Subjects in crisis: Paradoxes of emancipation and alter-neoliberal critique

This article examines the formation of political subjectivity in times neoliberalization and crisis. It does so by following meaning-making practices Penelope, a participant 2011 Syntagma Square occupation Athens. The encampment was at heart Greece’s anti-austerity movement. Prior to this experience, Penelope says she ‘wasn’t most sophisticated person’ politically, yet that ‘changed’ for better precisely because her participation. What aspire what demarcate self from against backdrop austerity neoliberalism, crisis, experience square? And remains participation years on with regard subjectivity? claims relationship between subject emancipation under neoliberalism is paradoxical: effort overcome neoliberal rationalities Greece, also unwittingly reproducing them. In disentangling paradox, concludes theorization I call ‘alter-neoliberal critique’: beyond neoliberalism.