Abstract

MENDONCA, Ricardo Fabrino. Social movements as events: language and public space. Lua Nova [online]. 2007, n.72, pp. 115-142. ISSN 0102-6445.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-64452007000300005.

This paper makes use of the concept of "event" in order to reflect on the processes through which social movements act and constitute themselves. The idea is to analyze the displacing potential that can be engendered by these collective agencies, which give life to participative practices that are essential to democracy. The discussion begins with a brief presentation of the concept of event, focusing especially on the ideas of Louis Quéré. In the sequence, it establishes some connections between the concept of "event" and social movements, highlighting the importance in this context of Arendt’s notions of "action" and "new beginning". At this point the paper evidences that the public unfolding of a social movement struggle can be thought of as an "event", if one has in mind the meaning of such concept. Finally, it discusses the recurrent process of crystallization of these collective agencies by means of their unification in a bureaucratized entity.

Keywords : Event; Social movements; Public sphere.