AbstractsPolitical Science

Dance and its connection to politics is the central theme of this study. A traditional way of addressing dance or other arts in the context of political research is to view them as supplementary areas of politics. In these studies dance and politics are seen as separate fields that are analysed in a chosen context, e.g. by examining the use of performative means in political campaigns. In this study however an opposite logic is applied; dance is not seen as a means of politics, but brought to the centre of the political as such. The main contribution of the study is to offer a view on how dance can be seen as the general paradigm of all politics. Starting from a praxis view on politics as defined by Hannah Arendt and further elaborated on through the thought of Giorgio Agamben, Jean-Luc Nancy and Alain Badiou, this study shows that dance can be seen as revealing something essential about politics. Along with formulating a prominently theoretical foundation for dance as political, the findings of this study are firmly connected to empirical research; an improvisational dance event concept, Katulavatanssit, is used as a case supporting the construction of the paradigm. The method regarding the case is a qualitative analysis of text and interview material. In addition, a brief history of the birth of modern dance in the US is also presented to highlight some important aspects in the view of dance as the paradigm of politics. One of the central findings of this study is that dance can in fact be seen as corresponding exactly to the definition of politics as a space of praxis or pure means as the product of dance is identical with the performance itself. There is however some room for elaboration here if the actual world of dance is taken into consideration. By introducing the theme of improvisation versus choreography, the paradigm takes a slightly different shape – both the Katulavatanssit case and the brief dance-historical account show that dance is always comprised of two simultaneous tensions: improvisation and choreography. If we in turn use this bipolar paradigm as a lens for viewing politics understood in more conventional terms, it provides a way of analysing to what extent the two tendencies are identifiable in politics. Finally, this study returns to the core of political research by analysing the liberal representative government from the viewpoint of the dance paradigm. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, the means aspect of politics coincides with a so called elitist view on democracy as presented for instance by Joseph Schumpeter. If elections are viewed as a moment of competition for votes, they can be described as a typical form of improvisation with a minimal restraint. On the other hand, this minimally restrained space has been invaded by parties and pressure groups that resemble strict forms of choreographies. Tutkielman lähtökohtana on tanssin kytkös politiikkaan. Perinteisesti tanssia ja muita taiteita on politiikan tutkimuksen yhteydessä käsitelty politiikan kannalta marginaalisina tai…