Press statement: Political Organisation Aotearoa

“We, Political Organisation Aotearoa, determine that the time has now come to disrupt and reinvigorate our public culture”, said the group in a statement released today.

POA, which describes itself as “an experiment in political thinking and organisation”, say they aim to appeal to widespread disillusionment with the current state of political and economic systems.

The group has released what they describe as a set of theses to guide political action.

“Our work will be guided by the principles enshrined in our 11 theses. And we invite others to work with us, for the quest to expand democracy is nothing without the construction of a people!”

To accompany the release of their theses, the collective has also inaugurated a publications series.

“We commence with reflections on an apt symbol of our public life in Interventions No. 1: On John Key and the Spirit of his Times. We ask, if the production of political leaders is as much a cultural production as any other product of the media, what kind of production is John Key?”

“Keywords No 1: Expanding Democracy discusses the condition of democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand. We cite many reasons for pessimism. But we also anticipate the return of a utopian horizon that promises an enriched form of democratic life—one that doesn’t reduce social life to market calculations”.

“Finally, Analyses No. 1: Notes on Right Wing Populism examines developments in the wider world system and the rise of Right Wing populist parties. We underscore the need for a resurgent Left and a politics of equality, one that decouples popular sentiments from the reactive political expressions nurtured by Right Wing populists”.

The group’s theses and publications can be read in full on their website: http://poa.org.nz

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