Paper short abstract:

The paper draws on Latour and Spinoza to read human-nature interactions that occurred during the pandemic which, contesting neoliberalism, were characterized by a more respectful view of nature; building on this analysis, use of similar interactions is called for to further challenge neoliberalism.

Paper long abstract:

During the critical period of the COVID pandemic between 2020-2022, the U.K. Government instituted extensive lockdown as well as other emergency biopolitical measures in an effort to preserve the currently predominant neoliberal regime. One of the effects of these measures was a profound reconfiguration of public space, which became a patchwork of ‘safe’ and ‘dangerous’ areas.

According to this new cartography, nature in its various manifestations, either it be public parks or the chirping of birds, was usually identified as a safe haven for the pursuit of human well-being.

The paper sets itself two goals. Firstly, building on insights developed by various authors including Bruno Latour and Baruch Spinoza, it argues that during the pandemic nature acted as an agent of potential subversive change: some human-nature interactions in fact appeared to modify the abilities of the entities involved in such a way as to catalyse a synergy of emotions, knowledges and practices that made it possible for human beings to contest the predominant mainstream neoliberal values and to experience instead lifeways characterized by a more respectful view of nature.

Secondly, drawing on this analysis, the paper calls for the further investigation, enrichment and consequent extensive, but ‘situated’, deployment in the community of similar human-nature interactions as a way to further stimulate the spread of a more respectful and caring view of nature, in so doing favouring the emergence of other-than-neoliberal worldings.