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Queer Politics in Times of New Authoritarianisms

Written by Rohit K. Dasgupta,Somak Biswas,Churnjeet Mahn

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108 pages, about 2 hours of reading

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About this book

Queerness remains a central fault line in contemporary South Asia. Colonial-era ‘anti-sodomy’ laws, codified in Article 377 of the penal codes in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, or Article 365 in Sri Lanka, exemplify the shared imperial lineages of the region as also their long postcolonial afterlives. Across South Asia and the world, new authoritarianisms have reignited old fault lines around sexuality. New media technologies have increasingly connected diasporic space with mainland South Asia, globalising queer networks. Yet, these trajectories are necessarily discontinuous. In the last two decades whilst there has been an explosion of LGBTQ+ visibility most notably in South Asian film, television and new media, this visibility has come with mainstream ideological agendas which do not especially represent the diversity of queer lives in South Asia along key identities of caste, class, religion and region. This book seeks to encourage critical thinking by suggesting ways in which notions of culture, neoliberalism, nationalism and queerness in the context of new authoritarianisms are disentangled. The chapters in this volume take up these questions and offer critical imaginings of sexual politics and its imbrication with popular culture and authoritarian politics within contemporary South Asia. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of South Asian Popular Culture.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Queer Politics in Times of New Authoritarianisms, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 12 hours
  • advanced
  • Analytical
  • Critical
  • Urgent

Queer Politics in Times of New Authoritarianisms offers a critical and timely examination of the evolving challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities and movements amidst the global resurgence of authoritarian regimes. The book analyzes how nationalist, populist, and religiously conservative governments weaponize anti-queer rhetoric and policies to consolidate power, while simultaneously exploring the diverse strategies of resistance, solidarity, and advocacy employed by queer activists and scholars worldwide. It provides an intersectional lens to understand the vulnerabilities and resilience of queer lives, highlighting regional specificities and the vital role of transnational connections in combating oppression.

The rise of new authoritarianisms invariably targets queer bodies and identities as symbolic sites for the reassertion of traditional values and national purity.

Key themes

The Rise of Authoritarianism and its Anti-Queer Agenda
This theme explores how the global resurgence of authoritarian, populist, and nationalist regimes actively targets LGBTQ+ individuals and rights. It analyzes the political, social, and cultural mechanisms through which these regimes use anti-queer rhetoric and policies to consolidate power, enforce social conformity, and divert public attention from other issues. The book likely argues that queer individuals become symbolic targets in a broader ideological battle against perceived 'Western decadence' or 'foreign influence'.
Queer Resistance and Resilience
This theme focuses on the diverse and innovative strategies employed by queer activists, communities, and individuals to resist oppression and maintain their agency under authoritarian rule. It examines how resistance adapts to hostile environments, from overt activism to subtle acts of defiance, community building, and cultural production. The book highlights the resilience of queer movements in the face of severe state repression.
Intersectionality of Oppression and Resistance
This theme explores how different forms of oppression—based on race, class, gender, religion, nationality, disability, and sexuality—intersect, creating unique vulnerabilities and experiences for various queer individuals and communities. It emphasizes that queer politics cannot be understood in isolation and that intersectional approaches are vital for effective analysis and robust resistance strategies, recognizing that not all queer experiences are the same.

Worth discussing

How do new authoritarianisms specifically target queer communities, and what are the primary ideological justifications employed by these regimes?

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