Heterotopias of Citizenship as Spaces of Otherness: The Fluid Boundaries Between We and They

Abstract

Heterotopia is a neologism proposed by Michel Foucault to describe specific cultural and discursive spaces that mirror real life, yet stand in opposition to it. I propose to look at heterotopia through the lens of youth citizenship that is presented in different forms of self-identification in the discursive practices of the selected youth organisations. The article analyses the discursive language of six Ukrainian youth organisations that appear as spaces of their own, drawing on Foucault’s notion of heterotopia. The task of the article is to examine how these contemporary heterotopias are identified through the language and specific keywords used by their members and how this language defines the space in which their members function, as well as gain insight into the categories of We and They, including their role in self-identification and the delineation of boundaries between the different heterotopias. In this article, I argue that the contexts of the use of the categories We and They with which young people name themselves and separate themselves from non-members of the organisation, have a strong influence on their citizen participation strategies. The empirical results show that organizations position and locate themselves as political and community acting-spaces—heterotopias of citizenship—that have responsibilities and act in accordance with their mission. Although the forms of citizen participation they use vary, their ultimate mission seems to be the same, and may be related to a sense of insecurity caused by a political threat from the Other.