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Citizenship Utopias in the Global South, an open-access book published by Taylor and Francis, is edited by Henri Onodera, Martta Kaskinen, and Eija Ranta. This scholarly work explores emergent forms of activism in Africa, Asia, and Latin America during times of global crises and political disillusionment.
The book investigates how diverse groups—feminists, youth movements, anti-racism advocates, Indigenous communities, and others—challenge unjust power structures and reimagine society through creative grassroots, nonviolent, and digital activism.
The book introduces citizenship utopias, “social imaginaries that are enacted and that articulate an ideal social order or democratic polity with ideal forms of experiencing citizenship.” It examines how people negotiate and engage in societal change, offering fresh perspectives on activism, citizenship, and the pursuit of alternative futures. This work contributes to fields such as political anthropology, development studies, and decolonial scholarship by addressing critical themes of rights, social justice, and civic engagement.
Organized into three parts, the volume blends empirical research with theoretical insights:
- Activism in Times of Disillusionment – Discusses youth protests, pandemic-driven communication strategies, and the dynamics of grassroots political change, with case studies from Kenya, Chile, Algeria, and South Africa.
- Decolonising the State – Explores movements challenging colonial legacies and systemic inequalities, including racial justice struggles in Cuba and student activism in South Africa.
- Re-imagining Citizenships – Highlights innovative redefinitions of citizenship, such as trade union activism in Algeria and queer community efforts in India.
Through its nuanced chapters, the book inspires transformative possibilities, offering lessons for activists and scholars in an age of global crises.
