Feminisms from the Global South

In the midth of capitalism‘s multiple crises and the following political charges,emancipatory ideas and practice are under pressure. Not limited to the Global North feminism – in singular as well as in plural – is opposed by right wing populism and authoritarianism whilst the new anti-genderism is coupled with strong expressions of racism. At the same time, feminism is challenged by neoliberal appropriations when ‘lean-in’ feminism or certain gender mainstreaming politics ignore the radical astute and visionary potential of earlier feminisms.

Against this backdrop, feminists across the globe deploy new concepts and practices of solidarity in order to reinforce and re-politicize feminisms as political alternative to global capitalism. The latter – whether in its neoliberal or authoritarian form – infringes on most if not all possibilities of transformation. It is therefore not by coincidence that a broad variety of radical feminist ideas and activities emerge from the Global South, where transformation has always been central to theories and praxes of feminisms. Southern perspectives on global capitalism and world politics provide pivotal analyses on how unequal gender relations and intersectional oppressions are enmeshed in local and global realities. They bring to the forefront fundamental questions of global justice that tend to be disregarded in Western feminisms: How are multiple crises articulated locally in diverse regions of the world? And, how do they affect feminisms specifically? Which feminist critiques, concepts and strategies are developed to either unmask or counter neoliberal and authoritarian transformation attempts? Which role can gender studies, feminist movements and intersectional networks play in developing alternative political and social projects and thus fostering social justice?

In order to provide space for dialogue and intersectional solidarities in a transnationally interconnected era, the lecture series will discuss these questions from different theoretical standpoints, geographical settings and historical experiences.