I gave this presentation last month but have only just now put it online. I revisit the history of political anthropology, particularly the 1950s to 1960s ‘action theory’ phase, to undertake some lexical mining in search of concepts that can help us to make sense of recent political events such as People Power II in Manila or the electoral upheaval following the Madrid bombings in 2004, in which mass demonstrations were swiftly organised using mobile and Internet technologies.
“From action groups to smart mobs:
a review of old and new conceptualisations of ad-hoc political action”
Dr John Postill
Sheffield Hallam University
PSA conference
Swansea, 2 April 2008
