“The possibilities of translation in politics: gathering around an interest in common that is not the same interest”
In the context of accelerated extractivism and destruction of 'nature' (usually in the name of a "national common good,") indigenous worlds are threatened with destruction. The ensuing clash between those worlds and the nation-states results in a political disagreement that is ontological; the dialogue between both parts is impossible for it is articulated by, what Eduardo Viveiros de Castro calls equivocations that the state has no will to control. However, equivocation might also underpin alliances between indigenous worlds and activists that do not participate in those worlds. Underpinned by ontological difference these are divergent alliances. Based on an acknowledgement of equivocation as mode of communication, these alliances may propose a practice of politics that does not need ontological sameness to gather around an interest in common that is not the same interest.
This lecture is part of the workshop / PhD course (REL-8004) "Translations: Indigenous, Religion, Tradition, Culture" organized by the Department of History and Religious Studies and the research group "Indigenous Religion(s): Local Grounds, Global Networks" (INREL) at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education.