Practising refusal as relating otherwise: engagements with knowledge production, ‘activist’ praxis, and borders

Spathopoulou, Aila; Meier, Isabel

Abstract

This special issue explores the concept of refusal through academic and personal reflections, conversation, poetry, activism, and performative practice. In this introduction, we first situate practices of refusal within very specific locations of struggle and then frame these refusals as a practice of relating otherwise. Relating otherwise is a ‘mode of engagement’ – not a theory or method – that shapes relationships with ourselves, each other, and the world. The introduction goes on to discuss how refusal practices engage with (1) decolonial modes of knowing, (2) embodied, situated, and relational ways of meaning-making, and (3) the undoing of existing dichotomies within ‘activist’ practice.

Citation

Spathopoulou, A., & Meier, I. (2023). Practising refusal as relating otherwise: engagements with knowledge production, ‘activist’ praxis, and borders. Fennia: International Journal of Geography, 201(2), 140-153. https://doi.org/10.11143/fennia.137167

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 17, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 18, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 18, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 16, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 16, 2024
• Journal: Fennia - International Journal of Geography
• Print ISSN: 1798-5617
• Electronic ISSN: 1798-5617
• Publisher: Suomen Maantieteellinen Seura
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 201
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 140-153
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.11143/fennia.137167
• Keywords: Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Forestry
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2385396