Assessing depoliticization in LGBTQ+ activism: An analysis of the local organization “Arc” and of its transformative potential

Post-politics scholars identify a systematic depoliticization of social action in post-Cold War neoliberal democracies. However, by rigidly defining political disagreement as inherently antagonistic and disruptive of the given order, this critique largely disregards the plurality of emancipatory action. Moreover, while these claims remain highly theoretical and largely lack empirical considerations, depoliticization tendencies are assumed to be universal. In this sense, the NGO-ization literature has been able to provide real-life examples of dynamics of co-optation, institutionalization, professionalization, and commodification of activism. However, in-depth discussions of these patterns in LGBTQ+ movements are still scarce. Through a case-based qualitative study, this paper provides the theoretical literature with nuanced observations of local-scale LGBTQ+ activism. By exploring practices and strategies employed by the Sardinian organization “Arc” to safeguard its transformative potential, this paper concludes that depoliticization cannot be considered ubiquitous and that social action can only be assessed within specific cultural and socio-political contexts.