Escaping the spatial imaginary, or, politics as an occupation

This article examines the persistence of spatial metaphors in modern political thought, from the “public sphere” that has defined liberal and republican thinking for the past few centuries to the high-profile “occupations” that have animated political action of the past few years. The article argues that these metaphors reflect a “spatial imaginary” that corresponds to an ideal of politics as the forcible control of space, and then explores the possibility of a “temporal imaginary” more compatible with the imagination and aspiration required of progressive politics. The article explores how the dual meaning of the term “occupation” – the filling of space and the filling of time – reflects the dialectic of time and space, and considers what happens when a spatial imaginary overshadows the temporal dimension of politics. Ultimately, the article argues that a spatial imaginary tends to inform an idea of politics as a functional use of force, while a temporal imaginary forwards a greater appreciation for history, civic work, and creativity.