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Humour in Political Activism

Creative Nonviolent Resistance

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Majken Jul Sørensen

    1. University of Wollongong, Australia

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  • unique data and breaks new theoretical ground regarding humour and political
  • Confronts the orthodox view within humour studies that political humour 'does not really make a difference'
  • Uses unique case studies

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About this book

This book analyses how humour in political activism contributes to facilitating outreach, mobilisation and the sustaining of cultures of resistance. Drawing on examples of attention-grabbing stunts from around the world, Humour in Political Activism demonstrates how they succeed in turning relations of power upside down.

The ambiguity and unpredictability of humour, Sørensen argues, makes it difficult to respond to this form of political activism when it is performed in public.  Humorous political stunts can therefore challenge state power, help influence changes in law and make significant contributions to the conversations about how societies should be organised.

The book also investigates the potential risks and limitations of using humour in nonviolent action and what makes humour unique compared with other forms of non-humorous political activism.

 

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 1-4

  3. Humour and Pockets of Resistance

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 5-34

  4. Humorous Political Stunts from Around the World

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 35-73

  5. Facilitating Outreach, Mobilisation and a Culture of Resistance

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 75-109

  6. Confronting the State Through Humorous Political Activism

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 111-138

  7. Dilemmas and Risks in Humorous Political Activism

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 139-167

  8. Humorous Political Stunts and Theory of Nonviolent Action

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 169-199

  9. Conclusion: Humour, Power and Nonviolent Resistance

    • Majken Jul Sørensen
    Pages 201-216

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 217-237
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Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Wollongong, Australia

    Majken Jul Sørensen

About the author

Majken Jul Sørensen is an Honorary Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Wollongong, Australia. She has published on nonviolent resistance, social movements, humorous political activism, peaceful societies and female conscientious objectors. 

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