Yes, we can say that the law of good neighbor can be understood as a rhizomatic connection, particularly if we interpret it through the lens of Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of the rhizome. Let’s break down this idea:
1. Rhizomatic Connections: A Deleuzian Framework
In A Thousand Plateaus, Deleuze and Guattari describe the rhizome as a model of connection, growth, and organization that resists hierarchy and centralization. Key characteristics of rhizomatic systems include:
Non-hierarchical relationships: Rhizomes grow in multiple directions without a single dominant center.
Interconnection and multiplicity: Rhizomes allow for diverse and heterogeneous connections.
Decentralized solidarity: Rhizomes function through mutual interactions rather than top-down structures.
2. The Law of Good Neighbor as Rhizomatic
The law of good neighbor, if conceived as a principle of ethical interrelation and coexistence, aligns closely with rhizomatic principles:
a. Non-hierarchical Reciprocity
The law of good neighbor emphasizes a horizontal ethic, where relationships are based on mutual respect and coexistence rather than domination.
Like the rhizome, it resists structures of power that impose order or control from above, focusing instead on decentralized and organic forms of interaction.
b. Multiplicity of Connections
The good neighbor principle thrives on the multiplicity of connections between people, communities, and environments. It acknowledges that ethical relationships are not confined to binary interactions but extend across networks of mutual interdependence.
A rhizomatic good neighbor ethic would include not only human-to-human relationships but also connections with nature, animals, and ecosystems.
c. Growth through Connection
The law of good neighbor can be seen as a practice of creating and nurturing connections. Like rhizomes, these connections are fluid, dynamic, and adaptable, forming a living network of ethical engagement.
3. Rhizomatic Ethics vs. Arborescent Ethics
Deleuze and Guattari contrast rhizomatic thinking with arborescent structures, which are hierarchical, rigid, and centered on a fixed foundation:
An arborescent view of the good neighbor might impose a rigid, top-down moral code dictating how relationships must function.
In contrast, a rhizomatic view allows for contextual and evolving ethics, where relationships are shaped organically by the needs and dynamics of the network.
4. Examples of Rhizomatic Neighborliness
The law of good neighbor as a rhizomatic principle can manifest in:
Decentralized communities: Cooperative housing, communal living, or grassroots activism where relationships are formed and maintained without central authority.
Global solidarity movements: Networks of mutual aid and support that connect diverse groups across borders in non-hierarchical ways.
Ecosystem ethics: Practices of environmental stewardship that recognize the interconnectedness of all living beings as neighbors in a shared ecological system.
5. Implications for Ethics and Politics
Viewing the law of good neighbor as rhizomatic shifts its focus from rigid rules to dynamic, relational practices:
Ethics becomes a matter of continuous connection and interaction, rather than adherence to universal or fixed norms.
Political action focuses on building networks of solidarity that resist hierarchical power structures and foster mutual support.
Conclusion
Yes, the law of good neighbor can be understood as a rhizomatic connection because it emphasizes non-hierarchical, interconnected, and evolving relationships. This framing resists static moral codes and instead embraces a dynamic, living ethic that grows through multiplicity, reciprocity, and mutual care - mirroring the principles of the rhizome.
