Accelerated, angry and dependent? On Latin America’s resonance conflicts

Abstract

This paper proposes the existence of two limitations in Hartmut Rosa's theory of social acceleration for the study of Latin America. The first limitation refers to his conception of politics as a space which is “victim of acceleration”; the second, to his prioritization of dialogue and agreement over conflict as a mechanism for social transformation. To account for the first affirmation, I propose a critical reading of the theory of social acceleration. Regarding the second statement, I present some approaches that, from Latin America, propose to understand the sub-continent from the logic of conflict. Moreover, I highlight the relevance of conflict to account for any process of change and transformation in Latin America. In conclusion, the concept of "resonant conflict" is proposed as an alternative form to the logic of the “agreement”, considering the former as a form allowing advancements in the understanding of social tensions as a productive mechanism for social transformation.