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A Critical Analysis of State Power, Class Struggle, and the Occupy Movement

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A Critical Analysis of State Power, Class Struggle, and the Occupy Movement ‘It’s Not a Protest, It’s a Process’: A Critical Analysis of State Power, Class Struggle, and the Occupy Movement A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Liverpool John Moores University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Samantha Fletcher December 2017 0 Abstract In September 2011, over 2000 people set up a protest camp in Zuccotti Park, New York, to contest the increasing inequality and social injustices, they argued to have been brought about by the few, at the expense of the many. This camp along with thousands of other camps worldwide, that would emerge thereafter, would come to be known as the Occupy movement. This thesis offers an examination of the Occupy movement by way of considering this phenomenon through a neo-Marxist framework, concerning, in particular the matter of class struggle. The research contained within, offers a series of elucidations regarding key theoretical and conceptual concerns, pertaining to matters of state power, in the context of the war of position in the advanced capitalist state and the neoliberal conjuncture. Presented within this specific depiction of the convoluted process that is class struggle, there is also a consideration of potential strategies for alliance. These strategies for alliance are by way of seeking to realise the making of a social class force of ‘the people’, on the terms of the exploited classes, that would bring with it, a material change within the state, and to that end, greater forms of equality and social justice. 1 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I extend my thanks to the wonderful and diverse persons encountered along this journey at multiple Occupy sites: Occupy Democracy, Occupy Faith, Occupy LSX, Occupy Media, Occupy Liverpool and other Occupy related activist endeavours. My thanks is extended to both those who participated formally in interviews, often outdoors in less than desirable weather conditions, but also to all those whom I sat with and had informal general discussions about social justice: the importance of those combined moments should by no means be underestimated. A particular special thanks is extended to George Barda and Tanya Paton whom I met for the first time in 2012: I owe a lot to you both for your support, engaging insights, warmth and mostly your unending passion for social justice and positive change which has been, and will continue to be, a constant source of inspiration. Whilst I consider my thanks to all those I met in the field it is also appropriate to thank my trusty wing-persons: Alma Agostini and Richard Wild who accompanied me on many of my journeys to London and between them ensured I was fed, sheltered and getting the most out of my time on site. It has been a long road not least because completing a thesis whilst simultaneously working full time is by no means an easy feat. I therefore must extend my gratitude to my colleagues, both present and former, at Liverpool John Moores University, Staffordshire University, and The Open University whom have been patient, understanding and incredibly supportive throughout. I also wish to show appreciation for my wider family of active scholars: The European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control. Thank you for every intriguing and stimulating conversation had both within and outside the conference room. The group is rather substantial in size and continuously growing so I will not list names, 2 but you all know who you are and I thank you all profusely for your time and the sharing of your invaluable accumulative acumen. Additional specific ‘so much more than thank you’ is extended to David Scott and Steve Tombs. To David, you are the humble and subtle driving force behind many a postgraduate or early career academic. You are beyond generous with your time and without you many others and myself would not be instilled with the confidence and stimulus required to successfully progress in the way that we have. To Steve, you are a mentor of the highest calibre, with integrity and ingenuity to aspire to: if I am ever even a mere fraction of the academic, activist and all round epically wonderful person you are one day I will be a happy person. In addition, to Vicky Canning – for Innsbruck, and all that followed. Last, but my no means least, a multitude of unending gratitude is extended to my wonderful, sagacious, extremely patient and understanding supervisory team: Giles Barrett, Sara Parker and Joe Sim. Sara and Giles you have been with me at every step of my academic development and you must be sick of the sight of me. You are two of the most important people in my life and I want to take the opportunity to tell you how much everything you have ever done for me both big and small matters more than you could know. Geography matters: now and always. To Joe, my state theory guru and so much more, you are one of the most knowledgeable, wonderful, critical thinkers I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. Your work ethic as an active scholar is an inspiration and in the words of Dylan: May your song always be sung. To all three of my supervisors my appreciation for your academic input, copious experience, encouragement and support goes without saying but alongside a working relationship that many other postgraduates could only dream of, I want to express how highly I regard you in all aspects, not only as supervisors but as comrades and friends. 3 A huge thank you to Louisa Conroy at The Open University who saved the day after a serious Word and PDF mishap. And to Katie Tucker and Will McGowan without whom this thesis may literally have never made it to print and submission. As a final note, the research itself explores and contains reference to the sometimes fraught relationship between academia-activism. Ultimately this thesis is dedicated to everyone who concerns themselves with challenging inequalities and the difficult task of addressing the crimes and harms of the powerful through the necessary appraisal and contestation of the actions of the exploiting classes at the expense of everyone else. Whether you are an academic, an activist, anyone in- between or outside those parameters this is dedicated to all those who seek social justice and positive change, whoever you are and wherever you may be - in solidarity. To Ma Fletch, you’re alright you la. 4 Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 9 On Social Movements, Class Struggle, and the State ................................ 10 Moving Forward in the Study of New Social Movements and Class Struggle ................................................................................................................... 20 Aims and Objectives .............................................................................................. 22 Aim ............................................................................................................ 22 Objectives .................................................................................................. 22 On the Structure of this Thesis ................................................................... 23 Chapter 1: The Occupy Movement .......................................................................... 36 1.1 Introducing the Occupy Movement ............................................................. 36 Figure 1.1 Occupy Wall Street and Occupy London Stock Exchange timeline of key events .............................................................................................. 40 1.2 On Multiple and Extensive Grievances ....................................................... 41 1.3 On Anger and Frustration ........................................................................... 43 1.4 On Reclaiming Space and Place ................................................................ 44 Figure 1.4 Occupy London Stock Exchange (Occupy LSX) ........................ 45 1.5 On Nuance and Class Difference: from the Local to the Global .................. 46 1.6 On Democracy ........................................................................................... 49 1.7 On Connections with the Past and Present ................................................ 50 1.8 On Disobedience, Fluidity, and Process ..................................................... 56 1.9 On Not Being Able to Evict an Idea ............................................................ 57 1.10 On Counter-Hegemony .............................................................................. 59 Chapter 2: The Advanced Capitalist State, the War of Position and Class Struggle in the Neoliberal Conjuncture: The Theoretical Landscape ......................................... 64 2.1 On what Occupies this Thesis .......................................................................... 64 2.2 The Advanced Capitalist State ................................................................... 67 2.21 As ‘Constant’ .................................................................................... 67 2.22 In ‘Flux’ ............................................................................................ 69 2.3 The War of Position .................................................................................... 70 2.4 The Neoliberal
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