Contesting the spirit of death (original) (raw)

Abstract

This chapter builds upon the insights of Enrique Dussel (2013) to explore the moral underpinnings of a human rights framework for penal abolitionism and the subsequent ethical demand for political action. In the first part of the chapter it is argued that through their daily workings prisons structurally deny human rights: moral relationships cannot be fully formed between prisoners or between prisoners and prison staff; the inherent conflict and antagonism of the prison damage the formation of human identity; violations of dignity undermine the self by preventing voluntary intersubjective human relations; and the pains of imprisonment systematically generate suffering and death. Having established the inherent harms of the prison place the chapter then moves on to explore Dussel’s (2013) ethical demand for political resistance in response to denials of human rights. This leads to a focus on grass roots resistance to human rights infringements and the promotion of the common humanity of prisoners through direct, community based action in England and Wales. Drawing upon the campaign work of the author and his direct interventions in against the construction of a number of mega-prisons in England and Wales since November 2015, the chapter paints a picture of the intimate connections between abolitionism praxis and human rights. Overall the chapter reflects upon some of the core contemporary strategies and interventions ‘from below’ deployed by abolitionist activists to challenge the inhumanity of prisons in England and Wales in the second decade of the 21st Century.

David Scott hasn't uploaded this document.

Let David know you want this document to be uploaded.

Ask for this document to be uploaded.