Since 2010 we have been witnessing new ways of assembling, which have made the word »democracy« sound important again. These ways may not have led to the political changes we hoped for. Nevertheless, we are convinced of their importance. This book wants to acknowledge them as a starting point for a new art of being many: the »many« invoke new concepts of collectivity by renegotiating their modes of participation and (self-)presentation and by rewriting rhetorical, choreographical, and material scripts of assembling. This volume is inspired and informed by the square-squattings and neighborhood assemblies of the »real democracy« movements as well as by recent explorations of the assembly form in performance art and participatory theatre.

geheimagentur is an open collective working in performance art, cultural studies, and activism. Martin Jörg Schäfer teaches Literature and Performance Studies at the University of Hamburg, Germany. Vassilis S. Tsianos teaches sociology at the University for Applied Sciences Kiel, Germany.