Direct Theory

Stolen from cultural politics.net

Direct Theory.

A term coined by feminist social movement theorist Noël Sturgeon to describe the highly self-conscious process of collective thinking and acting she observed in the anti-nuclear and anti-militarist direct action movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sturgeon argues that the decision-making process and the ritual actions of certain movement groups reflect, shape and enact a democratic political philosophy, a theory of social change and a sense of historical connection to earlier movements. See Sturgeon, “Theorizing Movements: Direct Action and Direct Theory,” in Darnvosky, et al. eds., Cultural Politics and Social Movements (1995)

(I’ve read that collection, and it’s bloody excellent. If only we were so reflexive these days, but I don’t get the sense that we are. Maybe I am hanging out in the wrong circles?)

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