Navigational Praxis

Albert’s (2024) counter-hegemonic futures analysis ( [[ Planetary Systems Thinking ]]) as part of navigational praxis, something that combines thinking and acting. The concept is inspired by the work of Srnicek and Williams, who understand navigational praxis as

a praxis of mapping and exercising agency within complex socioecological systems, a praxis that must constantly update itself as events in the world unfold and new information comes to light. Navigation requires modifying and adapting not just our maps, strategies, and tactics, but also the specific goals of counter-hegemonic praxis as opportunities for transformative agency arise, subside, and reemerge. (Albert 2024)

The entropy generated by late stage capitalism might even be useful here, as it forces us to continously update our mental maps. (See OODA > Orientation)

Counter-hegemonic movements must navigate a constantly evolving planetary-political possibility space, seeking either to dislodge hegemonic configurations and navigate toward concrete utopian potentials, or to mitigate harm and prevent the worst-case scenarios from materializing if it seems we are caught in the whirlpool of a dystopian pathway (Albert 2024)

navigation is not all or nothing — not “revolution or bust” — but a praxis of continuously struggling to realize the best possible future that is within “our” power. (Albert 2024)

This basically means that even if we maybe can’t prevent certain dystopic futures, we can atleast fight to make them less catastrophic. For example even if we were to hit a major tipping point that would accelerate climate change further, we could still fight (eco)fascist or neofeudal futures.

Sources

  • Albert, M. J. (2024). Navigating the Polycrisis