Against reactionary populism

Towards a New Public Archaeology

Bibliographic Data

ID3514873
AuthorsAlfredo González Ruibal (0000-0003-3464-1626, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Alfredo González-Ruibal, Pablo Alonso González (0000-0002-5964-0489, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, corresponding author), Felipe Criado-Boado, Felipe Criado Boado (0000-0003-4235-706X, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)
Year2018
Volume92
Issue362
Pages507-515
Publication date2018-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
PublisherAntiquity Publications (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15184/aqy.2017.227
OpenAlexW2801949046
LanguageEN
Citations received112
References cited33

From Brazil to the United Kingdom, 2016 was a critical year in global politics. Heritage, ethics and the way that archaeologists relate to the public were and will all be affected, and it is time to reflect critically on the phenomenon of 'reactionary populism' and how it affects the practice and theory of archaeology. 'Reactionary populism' can be defined as a political form that is anti-liberal in terms of identity politics (e.g. multiculturalism, abortion rights, minority rights, religious freedom), but liberal in economic policies. It is characterised by nationalism, racism and anti-intellectualism, and as Judith Butler states in a recent interview, it wants "to restore an earlier state of society, driven by nostalgia or a perceived loss of privilege" (Soloveitchik 2016). Our intention here is to argue that the liberal, multi-vocal model of the social sciences and the humanities is no longer a viable option. Instead, we ask our colleagues to embrace an archaeology that is ready to intervene in wider public debates not limited to issues of heritage or of local relevance, is not afraid of defending its expert knowledge in the public arena, and is committed to reflective, critical teaching

Environmental ethics · Identity politics · Multiculturalism · Nationalism · Political philosophy · Political science · Politics · Populism · Reactionary · Sociology · Archaeological Research and Protection · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Law · Philosophy

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