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SHAHBAG, A CRITICAL SOCIAL MOMENT: A COLLECTIVE AGENCY CAPABILITIES ANALYSIS By Razia Shariff Canterbury Christ Church University Thesis submitted For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2019 ii ABSTRACT This thesis sets out an approach to understanding the impact of change oriented ‘social moments’ on social practices and structures. The empirical case on which the thesis draws to develop this argument is the Shahbag protests in Bangladesh. At the theoretical level, the thesis suggests that ‘Social Moments’ oriented to change (as differentiated from social movements) can be triggered by latent injustices occurring within a given society. Using a Critical Theoretical lens and the Capability Approach, the thesis sets out a Being-Doing-Impact Model oriented to an understanding of the conditions necessary for a Social Moment to occur. These moments occur where individuals from different parts of the social habitus come together, to create a scene, as a critical mass in order to effect change. Such moments can lead to shifts in systems and practices, and ultimately to a more just society. The research assesses in detail the conditions that made the Shahbag Moment possible. These conditions include: the presence of the necessary agency capabilities of individuals; the effective mobilisation of instrumental freedoms; the substantive presence of networks of social support and solidarity (all of which bring into play an important affective dimension). The wider social context is also viewed as a crucial component. The thesis shows how, for example, the atmosphere at Shahbag can be considered as cultural, positive and safe. It also shows a willingness on the part of Government to listen and respond to the will of the people. Moreover, the role of the media and social media, which shared the Moment’s messages, and offered an open and transparent information platform to debate and discuss the issues was significant. An analysis of the case histories of the Shahbag Moment in Bangladesh allows for the further development of the theoretical approach in a concrete empirical context i ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With appreciation and thanks to the School of Psychology, Politics and Sociology, and the Graduate School of Canterbury Christ Church University for their financial support and understanding during my PhD and my need to be granted interruptions and extensions due to personal circumstances. In particular my supervisor Professor David Bates whose support, understanding and belief in me ensured that I continued with my PhD. Also, to my second supervisor Dr Matt Ogilvie for his patience and input into my methods and case study analysis. Finally, to my external and internal examiners Dr Aidan McGarry and Dr Laura Cashman who gave me valuable feedback as part of my PhD Viva. This research would not have been possible without those who gave their time to participate in the collection of case histories in Bangladesh of those involved in the Shahbag Moment in 2013. iii iv CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ....................................................................................... iii PART I ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1) Chapter One: Civil Society as a sphere for collective entities to form ..................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Civil Society ............................................................................................. 12 1.2 Agency ..................................................................................................... 16 1.3 Collective agency ..................................................................................... 22 1.4 Conclusions: Solidarity, public power and social scenes in civil society 24 2) Chapter Two: Critical Theorists: power, hegemony, agency and the multitude ..................................................................................................... 29 2.1 Why a critical theoretical approach? ........................................................ 29 2.2 Marx and economic emancipation ........................................................... 30 2.3 Gramsci and Foucault and political empowerment .................................. 32 2.4 Hardt and Negri and social transformative networks ............................... 39 2.5 Anarchists and a rhizomatic alternative ................................................... 44 2.6 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 50 3) Chapter Three: Capability Approach and Collective mobilisation .... 52 3.1 Collective mobilisation ............................................................................ 61 3.2 Protest and time, space and emotion ........................................................ 75 3.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 82 PART II ..................................................................................................... 82 Introduction .................................................................................................. 82 4) Chapter Four: Method, and Methodological Considerations ............. 84 4.1 Case Histories ........................................................................................... 88 4.2 Method ..................................................................................................... 90 4.3 Qualitative Interviews .............................................................................. 91 v 4.4 Interviewer Effect ..................................................................................... 92 4.5 Triangulation ............................................................................................ 95 4.6 Process ...................................................................................................... 96 4.7 Data analysis and coding .......................................................................... 97 4.8 New Emerging Themes .......................................................................... 102 5) Chapter Five: Historiography of the Shahbag Moment .................... 110 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 110 5.2 Background ............................................................................................ 110 5.3 The Shahbag Moment - a Brief Overview ............................................. 115 5.4 Interviewee’s Historiography and Real Time Coverage ........................ 116 5.4.1 Background references made to Shahbag Moment .......................... 117 5.4.2 The Shahbag Moment ...................................................................... 119 5.4.3 Decision making, activities and logistic support during February 2013 .......................................................................................................... 124 5.4.4 Beyond Shahbag Square - Response, Reactions and Roles ............. 125 5.4.5 Post the Peak of Shahbag Moment ................................................... 128 5.5 Other key factors mentioned .................................................................. 133 5.6 Impact of the Shahbag Moment ............................................................. 135 5.7 Different Actor Storylines of Shahbag Moment .................................... 137 5.8 Reflections .............................................................................................. 140 6) Chapter Six: The Shahbag Moment coding and analysis .................. 144 6.1 Stage A – Prior to The Shahbag Moment .............................................. 145 6.2 Stage B – During the Shahbag Moment ................................................. 147 6.3 Stage C – Post the Shahbag Moment ..................................................... 153 6.4 Reflections .............................................................................................. 157 Part III ................................................................................................... 159 Critical Social Moments, Collective agency and capability ................... 159 7) Chapter Seven: What if we lived in a society with freedom? ........... 162 vi 7.1 Stage A – Being: Conditions for collective agency capability ............... 167 7.2 Stage B – Doing: Processes for collective agency capability ................ 171 7.3 Stage C – Impact: Outcomes from collective agency capability ........... 180 8) Chapter Eight: Extending Instrumental Freedoms as a Framework for the Being-Doing-Impact Model .......................................................... 184 8.1 Conditions Matrix and Process Framework ........................................... 185 8.2 Being-Doing-Impact Model to Achieving Instrumental Freedoms ....... 187 8.2.1 Structure ........................................................................................... 189 8.2.2 Practice ............................................................................................. 189 8.2.3 Social Network Capital .................................................................... 190 8.2.4 Economic Emancipations ................................................................