ALEC: "This is where _Empire_ seems vague to me, on the first read. If empire is characterised by a conceptual shift from a transcendent sovereign to the plane of immanence (axiomatic), what will keep capital from constant innovation? Does _Empire_ really hold the theoretical coordinates for how the multitude gets the upper hand on capital? It is descriptive rather than prescriptive, but there is the tacit question of what to do."
I think this is a rather good comment by Alec, and I would add:
1) In so far as Negri-Hardt have described something new (however badly or well does not matter) then it is important.
2) In describing something new they necessarily had to use theory differently - some parts which we can scorn perhaps, but not to the extent of throwing out those other parts which had to be modified in order to at least sketch-out the present condition (ie the logical pre-requistes of comprehending a changed situation).
In my view both these points have been critically under-valued by opponants - this has little to do with Negri-Hardt but stems from a rejection that reality has in fact changed and that the same old categories will always remain (a profoundly anti-historical-materialist viewpoint if you ask me).
Greg Schofield Perth Australia g_schofield at dingoblue.net.au _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
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