Prefiguration and the post-representational politics of anti-deportation activism

This article addresses a familiar dilemma in discussions of experimental forms political practice the context state racism. On one hand, predominant modes engaging with power through strategically representing claims to actors often re-affirm categories domination, mimic hierarchies that radical intend overcome, and tend become invested reformism limits horizon change. other, prefigurative politics seeks craft resistance practices instantiate desired future relations ways can seem hopeless against institutional investments racial dominance underpins its actions, danger producing an unstrategic naïve inversion logics activists want oppose. Drawing on interviews participation grassroots anti-deportation activist groups, this argues third concept, post-representational politics, is necessary tool for recognising oppose It both notion sensitise us important aspects praxis enable responses critics without ever-expanding boundaries concept.