The Fragility of Things and Capacities of the Micro-Political Experiment

In his new book The Fragility of Things, William Connolly imagines the possibilities of micro-political encounter as we experience the ‘crocodile death roll’ of late capitalism and neoliberalism. To navigate the fragility born of modern uncertainties, he simultaneously calls for a subtle and nuanced marriage of enhanced sensitivity and militant democratic politics. In this paper, I will argue that Connolly’s attention to these metaphorical narratives via his call “to extend our political and cosmic sensibilities” is useful in addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by humans on the planet now and in the future(s).