 207
- European Health Social Movements: An Introduction 229
- List of Contributors 251
- Index 253
