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The Libidinal Economy of Revanchism: Illicit Drugs, Harm Reduction, and the Problem of Enjoyment

Proudfoot, J.

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Abstract

Harm reduction is generally presented as the compassionate, pragmatic alternative to prohibitionist drug policy. This article examines harm reduction in relation to debates over the revanchist city in urban geography, arguing that it should be understood as an ambivalent social policy. I advance a psychoanalytic conceptualization of ambivalence to explain the often contradictory character of contemporary drug policy, including harm reduction. Calling attention to the centrality of enjoyment (jouissance) in debates over drug policy, I argue that fantasies about the enjoyment of the Other play a crucial role in drug policy, with profound consequences for marginalized drug users.

Citation

Proudfoot, J. (2019). The Libidinal Economy of Revanchism: Illicit Drugs, Harm Reduction, and the Problem of Enjoyment. Progress in Human Geography, 43(2), 214-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132517739143

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 6, 2017
Online Publication Date Nov 30, 2017
Publication Date Apr 1, 2019
Deposit Date Oct 6, 2017
Publicly Available Date Dec 5, 2017
Journal Progress in Human Geography
Print ISSN 0309-1325
Electronic ISSN 1477-0288
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 43
Issue 2
Pages 214-234
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132517739143
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1347653

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Accepted Journal Article (Revised version) (302 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
Revised version Proudfoot, J. (2019). The Libidinal Economy of Revanchism: Illicit Drugs, Harm Reduction, and the Problem of Enjoyment. Progress in Human Geography 43(2): 214-234. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.





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