[lbo-talk] Rhizomatic?

[Chuck0]

Sean Johnson Andrews wrote:
> It is definitely from Deleuze and Guattari, though not just 
> Anti-Oedipus.  It also figures into most of their theory of 
> schizoanalysis, particularly in Thousand Plateaus.  As for why they 
> choose rhizome, it is, as in this sentence, supposed to be opposed to 
> the hierarchy of the "arborescent"  (tree-like, i.e. deep roots, 
> towering structure).  Maybe it's just because they thought the term 
> "Rhizomatic" sounds cool.  You have to admit, as academic terms go, 
> there are some very nice consonants working together in that one. 

The use of the word "rhizome" is fairly common among contemporary 
grassroots activists. After all it is a biological term used to describe 
how some plant species propagate. I use the word to describe my own 
strategy for building movements of social change. Instead of building a 
few top-down organizations, you build up a network of autonomous 
de-centralized organizations which eventually add up to something 
bigger. The anti-globalization movements can be described as 
"rhizomatic". The Zapatistas have their own ways of describing the same 
thing.

Chuck