Viva la Transición

The author argues, first, that transition—characterised by instability, movement, alterations and ruptures—becomes the rule of any society, not exclusively that of ‘transitional societies’. And, secondly, away from the sequencing theorised in democratisation studies (e.g. accommodation, liberalisation, transition, consolidation), transition points tentatively to a new era characterised by a drive, a movement that empowers a society creatively to self-constitute. In a ceaseless participatory process, each polity assembles, adjusts, fabricates and constructs itself as a society. Instead of disenchantment and collapse, ‘democratic indetermination’ and the ‘politics of dwelling’ are the factors which shape a truly effective and open democracy. Transition, therefore, is an uncharted journey in the land of democracy.