Speed and Micropolitics: Bodies, Minds, and Perceptions in an Accelerating World

This book provides a theoretical framework for understanding the micropolitics of speed, exploring the affects, perceptions, and identities of life in an accelerating world. It draws on the work of contemporary theorists and historical thinkers to understand how to respond to rapid changes and unsettling temporalities. It is of interest to students and scholars of affect theory, the body, new materialism, phenomenology, and political thought.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a comprehensive theoretical framework for comprehending the micropolitics of speed, providing a rich, nuanced, and embodied account of life in an accelerating world. It delves into the profound impact of living in an era characterized by significant social acceleration on individuals' experiences, perceptions, and identities. The answers to these questions go beyond understanding the psychology of speed and encompass a wide range of contemporary political issues, including xenophobia, anti-immigration policies, patterns of transnational identification and solidarity, social isolation and alienation, and the potential of new media to coordinate social movements.

While drawing extensively on the work of contemporary theorists, Simon Glezos acknowledges that social acceleration is not a modern phenomenon. To explore this further, he turns to the insights of thinkers such as Nietzsche, Spinoza, Bergson, and Merleau-Ponty, seeking to understand their approaches to navigating the rapid changes and unsettling temporalities of their respective eras. By examining their ideas, Glezos aims to apply their insights to our contemporary context, offering valuable insights into the nature of time and its implications for understanding the world.

Speed and Micropolitics is a valuable resource for students and scholars engaged in the study of affect theory, theories of the body, new materialism, phenomenology, as well as the history of political thought. It advances theoretical understanding and provides a practical tool for analytically conceptualizing the nature of time, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of our rapidly changing world.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367280659