Radical (Im)materialism

Abstract

This chapter explored the (im)material dimensions of mobile power, viral hegemony, and guerrilla democracy. To do so it drew upon theories of “new materialism” but ultimately expanded upon them so as to better account the immaterial and political aspects of social ordering. It introduced, for this reason, a novel concept of “(im)materialism” which highlighted the immaterial necessity to continually and dynamically “materialize” and “rematerialize” the social. Significantly, this is not to assume in the slightest that humans are “in control” or the complete “shapers” of their material realities – whether in the virtual or physical realms. Rather, it stresses how these material encounters are manifestations of mobile power and viral hegemony, whereby they must constantly adapt existing materials and their various concrete affordances to meet the demands of infectious discourses. Likewise, this dynamic process of (im)material socialisation can also lend itself to political interventions whereby an existent order is not just “rematerialised” but “resituated”. A core theme of this book is that this radical (im)materialism can be best expressed through a democratic guerrilla politics.