call for workshops and discussions on precarity topic PGA conference 2008

Prewhat?
========

"Precarious literally means unsure, uncertain, difficult,
delicate. As a political term it refers to living and working
conditions without any guarantees: for example the precarious
residential status of migrants and refugees, or the precariousness
of everyday life for single mothers. [...] Precariat, an allusion to
proletariat, meanwhile is used as a combative self-description in
order to emphasise the subjective and utopian moments of
precarisation." -- Frassanito Network. "Precarious, Precarisation,
Precariat?" In: Seymour, Benedict (ed.). Mute Volume II. #0:
Precarious Reader. London: Mute Publishing Ltd, 2005.

Topics
======

Our intention is to drop in questions, and generate a debate, rather
than a clear opinion about what is precarity and why are we using this
expression. We are not affiliated with the Euromayday network either.

- Why is Precarity?

Developing and discussing precarity as an analysis of contemporary
capitalism and the role of work through a cross-cutting issue.
Historically, precarity has been the rule rather than the
exception. It doesn't grasp all factors involved, but perhaps it
can be used as a strategic focus term for political work in the
present situation. However, for that we have to be aware of what
it means for different people in different places in geopolitical
space and on the social hierarchy. How can the multiplicity of
realities and the unity of political thrust converge?

- State of the Euromayday

What is the Euromayday network and where is it going? Focusing on
outreach to peripherial groups and strenghtening activity between
Euromayday parades. Possibilities for action, collaboration and
cooperation.

- Talking about Flexicurity

How to move beyond reformism? Precarity movement is simply
reformist if it just has 'demands' for the European Union or the
national governments! What is the vision and practice of
flexicurity? Precarity movement is simply conservative and
backward looking if it seeks a return to the wellfare state!
But what is the alternative vision and the best practices that
guide us towards a good life?

Background
==========

- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precarity
- Euromayday.org
- Mute Magazine Precarious Reader issue
- Republicart Precariat issue
- Chainworders.org
- Franco "Bifo" Berardi: Art and Immaterial Labour at the Radical
Philosophy Conference London
- Hochschild, Arlie Russell. The Managed Heart: Commercialization of
Human Feeling. London: University of California Press, 1983.
- Precarious Bourdieu, Pierre. Job insecurity is everywhere now. In: Firing
back: against the tyranny of the market 2. London & New York:
Verso, 2003.
- Boltanski, Luc & Chiapello, Eve. The new spirit of
capitalism. London & New York: Verso Books, 2005.
- Gorz, André. Les Métamorphoses du travail. Paris:
Gallimard-Jeunesse, 1999.

maxigas@anargeek.net, Militant Research Group Budapest