WTF is Autonomy?

1. Independence or freedom, as of the will or one’s actions.
2. The condition of being autonomous; self-government or the right of self-government.
3. A self-governing community.

This year Fast Forward festival is focused on the theme of building autonomy, but what the f*ck is ‘autonomy’ anyway? In this workshop Plan C members will facilitate a discussion exploring personal and collective autonomy, and how we can build this as a political practice. Beginning from personal autonomy, we’ll discuss what this means, when we’re autonomous in our everyday lives (hint: not that often), and what enables us to have these moments of conscious control over our own time and energies. Then we’ll move to collective autonomy, and how we can develop political practices that allow us all to take back control from those who hold power over us, and transform capitalist, state and inter-state exploitation and domination into direct democratic empowerment.