Subproject III
Theory – Conceptualizing Democratic Imagination
The Subproject Theory constructs the project’s conceptual basis and theoretical framework by elaborating a democratic theory of imagination. It thereby serves as a platform for mutual exchange between the subprojects, reflecting the findings of Culture and Archive and feeding back to them. Moreover, theory formation itself can contribute to the widening of democratic imaginaries, by taking seriously the theoretical discourses produced by cultural-political activists that establish counter-institutions.
The subproject is led by Dr Sergej Seitz.
Focal Points of Theory Formation
Democratic Imagination and Democratic Imaginaries
Theory clarifies PREDEF's basic conceptual tools, including 'prefiguration', 'disclosure', and 'pre-enactment'. This conceptual groundwork feeds into a democratic theory of imagination. While there is some literature on political imagination, a specifically democratic account of imagination remains a desideratum, even more so in terms of institutional imagination. To this end, ‘organic theories’ of prefiguration, developed by cultural and political activists (as studied in subproject Culture), are brought into dialogue with academic theories.
Counter-Institutions as Spaces of Democratic Imagination
What does it mean to prefigure democratic futures by engaging in counter-institutional environments and practices? For the theory of democratic imagination, counter-institutions serve as paradigm cases of embodied and realized democratic (counter-)imaginaries.