Manifestations of Microfascism in Spatial Dimensions: A Study on Mumbai’s Public Spaces

oleh: Swapna Gopinath

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Cultural Studies Association 2020-06-01

Deskripsi

Mumbai's identity is built around its multicultural, multi-ethnic population, with an enterprising community that prides itself on its resilient spirit. Post globalization and economic liberalization, a hegemonic shift in power centers brought about further negotiations with identities and social spaces, with the new cityscape evolving steadily. The rapid gentrification and erasure of the poor from the public spaces, the expanding privately-owned public spaces and the social interactions that mark the new global city of Mumbai unfold the hegemonic power relations of the new India. This article attempts to imagine the new social narratives and cartographies within the theoretical framework of microfascism as elaborated by Deleuze and Guattari. Mumbai’s public spaces are closely observed and analyzed to comprehend the new dynamics of power at work and its political and social ramifications in relation to the rest of the nation. This paper also seeks to look at the patterns of dissent evolving out of the microfascist spaces of Mumbai.