“Border Thinking”, the Global Justice Movement and Mythologies of Resistance.

This paper explores the concept of ‘border thinking’, as developed by Professor Walter Mignolo. The paper begins by making reference to Sorelian forms of mythologically-inspired discourses of resistance being developed by those social movements opposing Neoliberal Economic Globalisation (NLEG). In particular, it argues that Sorelian forms of mythical discourses of resistance may be considered to act as providers of ‘certainty’ in difficult times. The paper then argues that critiques of globalised capitalism, based within non-western forms of cultural discourse, introduce new parameters to the debate over the future of globalisation that could not come from antisystemic social movements in the West. The possibility opens up therefore, for the development of a mythology of resistance to the onslaught of NLEG that is much more inclusive of previously marginalized voices than that of previous generations. Moreover, ‘border thinking’ generates the potential to create a mythical discourse that, whilst seeking to generate a sense of solidarity and common purpose between widely disparate groups, can also be highly effective in generating a celebration of ‘difference’ without having to descend into pure relativism. The paper concludes that engaging in ‘border thinking’ in this manner opens up the possibility of a dialogue between Western and non-Western movements of resistance on equal terms, thereby avoiding the Eurocentric and patriarchal biases of which Western elements of the so-called Global Justice movement (GJM) have been accused. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]