Disaster Capitalism and Creative Community Resistance

Catalog description

“Disasters” often have their roots in miscalculations or mismanagement of governments (or banks), the exploitation of the planet, or the mistreatment of impoverished communities. In a disaster’s aftermath long standing social inequalities highlight how the greatest burden of recovery rests disproportionately on poor communities of color. “Disaster capitalism” is a practice of taking advantage of social and economic instability to centralize policies that under “normal” times communities—what is known as the “State of Exception”--would cause concern. This course will explore the role of states and societies living through natural and human-made disasters. We will draw on insights from global and local communities that have survived disasters and are resisting historical and economic trauma. We will focus in on the creative activism of colonized, racialized, sexually marginalized and displaced peoples.