Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri: Declaration (2012) [English/Russian]

This is not a manifesto. Manifestos provide a glimpse of a world to come and also call into being the subject, who although now only a spector must materialize to become the agent of change. Manifestos work like the ancient prophets, who by the power of their vision create their own people. Today’s social movements have reversed the order, making manifestos and prophets obsolete. Agents of change have already descended into the streets and occupied city squares, not only threatening and toppling rulers but also conjuring visions of a new world. More important, perhaps, the multitudes, through their logics and practices, their slogans and desires, have declared a new set of priciples and truths. How can their declaration become the basis for constituting a new and sustainable society? How can those priciples and truths guide us in reinventing how we relate to each other and our world? In their rebellion, the multitudes must discover the passage from declaration to constitution.

Self-published on 8 May 2012
ISBN: 9780786752911
98 pages

commentary (by Nicholas Mirzoeff)

PDF (PDF; updated on 2013-2-5)
View online, cont. (Russian translation in progress, added on 2013-2-5)