Pragmatist Resilience: Fallibilism, Experimentation, and Diversity

Abstract

Abstract Resilience has become a dominant paradigm in economic development, international security, and climate change mitigation. For many public commentators and policy practitioners, resilience promises better coping in a complex world of recurring crises. However, the academic disciplines of international relations and politics have so far been critical of the new governing ethos. Whether they see it as biopolitical, neoliberal, or post-liberal, critics agree on the passive and socially regressive nature of resilience. The article takes issue with this negative, one-sided view by articulating a pragmatist iteration of resilience. Drawing on the philosophy of John Dewey, the article argues that resilience and pragmatism share an affinity in three respects. First, both reject a will to truth, emphasizing the limited and provisional character of knowledge. Second, they embrace a deeply experimental ethos, putting the focus on practice over theory. Thirdly, they strive to include a diverse set of actors in the policy-making process. My argument is that these three commonalities help avoid the responsibilizing and depoliticizing nature of resilience identified by biopolitical and governmentality accounts of resilience. Through fallibilism, experimentation, and diversity, pragmatist resilience offers more than mere adaptation. It promises scientific progress, increasing human control and collective growth.