> point in history, however, there is no such thing as "really-existing
> socialism," and the Keynesian State, in my view, has been shown to be a
> dead end (even at the capitalist core, to say nothing of the periphery)
> by history (not just in theory) as well, so I find it pointless to
> predicate one's radicalism upon theoretical oppositions to them, as
> Negri still does.
that doesn't answer my questions at all.
first, the legacy of keynsianism is alive and well in leftist discourse and strategic positionings. it might well be politically hollow in its entirety, but that hasn't stopped people from continuing to share many of its premises conveniently sans the inherent cul de sacs, in particular when it comes to the reinvigorated advocacy of things like full employment, productive versus speculative investment, tripartite planning, etc.
second, at least half of the book you cited more recently (_labour of dionysus_), which is in any case a collection of essays written over a long period, the latter half is concerned with various neo-liberal doctrines of the state (rorty, rawls, communitarianism, etc). it doesn't hold much water to claim, therefore, that negri is only or still repeating a critique of what is a redundant system.
so, i'll ask again: why, for instance, is antistatism an innapropriate strategic and theoretical position within communism at this particular point in history; why is negri's account of keynsianism and really-existing socialism is wrong, etc.
the latter question is hardly redundant from where i sit: even with the collapse of keynsianism, one of the most resilient trends in australian unions is an attempt to return to what is now perceived as the 'golden age' of keynsianism, full employment, etc. with the collapse of the historical premises of that settlement (which themselves should be regarded critically), the only viable politics that arises (and indeed has done so) from within such a trend is a heightened xenophobia as well as a renewed emphasis on conscripted labour -- an emphatic national statism, if you will, that continues to operate within the dichotomies of global versus national, regulation versus deregulation, statism versus capitalism...
which means that the first question is still pertinent, or i would say more pertinent, but in a different way, since what we might call neo-liberalism, by my assessment, is also a form of authoritarian if not xenophobic statism. in that context, it matters whether or not those strategies being proposed by ostensible leftists (or late social democrats) end up as supports for that (see below for the most recent instance).
> As for Hoxha, I don't think I have ever mentioned him in my posts since I
> began to post on sundry e-lists several years ago, since I know very
little
> about him, so I'm mystified that you think you can find an argument that
> "hoxha = good" in my posts.
that's right. my apologies. i confused you with carrol.
> If anything, you might draw an opposite
> (though equally off-the-wall) conclusion from my posts on Yugoslavia.
ahh, yes. that infamous post. do you want to go back there?
Angela _________
ABC News Monday November 22, 1999 *Labor tipped to back refugee visa plan*
The ALP is expected to support new regulations which give refugees a temporary three year visa.
The Australian Democrats will this week move to disallow the rules, but they need the support of the Opposition.
The Government believes the regulations deter boat people from making the journey to Australia.
The Opposition says the rules do not work, but it recognises there could be political fallout if it rejects them.
Queensland [Labor] Premier Peter Beattie says it is time Australia sent a strong message to the world.
"There can't be any doubt in people's minds about what needs to be said," he said.
"If there's any equivocation that will be misinterpreted, I think that Queensland and Western Australia really are keen to send that clear message - it's that simple."
Meanwhile, Queensland's peak rural body claims boat people could pose a serious threat to Australian agriculture by introducing exotic diseases.
AgForce president Larry Acton says people who are sneaking in the backdoor are endangering native animals and Australian agriculture.
He has urged political leaders to move quickly to implement proposed changes to laws affecting refugees.