From Resilience to Vulnerability: Reimagining Political Resistance

This review critically examines Sarah Bracke's chapter "Bouncing Back: Vulnerability and Resistance in Times of Resilience," featured in the edited volume "Vulnerability in Resistance" by Judith Butler, Zeynep Gambetti, and Leticia Sabsay. The text delves into Bracke's critique of the neoliberal concept of resilience, arguing that resilience, often framed as the capacity to recover from adversity, can perpetuate oppressive systems by placing the burden of survival on individuals rather than addressing structural issues. Bracke juxtaposes resilience with vulnerability and resistance, challenging the notion that resilience and vulnerability are opposing concepts. Instead, she proposes that vulnerability can be a form of political resistance, offering a pathway to collective empowerment and transformation beyond neoliberal frameworks. The review contextualizes Bracke's arguments within broader socio-political and gendered landscapes, questioning the applicability of resilience in contemporary crises and exploring the potential of vulnerability as a tool for social change.