From this perspective, the centre of social movement activity is, thus, no longer the political alternative, but alterity, i.e. the desire of individuals to be different from the system and experience themselves as autonomous subjects. It was noted above that the late-modern dilemma consists in the fact that within the all-embracing system of the market there are no means and opportunities for constructing an autonomous subject and identity. The idea of autonomy demands distinction from and opposition to this system, yet the required tools and spaces do not exist. Social movements, however, offer exactly such a space. The individual and social identity which is performed or enacted within this space is indeed generated by means of distinction from, and opposition to, the system. Social movements and other kinds of non-conventional political articulation can thus be interpreted as offering a supplementary form of identity construction which helps to compensate for the shortcomings of consumption-centred identity formation. They provide late-modern individuals with an opportunity to experience themselves both within (compliant with) and at the same time outside of (in opposition to, i.e. autonomous from) the system. Exactly this is required to escape the late-modern dilemma, and it is the unique characteristic and attractiveness of the theme park. In the sense that the demonstration of autonomy, identity and political agency inside the theme park of radical action allows for full complicity with the status quo outside this arena, it may be described as a post-political and itself consumptive form of political articulation.
the social movement activity is no longer the political alternative, but alterity the desire of individuals to be different from the system and experience themselves as autonomous subjects the late-modern dilemma consists in the fact that within the all-embracing system of the market there are no means and opportunities for constructing an autonomous subject and identity autonomy demands distinction from and opposition to this system, yet the required tools and spaces do not exist Social movements provide late-modern individuals with an opportunity to experience themselves both within (compliant with) and at the same time outside of (in opposition to, i.e. autonomous from) the system that the demonstration of autonomy, identity and political agency inside the theme park of radical action allows for full complicity with the status quo outside this arena as a post-political and itself consumptive form of political articulation