For a fascinating discussion from a Muslim perspective on the notion of community and Ummah (the global Islamic “community”) see the blogsite Indigo Jo for Feb 12 2007 “an attack on the idea of community”. Having said that one of the punchiest posts in response to the discussions was presumably from a non Muslim:
“What is a community but a bunch of people with a common contempt for people who don't share their common delusions or prejudices?”
1 comment:
One analyst’s ‘common prejudice’ is another analyst’s ‘strategic alliance’. It depends where the analyst is looking from.
I think there’s a lot going for your overall critique of the term ‘community’ as it has been appropriated by the neo-liberal forces of darkness. What unsettles me somewhat is that, taking it to one logical extreme (especially if you like the ‘otherness’ concept key to post-Marxist strands of discourse analysis) any concept of strategic alliance - whether it be in support or in opposition to capitalist hegemonic forces - is seen as something inherently dangerous.
Hegemony, Gramsci points out somewhere or other (or if he didn’t I’m sure he meant to), cuts both ways, and is good if you’re on the side of good, bad if you’re on the side of bad.
I buy that argument, and will continue peddling concepts of otherness (‘them and us') even at the risk of being seen as intellectually incoherent because I also buy your current critique of the use of the term ‘community’. I may even on occasion use the term ‘community’ when it suits my ends, though I’m grateful that your blog (which I’ve really enjoyed) makes me think twice.
On the other hand I may just be intellectually incoherent.
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