Modalities of Social Movements in Nowadays Japan: Self-Publishing Community-Networks since the Covid-19 Pandemic
(Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Vogt)
Abstract
Japan has seen a rise in social movements in recent years. Contrary to the Anpo-protest and student upheavals of the 1960s and 70s that are mainly remembered for their violent demeanor, demonstrations nowadays are often described as “Protestivals” or “Sound Demos”, emphasizing their vivid, festive character. Horie et al. (2020) conceptualize these new forms of protest as the amorphization of movements: heterogenous, non-hierarchical, loose networks, consisting of individuals with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, no longer connected through labor unions, universities, or joint ideologies.
At the same time, a self-publishing culture has been expanding, introducing new trends towards independent bookstores, self-produced media festivals, and small publishers - despite the general decline of print media. The 2010s witnessed a major shift in the publishing world, with the diversification of distribution routes facilitating the ascent of independent publishers and bookstores. Self-publishing communities formed along these lines, spreading independent publications throughout Japan, discussing societal issues, and building new connections with like-minded individuals.
While many scholars of social movements focus on visible contentious action such as demonstrations, this project highlights self-publishing communities as a form of civic engagement and a vital point of connection for activism. How are networks nowadays established (mobilization)? What are shared values and theories - what are points of critique (framing)? In what ways do activists pursue their goals and visions (action repertoire)? And how did the Covid-19 pandemic shape these new formations?
This thesis examines amorphous self-publishing communities outside the mainstream, and aims at a deeper understanding of the modalities of social movements in present-day Japan.