Description
Book SynopsisIn recent years leaderless social movements have proliferated around the globe, from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe, the Americas, and East Asia. Some of these movements have led to impressive gains: the toppling of authoritarian leaders, the furthering of progressive policy, and checks on repressive state forces. They have also been, at times, derided by journalists and political analysts as disorganized and ineffectual, or suppressed by disoriented and perplexed police forces and governments who fail to effectively engage them. Activists, too, struggle to harness the potential of these horizontal movements. Why have the movements, which address the needs and desires of so many, not been able to achieve lasting change and create a new, more democratic and just society? Some people assume that if only social movements could find new leaders they would return to their earlier glory. Where, they ask, are the new Martin Luther Kings, Rudi Dutschkes, and Stephen Bikos? With the
Trade ReviewThis is an important new statement from two of the most creative thinkers on the left. * Jedediah Purdy, author of After Nature: A Politics for the Anthropocene *
Are you ready for democracy? Assembly argues: don't be scared to remake it. Disturbing the tendency of resistance struggles to become hamstrung by a poverty of organization, Hardt and Negri throw question after question at left political habits and traditions of thought, imagining a New Prince from the multitude and new tools for self-governance. Some of their many propositions may seem questionable and some viscerally right, but all are thoughtful, potentially revelatory, fuel. * Lauren Berlant, author of Cruel Optimism *
This is an impressive, full-fledged pars construens, theoretically sophisticated and politically plausible. Assembly is the crown jewel of an immensely influential production that every cosmopolitan critical thinker simply has to confront. One may disagree with Hardt and Negri, but the motivation for disagreement becomes more and more difficult, one masterpiece after the other. * Ugo Mattei, author of Plunder: When the Rule of Law is Illegal *
A smart and in-depth examination of Marxist politics for a new century... [Assembly] is a fascinating, challenging theoretical journey into a future beyond capitalism. * Publishers Weekly *
A combination of insightful analysis grounded in Marxism and a reasoned look at organizing in the social reality defined by neoliberal capitalism, Assembly is a highly recommended read. * CounterPunch *
Table of ContentsPrefacePart I: The Leadership ProblemChapter 1: Where Have All the Leaders Gone?Chapter 2: Strategy and Tactics of the CentaurChapter 3: Contra Rousseau, or, Pour en Finir avec la SouverainetéChapter 4: The Dark Mirror of Right-Wing MovementsChapter 5: The Real Problem Lies ElsewherePart II: The Social Production of the MultitudeChapter 6: How to Open Property to the CommonChapter 7: We, Machinic SubjectsChapter 8: Weber in ReverseChapter 9: Entrepreneurship of the MultitudePart III: Financial Command and Neoliberal GovernanceChapter 10: Finance Captures Social ValueChapter 11: Money Institutionalizes a Social RelationChapter 12: Neoliberal Administration Out of JointPart IV: New PrinceChapter 13: Political RealismChapter 14: Impossible ReformismChapter 15: And Now What?Chapter 16: PortolanNotesIndex
