,P>T #c1 ,*APT] #a 
,SOCIAL ,!ORY ,AS ,SCI5CE & ,UTOPIA3 ,OR1 ,DOES ,! ,PROSECT ( A ,G5]AL ,SOCIOLOGICAL ,!ORY ,/ILL ,MEAN ,ANY?+ 9 AN ,AGE ( ,GLOBALIZATION8 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,TEXT 3 

#a -- ,SOCIAL ,!ORY ,AS ,SCI5CE & ,UTOPIA3 OR1 ,DOES ,! ,PROSECT ( A ,G5]AL ,SOCIOLOGICAL ,!ORY ,/ILL ,MEAN ,ANY?+ 9 AN ,AGE ( ,GLOBALIZATION8 

  

,I CAN ADDRESS ! ORGANIZ]S' QUE/IONS FROM TWO POSSIBLE VANTAGES3 AS AN AN?ROPOLOGI/1 OR AS A POLITICAL ACTIVI/ :O HAS BE5 WORK+ = SOME YE>S ) ! GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T 7! SO-CALL$ 0ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T071 :I* HAS BE5 RE=MULAT+ ! :OLE IDEA ( REVOLUTION 9 ACCORD ) *ANG+ GLOBAL CONDITIONS4 ,9 :AT FOLL[S1 ,I WILL TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT ( BO?1 BY (F]+ SOME REFLECTIONS ON ! HI/ORY ( SOCIAL !ORY 9 G5]AL & ITS *ANG+ RELATION TO ! PROSPECTS ( SOCIAL REVOLUTION4.<#b#a.> 

,I'M TAK+ ?IS APPROA* NOT JU/ BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A USEFUL PO9T ( 5TRY1 BUT BECAUSE ,I BELIEVE !RE IS AN 9TEGRAL RELATION BETWE5 ! TWO--OR1 MORE SPECIFICALLY1 BETWE5 ! REVOLUTION>Y IMAG9ATION & ! IDEA ?AT !RE IS SOME?+ ,I WILL CALL 0SOCIAL REALITY0 ?AT BE>S EMPIRICAL 9VE/IGATION1 & ?AT1 !RE=E1 MAKES A S*OL>LY DISCIPL9E LIKE SOCIOLOGY POSSIBLE4 ,?IS ,I ?9K SEEMS ABUNDANTLY CLE> AS SOON AS WE S]I\SLY CONSID] ! HI/ORICAL BEG9N+S ( SOCIAL SCI5CE4 ,LET ME BEG91 !N1 ) SOME BRIEF NOTES ON ! HI/ORY ( COMP>ATIVE E?NOGRAPHY1 BE=E MOV+ ON TO ! ORIG9S ( SOCIOLOGY ITSELF4 

,O,N ,S,O,C,I,A,L ,R,E,A,L,I,T,Y 

  
,SOME ,NOTES ON ! ,HI/ORY ( ,COMP>ATIVE ,E?NOGRAPHY 

  

,IT HAS BECOME FA%IONABLE 9 REC5T YE>S TO SEE AN?ROPOLOGY BASICALLY AS A PRODUCT ( IMP]IALISM1 & C]TA9LY1 IT WAS ! CREATION ( VA/ ,EUROPEAN EMPIRES ?AT MADE IT POSSIBLE4 ,H[EV]1 !RE HAVE BE5 PL5TY ( MULTICULTURAL EMPIRES 9 HUMAN HI/ORY1 & NONE1 AS F> AS WE KN[1 HAD EV] BE=E PRODUC$ A PROJECT = ! SY/EMATIC COMP>ISON ( CULTURAL DIFF]5CE4 ,EV5 IF WE CONF9E \RSELVES TO ! ,WE/]N TRADITION ITSELF1 :AT EVID5CE !RE IS PO9TS1 IF ANY?+1 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION4 ,9 ! ANCI5T WORLD1 ONE C\LD MAKE A CASE ?AT SOME?+ LIKE AN?ROPOLOGY WAS EM]G+ 9 FIF?-C5TURY ,GREECE1 :]E GEOGRAPH]S LIKE ,HECATAEUS & HI/ORIANS LIKE ,H]ODOTUS W]E DEVELOP+ IDEAS AB\T H[ CU/OMS & MORES MI<T BE SY/EMATICALLY COMP>$4 ,?IS WAS DUR+ A P]IOD 9 :I* ! ,GREEK WORLD WAS NOT EV5 POLITICALLY UNIFI$1 LET ALONE ! C5T] ( A VA/ MULTICULTURAL EMPIRE4 ,:5 SU* EMPIRES DID >ISE %ORTLY AFT]W>DS1 ?IS SORT ( LIT]ATURE DISAPPE>$3 NEI!R ! ,HELL5I/IC EMPIRES NOR ,ROME PRODUC$ ANY?+ RESEMBL+ AN?ROPOLOGY4 ,! REASONABLE EXPLANATION W\LD SEEM TO BE ?AT FIF?-C5TURY ,GREECE WAS A P]IOD ( POLITICAL POSSIBILITY3 FULL ( SOCIAL EXP]IM5TS1 REVOLUTIONS1 & UTOPIAN S*EMES4 ,COMP>+ SOCIAL ORD]S WAS ONE WAY TO DISCUSS ! POT5TIAL RANGE = POLITICAL 7?AT IS1 HUMAN7 SOCIETY4 ,?IS CLE>LY WAS NOT ! CASE DUR+ ! C5TURIES ( ,ROMAN RULE4 ,9 FACT1 IT W\LD SEEM IT WAS ! V]Y POLITICAL FRAGM5TATION ( FIF?-C5TURY ,GREECE :I* 5C\RAG$ ?IS K9D ( ?\<T4 ,S9CE ! BASIC POLITICAL UNIT WAS ! CITY-/ATE1 A RELATIVELY SMALL COMMUNITY1 ! SPACE = POLITICAL EXP]IM5TS WAS 9 FACT WIDE OP53 NEW ,GREEK COLONIES1 & H5CE POLITICAL UNITS1 W]E 9 FACT BE+ F\ND$ ALL ! TIME1 NEW CON/ITUTIONS BE+ MULL$ & CREAT$1 OLD REGIMES OV]?R[N4 

,SIMIL>LY1 ,I SUSPECT ?AT IT W\LD BE POSSIBLE TO DOCUM5T AT LEA/ A LOOSE CONNECTION BETWE5 E?NOGRAPHIC CURIOSITY & A S5SE ( POLITICAL POSSIBILITY OV] ! LA/ FIVE HUNDR$ YE>S ( ,EUROPEAN HI/ORY4 ,ONE C\LD />T 9 ! SIXTE5? C5TURY1 :I* SAW BO? ! FIR/ /ATEM5TS ( :AT WAS TO BECOME MOD]N RELATIVISM 9 AU?ORS LIKE ,MONTAIGNE1 & A SUDD5 BUR/ ( UTOPIAN SPECULATION & REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS4 ,DUR+ ! C5TURY ?AT FOLL[$ BO? ! CURIOSITY & ! S5SE ( POSSIBILITY FELL SOME:AT 9TO RETREAT 9 MO/ PLACES1 ONLY TO BE SUDD5LY REVIV$ TOGE!R 9 ! YE>S LEAD+ UP TO ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION4 ,?IS WAS FOLL[$ BY ANO!R RETREAT DUR+ ! REACTION>Y YE>S FOLL[+ ,NAPOLEON'S DEFEAT1 & ANO!R1 EV5 /RONG] REVIVAL AFT] ! REVOLUTIONS ( #a#h#d#h4 ,IT WAS ! LA/ P]IOD ?AT SAW ! EM]G5CE ( AN?ROPOLOGY AS A PR(ESSIONAL DISCIPL9E4 

,I HAVE ELSE:]E PO9T$ TO A CLU/] ( IDEAS ?AT T5D TO APPE> TOGE!R3 ! V]Y IDEA ?AT ONE MI<T 0GIVE P[] TO ! IMAG9ATION10 AS ! FAM\S #aifh SLOGAN HAD IT1 TO IMAG9E DIFF]5T SOCIAL ORD]S & TRY TO BR+ !M 9TO BE+1 ITSELF LEADS TO A NE$ TO RECOGNIZE A SUB/RATUM ( RESI/ANT 0REALITY0 ( SOME SORT 7:I* MU/ !N BE 9VE/IGAT$71 ALONG ) SP>K+ CURIOSITY AB\T JU/ H[ DIFF]5T ACTUALLY EXI/+ SOCIETIES HAVE BE5 KN[N TO BE4 ,IMAG9ATION & REALITY >E REV]SE SIDES ( ! SAME PROCESS2 A CONCEPTION 9 P>T 9SPIR$ BY ,CRITICAL ,REALISM'S DEF9ITION ( 0REALITY0 AS PRECISELY ?AT :I* CAN NEV] BE COMPLETELY KN[N &1 H5CE1 NEV] 5TIRELY 5COMPASS$ BY IMAG9>Y MODELS4 ,IT W\LD AT LEA/ MAKE IT EASI] TO UND]/& :Y SO MANY ( ! MO/ IDEALI/IC PEOPLE 9 REC5T HI/ORY HAVE 9SI/$ ON CALL+ !MSELVES 0MAT]IALI/S10 OR :Y A COMMITM5T TO SOME SORT ( MAT]IALISM HAS SO (T5 ACCOMPANI$ ! MO/ D>+ UTOPIAN PROJECTS4 ,ALSO1 :Y IT WAS ?AT ALL ?REE PR9CIPLES 7REVOLUTION1 REALITY1 E?NOGRAPHY7 CAME UND] ATTACK SIMULTANE\SLY DUR+ ! #a#i#hS4 

,ON ,SOCIOLOGY & ,WRECKAGE 

  

,TURN+ TO SOCIOLOGY1 ALL ?IS BECOMES1 IF ANY?+1 MORE CLE> BECAUSE SOCIOLOGY IS WIDELY SE5 TO HAVE EM]G$1 AS A DISCIPL9E1 FROM ! WRECKAGE ( ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION4 ,AS ,ROB]T ,NISBET PO9T$ \T HALF A C5TURY AGO1 ALMO/ ALL ! GREAT !MES ON :I* ! DISCIPL9E WAS E/ABLI%$--COMMUNITY1 AU?ORITY1 /ATUS1 ! SACR$--W]E ISSUES FIR/ S+L$ \T BY REACTION>Y CRITICS ( ! ,REVOLUTION LIKE ,BONALD1 ,BURKE1 OR DE ,MAI/RE1 :O >GU$ !SE W]E PRECISELY ! SOCIAL REALITIES :I* ,5LI<T5M5T ?9K]S HAD TREAT$ AS SO MANY BAD IDEAS ?AT C\LD BE SIMPLY BRU%$ AWAY1 ) CATA/ROPHIC RESULTS4 ,! !MES W]E !N DEVELOP$ MORE SY/EMATICALLY BY FIGURES LIKE ,SA9T-,SIMON & ,COMTE1 :O W]E GRAPPL+ QUITE EXPLICITLY ) ! QUE/ION ( :AT W5T WRONG1 & TRY+ TO F9D SOME SUB/ITUTE = ! PR9CIPLES ( ORD] & 9TEGRATION ASSUM$ TO HAVE EXI/$ 9 ! ,MIDDLE ,AGES4 ,!Y HAVE REMA9$ AT ! C5T] ( ! DISCIPL9E EV] S9CE4 

,! ,REVOLUTION'S TR\BLES1 ! FAILURE TO TRANS=M BASIC 9/ITUTIONS SIMPLY BY *ANG+ ! LAWS1 W]E P]CEIV$ TO HAVE REVEAL$ ! EXI/5CE ( SOME?+ ?AT1 :ILE IT WAS NO LONG] SE5 AS HAV+ BE5 SIMPLY ORDA9$ BY ,GOD OR SOME SIMIL> EXT]NAL PR9CIPLE ( AU?ORITY1 C\LD NO LONG] BE SE5 AS A SIMPLE CREATION OR EMBODIM5T ( 9DIVIDUAL OR COLLECTIVE WILL4 ,IT SEEM$ TO RESI/ ATTEMPTS TO RE%APE IT1 OR AT LEA/ ?R[ !M 9 UNPR$ICTABLE DIRECTIONS4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 ?IS 0SOME?+0 HAD A CONSI/5CY & LOGIC ( ITS [N ?AT HAD TO BE UND]/OOD 9 ITS [N RI<T1 & C\LD BE SCI5TIFICALLY 9VE/IGAT$4 ,?AT OBJECT--SOME?+ :I* C\LD BE SAID NOT TO HAVE REALLY EXI/$1 AS AN OBJECT1 OR AT LEA/ AS QUITE ?AT SORT ( OBJECT1 BE=E IT BECAME ! RESI/ANT OBJECT ( PROJECTS ROOT$ 9 SOME K9D ( UTOPIAN IMAG9>Y--HAS REMA9$ ! OBJECT ( SOCIOLOGY EV] S9CE4 

,[+ TO ! PECULI> HI/ORY ( ! =MATION ( DISCIPL9ES1 H[EV]1 IT WAS ALSO SE5 AS AN OBJECT :OSE 9TEGRITY1 :OSE CONSI/5CY & LOGIC1 HAD BE5 AT LEA/ TO SOME DEGREE %ATT]$4 

,H]E ! KEY ROLE WAS PLAY$ BY POLITICAL ECONOMY 7LAT] ECONOMICS7 :I* SPLIT (F FROM MORAL PHILOSOPHY BE=E SOCIOLOGY E/ABLI%$ ITS [N1 SOME:AT SUBORD9ATE1 DOMA94 ,?IS ALL[$ = ! DEVELOPM5T ( A V]Y P>TICUL> DIVISION ( 9TELLECTUAL LABOR4 ,ECONOMICS CONC]N$ ITSELF ) ! FUNCTION+ ( M>KETS & M>KET BEHAVIOR4 ,M>KETS W]E ASSUM$ TO BE SELF-REGULAT+4 ,! OBJECT ( ECONOMIC SCI5CE MI<T HAVE BE5 CON/ITUT$1 AS ,POLANYI SO WELL DOCUM5T$1 L>GELY BY /ATE PLANN+1 BY ! IMPOSITION ( AN APP>ATUS ( LAWS & POLICIES MEANT TO CREATE A CREATE ! FIELD = C]TA9 SORTS ( 9T]ACTION1 BUT 7AS ,POLANYI ALSO NOT$7 ALMO/ AS SOON AS ! APP>ATUS WAS 9 ANY S5SE UP & RUNN+ ECONOMIC !ORI/S APPE>$1 EMPLOY+ ALL SORTS ( NATURALI/IC METAPHORS TO >GUE ?AT ?IS WAS 9DE$ A FUNCTION+ EQUILIBRIUM SY/EM & A DIRECT PRODUCT ( HUMAN NATURE ?AT %\LD BE LEFT L>GELY TO ITS [N DEVICES4 ,CRITICALLY1 TOO1 ECONOMICS /AK$ \T = ITSELF ! /UDY ( RATIONALITY1 BY ID5TIFY+ ! T]M PRIM>ILY ) C]TA9 =MS ( CALCULAT+ GRE$4 ,SOCIOLOGY1 9 CONTRA/1 C\LD ALMO/ BE SAID TO BE BAS$ ON ! /UDY ( PRECISELY ?OSE 0EXT]NALITIES0 ?AT HAVE TO PU%$ AWAY FROM ! PURVIEW ( ECONOMICS 9 ORD] TO BE ABLE TO DEF9E ! LATT] FIELD 9 EQUILIBRIUM T]MS TO BEG9 )4 ,! FIR/ SOCIOLOGY DEP>TM5TS W]E RECRUIT$ L>GELY FROM ! /AFFS ( SOCIAL RE=M SOCIETIES2 BY M5 :O BY DEF9ITION BELIEV$ ! EXI/+ /ATE ( ?+S TO BE 9ADEQUATE 7OR IF NOT G5]ALLY1 !N AT LEA/ AMONG ! POPUL> CLASSES72 IT HAS MA9TA9$ ITSELF L>GELY BECAUSE ( A CONC]N ) 0SOCIAL PROBLEMS03 CRIME1 DIVORCE1 POV]TY1 RELIGI\S CONFLICT1 ETC4 ,! ASSUMPTION WAS ALWAYS ?AT SOME?+ WAS MO/ DEF9ITIVELY NOT 9 EQUILIBRIUM2 SOME?+ WASN'T WORK+ ?AT C\LD HAVE OR %\LD HAVE BE54 ,SOLID>ITY1 CONS5SUS1 AU?ORITY1 COLLECTIVE SPIRIT1 COMMUNITY1 H[EV] DEF9$1 W]E 9COMPLETE OR ABS5T4 ,& ?IS WAS USUALLY SE5 AS P>T & P>CEL ) SOME K9D ( CRISIS ( RATIONALITY4 ,AGA91 ?IS IS ALL V]Y EXPLICIT 9 ! WORKS ( MO/ ( ! F\ND+ FIGURES & HAS CONT9U$1 IF (T5 MORE TACITLY1 TO FRAME SUBSEQU5T DEBATE4 

,N[1 ! ACTUAL POLITICAL POSITIONS ( SOCIAL !ORI/S V>I$ 5ORM\SLY4 ,REVOLUTION>IES LIKE ,M>X W]E EXCEPTIONAL2 LIB]AL RE=M]S LIKE ,DURKHEIM OR NATIONALI/S LIKE ,WEB] MORE ! RULE4 ,BUT ,I W\LD >GUE ?AT ! WORLD ?AT REVOLUTION U%]$ 9--ONE 9 :I* IT WAS ASSUM$ TO BE POSSIBLE1 ON SOME LEVEL1 TO ACT ON SOCIETY AS AN OBJECT1 TO BR+ IT MORE 9 ACCORD ) SOME UTOPIAN IMAG9>Y--5D$ UP BECOM+ P]MAN5T4 ,NOT ONLY WAS ! POSSIBILITY ( \TRI<T1 BATTLES-9-!-/REETS REVOLUTION SE5 AS EV]-PRES5T DUR+ MO/ ( ?IS TIME1 ITS DYNAMIC BECAME 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ 9 ! /RUCTURE ( GOV]NM5TS & RELAT$ ORGANIZATIONS1 ALL ( :I* SAW SOCIETY BASICALLY AS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLV$4 ,?IS WAS ! SITUATION ?AT ALL[$ :AT ,I HAVE BE5 CALL+ 0SOCIAL REALITY07OR :AT !Y W]E MORE LIKELY TO CALL 0SOCIAL REALITIES07 TO CONT9UE TO SEEM LIKE SOME?+ ?AT OBVI\SLY DID EXI/ & ?AT !Y %\LD C>E AB\T--A SELF-EVID5T OBJECT ( /UDY4 ,SOME MI<T >GUE ?AT ALL ?IS IS ULTIMATELY IRRELEVANT1 S9CE :ATEV] MI<T HAVE ULTIMATELY 9SPIR$ SOCIAL !ORI/S TO EXAM9E SU* MATT]S1 ! PO9T IS :AT !Y CAME UP )1 & :AT !Y CAME UP ) WAS A RELATIVELY OBJECTIVE SCI5CE ( SOCIAL EXPLANATION4 ,BUT IT'S H>D TO F9D ANY SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL !ORI/S1 EV5 9 ! N9ETE5? C5TURY1 :O ACTUALLY BELIEV$ ?AT4 ,:AT MADE ,M>X & ,WEB] ! MO/ PR(\ND SOCIAL ?9K]S ( !IR AGE IS PRECISELY ?AT !Y GRAPPL$ MO/ DIRECTLY ) ! QUE/ION ( H[ TO DEAL ) ! FACT ?AT AN OBJECTIVE SOCIAL SCI5CE REALLY WASN'T POSSIBLE--?AT ! IDEA ?AT IT WAS WAS ITSELF PR(\NDLY UTOPIAN4 ,! SOLUTIONS !Y CAME UP ) W]E V]Y DIFF]5T 7,M>X >GU+ ?AT !ORIZ+ AB\T ! WORLD WAS ITSELF A =M ( POLITICAL ACTION ?AT C\LD ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO EI!R MA9TA9+ OR TRANS=M+ ! OBJECT IT WAS !ORIZ+2 ,WEB] >GU+ ?AT1 :ILE ! QUE/IONS WE ASK AB\T ! WORLD CAN NEV] BE OBJECTIVE1 \R MEANS ( ANSW]+ !M CAN--BUT ?AT BE=E WE WILL EV] BE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE OBJECTIVE KN[L$GE1 ! QUE/IONS WILL HAVE *ANG$71 BUT !Y DIRECTLY ADDRESS ! PROBLEM4 ,ONE MI<T EV5 >GUE ?AT IT WAS ! FAILURE ( SOCIOLOGI/S LIKE ,DURKHEIM TO FACE UP TO !IR [N AMBIVAL5T SITUATION AS RESE>*]S1 CLOSELY TI$ TO ADM9I/RATIVE CIRCLES1 :I* DROVE !M TO EFFECTIVELY NATURALIZE ! PROBLEM BY TAK+ IT D[N TO ! 9DIVIDUAL LEVEL--:]E 9DIVIDUAL1 W\LD-BE ECONOMIC ACTORS 7PRESUMABLY MOTIVAT$ MA9LY BY SOME =M ( SELF-9T]E/7 5D$ UP FAC+ 0SOCIAL FACTS0 PRECISELY AS EXT]NAL1 CON/RA9+ REALITIES4 ,BUT ?IS IS A LONG >GUM5T4 

,!RE >E TWO 9T]E/+ COROLL>IES TO ALL ?IS3 

,CURI\SLY1 ! MO/ P[]FUL ANALYZES ( SY/EMS ?AT DO1 EFFECTIVELY1 :AT !Y >E SUPPOS$ TO DO HAVE EM]G$ FROM COLLAPS$ RADICAL HOPES3 ESPECIALLY =M] ,M>XI/S1 OR O!RS WORK+ 9 ?AT CRITICAL TRADITION1 :O GRADUALLY GAVE UP !IR FAI? ?AT ! SY/EM'S 9T]NAL CONTRADICTIONS W\LD SOM$AY DE/ROY IT4 ,H5CE1 FIGURES LIKE ,BAUDRILL>D OR ,F\CAULT PROVIDE MODELS 7IF V]Y DIFF]5T ONES7 ( SY/EMS ( P[] & DOM9ATION ?AT >E1 ULTIMATELY1 9ELUCTABLE & ALL-5COMPASS+--?AT IS1 :I* DO 9 FACT WORK4 

,IT'S ALSO 9T]E/+ TO NOTE ?AT AN?ROPOLOGY PROV$ ! GREAT EXCEPTION H]E--UND]/&ABLY1 IF MY >GUM5T AB\T ! S\RCES ( E?NOGRAPHIC CURIOSITY IS SUB/ANTIALLY CORRECT4 ,AT LEA/1 = MO/ ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY1 IT DID L>GELY ADOPT EQUILIBRIUM MODELS & SAW ITS OBJECT1 :E!R SOCIAL OR CULTURAL1 AS A S]IES ( SMALL1 SELF-CONTA9$ SY/EMS :I* DID1 9 FACT1 0FUNCTION40 ,&1 AS IF TO MAKE ! 9V]SION P]FECT1 ?IS WAS COMPLEM5T$ BY A SPECIAL BRAN* ( ECONOMICS--DEVELOPM5T ECONOMICS--TO /UDY ECONOMIC SY/EMS ?AT DID NOT WORK4 

,Q,U,E,/,I,O,N,S ,A,B,\,T ,G,L,O,B,A,L,I,Z,A,T,I,O,N 

  

,IF SOCIAL REALITY ONLY BECOMES AN OBJECT 79DE$1 ONLY BECOMES A REALITY7 9 ! FACE ( SOME IMAG9>Y :I* TRIES TO %APE IT--( :I* ! P>ADIGM1 ,I HAVE >GU$1 IS REVOLUTION--!N IT MAKES IT EASI] TO UND]/& :Y GLOBALIZATION HAS LEFT SOCIOLOGY ) SU* AN 0ID5TITY CRISIS40 ,IT IS NOT JU/ BECAUSE ! IMM$IATE ONSET ( GLOBALIZATION SAW :AT APPE>$ TO BE /RANGE & UNPREC$5T$ REALIGNM5TS1 ) FREE-M>KET ECONOMI/S SUDD5LY POS+ AS WILD-EY$ REVOLUTION>IES 7BY >\ND #b1 ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES OP-$ WRIT]S W]E F]V5TLY 9SI/+ ?AT ,*E ,GUEV>A1 W]E HE ALIVE TODAY1 W\LD C]TA9LY BE A FREE-M>KET RE=M]1 JU/ = ! %E] JOY ( RADICAL TRANS=MATION74 ,ALL ?AT WAS ! PRODUCT ( ONE GIDDY MOM5T ?AT FAD$ ALMO/ IMM$IATELY4 ,IT IS BECAUSE ! !AT] = POT5TIAL REVOLUTION1 JU/ LIKE ?AT ( MORE MODE/ PROJECTS ( SOCIAL RE=M1 HAD ALWAYS BE5 ! /ATE4 ,IF UTOPIAN DREAMS W]E BR\<T TO BE> ON SOME /UBBORN SOCIAL REALITY1 IT WAS ALWAYS ASSUM$--USUALLY )\T EV5 HAV+ TO /ATE IT1 SO MU* WAS IT ! V]Y BASIS ( ,LEFT1 ,RI<T1 LIB]AL1 RADICAL1 & CONS]VATIVE ?\<T--?AT ?IS C\LD ONLY BE ACCOMPLI%$ ?R\< ! CO]CIVE ME*ANISMS ( GOV]NM5T4 ,AS ,IMMANUEL ,WALL]/E9 HAS BE5 >GU+ = SOME YE>S N[1 WE SEEM TO BE WITNESS+ ! DEA? ( A K9D ( TACIT AGREEM5T AB\T ! NATURE ( POLITICS ?AT HAS EXI/$ S9CE R\<LY ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION4 ,?IS HAS RE/$1 HE SAYS1 ON ?REE ASSUMPTIONS4 ,! FIR/ IS ?AT SOCIAL *ANGE IS 9EVITABLE &1 AT LEA/ IF PROP]LY MANAG$1 GOOD4 ,! SECOND IS ?AT ! APPROPRIATE ME*ANISM TO MANAGE SOCIAL *ANGE IS ! /ATE4 ,! ?IRD IS ?AT ! /ATE APP>ATUS D]IVES ITS LEGITIMACY1 ITS RI<T TO DO SO1 FROM AN 5TITY REF]R$ TO AS 0! PEOPLE40 ,9 #a#g#b1 V]Y FEW $UCAT$ ,EUROPEANS W\LD HAVE AGRE$ ) ANY ( !SE /ATEM5TS4 ,BY #a#h#b1 JU/ AB\T EV]YONE HAD TO AT LEA/ PAY LIP S]VICE4 ,:AT'S MORE1 SOCIAL !ORY AS WE KN[ IT DEVELOP$ ALMO/ 5TIRELY )9 ?IS FRAMEWORK4 ,IT'S ONLY 9 REC5T DECADES1 HE NOTES1 ?AT WE HAVE SE5 SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS ( ! GLOBAL $UCAT$ CLASSES MOV+ AWAY FROM !SE POSITIONS4 ,BUT AS !Y DO SO1 N[ ?AT ! /ATE IS NOT ASSUM$ AS ONE'S IMPLICIT PO9T ( REF]5CE FROM :I* TO GAZE D[N AT /UBBORN REALITIES1 IT IS NO LONG] CLE> :AT ?AT 0RESI/ANT OBJECT0 IS EV5 SUPPOS$ TO BE4 

,9 ?IS SECTION1 !N1 ,I WILL MAKE TWO >GUM5TS4 ,! FIR/ HAS TO DO ) ! 9ADEQUACY ( \R EXI/+ !ORETICAL TOOLS1 P>TICUL>LY1 ! NE$ = A R5EWAL ( HI/ORICAL SOCIOLOGY4 ,)\T ?IS1 WE CAN'T S]I\SLY BEG9 TO ?9K AB\T :AT IS EV5 HAPP5+ 9 ! WORLD4 ,SECOND1 ,I WANT TO SUGGE/ ?AT RA!R ?AN DISAPPE>+ AS A POLITICAL HORIZON1 REVOLUTION>Y PROJECTS >E BE+ R5EW$ & RECON/ITUT$ ALONG NEW L9ES 7OR1 MORE ACCURATELY1 P]HAPS1 ?R\< ! MATURATION ( SOME PREVI\SLY SUBORD9ATE REVOLUTION>Y /R&S74 ,?IS FACT MI<T ITSELF PO9T US T[>D A POSSIBLE RESOLUTION1 NOT ONLY ( ! PROBLEM ( H[ TO CON/ITUTE ONE'S OBJECT UND] NEW CONDITIONS1 BUT ( H[ SOCIAL !ORY MI<T BE ORGANIZ$ ITSELF4 

,CONCEPTUALIZ+ ! ,MOM5T 

  

,! MO/ /RIK+ ?+ REVEAL$ BY SOCIOLOGY'S ID5TITY CRISIS 9 ! FACE ( GLOBALIZATION IS ! REM>KABLY WEAK /ATE ( HI/ORICAL SOCIOLOGY1 :OSE MAJOR /R&S 7,M>XI/ & ,WEB]IAN7 SEEM TO HAVE L>GELY DIS9TEGRAT$ AT EXACTLY ! MOM5T WE MO/ NE$ !M4 

,LET ME TAKE ONE VIVID EXAMPLE3 ! QUE/ION ( GLOBAL CITIZ5%IP4 

,?IS IS AN ISSUE ?AT COMES UP QUITE A LOT N[ADAYS3 SOMETIMES )9 ! NEOLIB]AL FRAMEWORK &1 EV5 MORE1 BECAUSE IT IS A V]Y COMMON DEM& AMONG NEW SOCIAL MOVEM5TS CALL+ = GLOBAL FRE$OM ( MOVEM5T4 ,BUT :AT EXACTLY W\LD GLOBAL CITIZ5%IP MEAN8 ,! MO/ COMMON OBJECTION TO ! IDEA IS ?AT ANY SU* NOTION W\LD IMPLY SOME K9D ( GLOBAL /ATE1 & ?IS IS ! LA/ ?+ MO/ ( ?OSE CALL+ = IT W\LD WANT TO SEE4 ,SO1 !N1 ! QUE/ION BECOMES H[ TO !ORIZE A CITIZ5%IP AP>T FROM ! /ATE8 ,?IS IS (T5 TREAT$ AS A PR(\ND1 P]HAPS 9SUP]ABLE PROBLEM4 ,BUT1 IF ONE CONSID]S ! MATT] HI/ORICALLY1 IT IS A BIT ODD ?AT IT %\LD4 ,MOD]N ,WE/]N NOTIONS ( CITIZ5%IP & POLITICAL FRE$OMS >E USUALLY SE5 TO D]IVE FROM TWO TRADITIONS1 ONE ORIG9AT+ 9 ANCI5T ,A!NS1 ! O!R PRIM>ILY /EMM+ FROM ,M$IEVAL ,5GL& 7:]E IT T5DS TO BE TRAC$ BACK TO ! ASS]TION ( >I/OCRATIC PRIVILEGE AGA9/ ! ,CR[N 9 ! ,MAGNA ,C>TA1 ,PETITION ( ,RI<T1 ETC41 & !N ! GRADUAL EXT5SION ( !SE SAME RI<TS TO ! RE/ ( ! POPULATION74 ,9 FACT1 !RE IS NO CONS5SUS AMONG HI/ORIANS ?AT EI!R CLASSICAL ,A!NS OR ,M$IEVAL ,5GL& W]E /ATES AT ALL--&1 MOREOV]1 PRECISELY = ! REASON ?AT CITIZ5S' RI<TS 79 ! FIR/7 & >I/OCRATIC PRIVILEGE 79 ! SECOND7 W]E SO /RONG4 

,9 O!R WORDS1 \R V]Y ABILITY TO ?9K AB\T ! PRES5T IS HOBBL$ BY \R LACK ( CATEGORIES ) :I* TO TALK AB\T ! PA/4 ,IF !SE W]E NOT /ATES1 OR /ATES 9 ! CLASSIC S5SE1 :AT W]E !Y8 ,A !ORY ( COMPLEX POLITICAL 5TITIES ?AT >E NOT /ATES IS ALMO/ COMPLETELY LACK+4 ,H[ C\LD ONE TALK AB\T RI<TS & RESPONSIBILITIES 9 ! ABS5CE ( A /ATE8 ,AGA91 IT'S H>D TO KN[ :]E TO />T4 

,SU* QUE/IONS SEEM ALL ! MORE PRESS+ AT A MOM5T :5 MANY ( !SE OLD] =MS--CITY-/ATES1 = EXAMPLE1 OR COMPLEX OV]LAPP+ =MS ( SOV]EIGNTY REM9ISC5T ( FEUDALISM--SEEM TO BE REEM]G+4 ,H]E1 IT MI<T BE USEFUL TO CONSID] ! NOTION ( ! T]RITORIAL NATION-/ATE1 :I* SO EXCIT$ ,EUROPEANS ( ! SEV5TE5? C5TURY3 A S+LE /ATE EMBRAC+ A S+LE PEOPLE :O SPOKE ! SAME COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE1 :I* WAS ALSO ! LANGUAGE ( HI< CULTURE & A NATIONAL LIT]ATURE2 AN EFFICI5T BUREAUCRACY *OS5 BY M]IT & $UCAT$ 9 ?AT LIT]ATURE1 ADM9I/]+ A UNI=M SY/EM ( LAWS4 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ?IS C\LD BE/ BE SE5 AS AN ATTEMPT BY ,EUROPEAN /ATES TO MODEL !MSELVES ON ,*9A4 ,! ,*9ESE EMPIRE WAS1 C]TA9LY1 ! ONLY /ATE ?AT EXI/$ 9 ! SEV5TE5? C5TURY ?AT 9 ANY WAY RESEMBL$ ?IS MODEL2 SURELY IT DID F> MORE ?AN ANY?+ ?AT EXI/$ 9 ,EUROPE AT ! TIME4 ,!RE WAS GOOD REASON = ,LEIBNIZ TO WRITE ?AT ! ,MIDDLE ,K+DOM %\LD BE S5D+ MISSION>IES TO ,EUROPE RA!R ?AN ! O!R WAY >\ND4 ,ONE MI<T >GUE ?AT1 UNTIL FAIRLY REC5TLY1 9S(> AS ?OSE NATIONAL B\RGEOISIES :O W]E CREAT+ MOD]N CAPITALISM HAD A POLITICAL PROJECT1 IT WAS TO TRANS=M !IR /ATES 9TO SOME?+ RESEMBL+ ,*9A1 M9US ! EMP]OR & CLAIMS TO UNIV]SALITY4 ,!Y 5VISION$1 9/EAD1 A S]IES ( SMALL1 EQUAL /ATES ORGANIZ$ ON ESS5TIALLY ,*9ESE L9ES4 ,( C\RSE1 ?R\< COLONIALISM1 ?IS ,EUROPEAN V]SION ( ! ,*9ESE MODEL 5D$ UP BE+ IMPOS$ ON PRETTY MU* EV]Y O!R C\NTRY 9 ! WORLD1 9CLUD+--BELAT$LY--,*9A ITSELF1 PROVID+ ! PRETEXT = ! CREATION ( ! 9T]/ATE SY/EM ( BORD] CONTROLS :I* IS P]HAPS COLONIALISM'S MO/ LA/+ POLITICAL LEGACY4 ,?IS SY/EM ( BORD] CONTROLS1 9 TURN1 IS H>DLY DISSOLV+ ) GLOBALIZATION4 

,IT HAS BECOME POPUL>1 ( C\RSE1 TO SAY ?AT IT IS1 TO TALK AS IF ! GR[? ( TRADE & MIGRATION >E MAK+ NATIONAL BORD]S 9CREAS+LY IRRELEVANT4 ,LOOK AT ! SAME SITUATION 9 T]MS ( ! LA/ FIVE HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,IT'S EASY TO SEE ?AT1 :ILE WORLD TRADE HAS 9CREAS$ SOME:AT1 OV]ALL MIGRATION RATES >E NO?+ LIKE :AT !Y W]E ONE 7LET ALONE TWO OR ?REE7 HUNDR$ YE>S AGO1 & ! ONLY ELEM5T ?AT'S 5TIRELY NEW H]E IS ! PRES5CE ( ! BORD]S !MSELVES4 ,! MOD]N 09T]/ATE SY/EM10 :I* C>VES UP ! E>? ?R\< ?\S&S ( HI<LY PATROLL$ & REGULAT$ BORD]S1 WAS ONLY FULLY COMPLET$ QUITE REC5TLY2 & F> FROM BE+ EAT5 AWAY BY GLOBALIZATION1 9/ITUTIONS LIKE ! ,I,M,F OR ,W,T,O >E 5TIRELY PREMIS$ ON IT4 ,! NUMB] ( >M$ M5 PATROLL+ ! ,U,S BORD] ) ,MEXICO HAS TRIPL$ OR EV5 QUADRUPL$ S9CE ! SIGN+ ( ,N,A,F,T,A2 BE=E IT1 NO ONE WAS EV5 CONSID]+ ! IDEA ( RE9=C+ ! BORD] ) A GIANT WALL4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 ! DECL9E ( ! 0,*9ESE MODEL0 HAS ALL[$ PH5OM5A TO REEM]GE :I* W\LD HAVE LOOK$1 JU/ FIFTY YE>S AGO1 BIZ>RELY ANTIQUAT$3 E4G41 NEW ZONES ( P]MAN5T L[-9T5SITY W>F>E1 SU* AS W]E TYPICAL ( P>T ( ,R5AISSANCE ,EUROPE2 ! RISE ( M]CANTILE CITY-/ATES2 ! REEM]G5CE ( ESS5TIALLY FEUDAL RELATIONS />T+ 9 MU* ( ! =M] ,COMMUNI/ WORLD2 ! P>CELIZATION ( SOV]EIGNTY1 :]EBY ! ELEM5TS WE HAVE COME TO ?9K ( AS NATURALLY COMB9$ 9 ! /ATE >E 9/EAD BROK5 UP & DI/RIBUT$ TO DIFF]5T 9/ITUTIONS ON TOTALLY DIFF]5T GEOGRAPHICAL SCALES4 ,A M]*ANT 9 M$IEVAL ,ANTW]P = EXAMPLE HAD TO DEAL ) ! LOCAL GOV]NM5T1 CRIM9AL LAW1 PROP]TY LAW1 & RELIGI\S 7:AT WE'D N[ CALL 0SOCIAL07 LAW ALL 9VE/$ 9 RADICALLY DIFF]5T 5TITIES3 A LOCAL FEUDAL LORD1 ! ,POPE1 ! ,EMP]OR4 ,A M]*ANT 9 CONTEMPOR>Y ,ANTW]P F9DS HIMSELF 9CREAS+LY 9 MU* ! SAME SITUATION1 EV5 IF ! 5TITIES >E N[ LOCAL GOV]NM5T1 ! ,E,U1 & ! ,W,T,O4 ,SOME EV5 SPEAK ( 0NEO-,M$IEVALISM40 ,ADMITT$LY1 ?IS IS A SOME:AT ECC5TRIC VIEW1 & IT MI<T WELL TURN \T TO BE COMPLETELY MISCONCEIV$4 ,I AM ?R[+ IT \T MA9LY TO ILLU/RATE ! SORT ( !ORIZ+ ?AT IS CURR5TLY BO? V]Y MU* CALL$ = & L>GELY ABS5T4 

,EV5 ! EMPHASIS ON ?OSE ?+S :I* G5U9ELY >E NEW AB\T ! PRES5T MOM5T--! EM]G5CE ( A VIRTUAL SPH]E1 AS IT'S SOMETIMES CALL$--IS DIFFICULT TO !ORIZE \TSIDE A L>G] HI/ORICAL CONTEXT1 :I* WE PROBABLY WON'T REALLY HAVE UNTIL G5]ATIONS 9 ! FUTURE4 ,9DU/RIAL CIVILIZATION HAS BE5 >\ND = SU* A BRIEF MOM5T ( HI/ORICAL TIME ?AT IT'S V]Y DIFFICULT TO P]CEIVE PATT]NS 9 ITS DEVELOPM5T4 ,LET ME ?R[ 9 ONE LA/ QUE/ION H]E1 ONE ?AT /RIKES ME AS V]Y SIGNIFICANT1 ?\< = SOME REASON1 IT IS ALMO/ NEV] ACTUALLY DISCUSS$4 ,IS ! CURR5T *>ACT] ( 0GLOBALIZATION0 ! PRODUCT ( AN UNPREC$5T$ TE*NOLOGICAL MOM5T1 OR IS IT ! RESULT ( A TEMPOR>Y SL[+ & 9VOLUTION ( TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T8 ,WE SEEM TO ASSUME AS A MATT] ( C\RSE ?AT TE*NOLOGY IS ALWAYS LEAP+ AHEAD 9 FUNDAM5TAL WAYS4 ,IT'S NOT CLE>1 ( C\RSE1 :E!R !RE CAN BE SAID TO BE AN OBJECTIVE MEASURE 9 SU* MATT]S4 ,BUT ,I ?9K IT IS POSSIBLE AT LEA/ TO TALK AB\T ! REALIZATION ( POPUL> EXPECTATIONS4 ,9 T]MS ( CULTURAL ATTITUDES AT LEA/1 IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT ! REAL DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! FIR/ & SECOND HALVES ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY IS ?AT1 :ILE ALMO/ ALL ! TE*NOLOGIES *ILDR5 9 #ai IMAG9$ W\LD EXI/ BY #a#i#e1 BUT W]E ! /UFF ( SCI5CE FICTION AT ! TIME--RADIOS1 AIRPLANES1 ORGAN TRANSPLANTS1 SPACE ROCKETS1 SKYSCRAP]S1 MOV+ PICTURES1 ETC4--DID 9 FACT COME 9TO BE+ MORE OR LESS ON S*$ULE1 PRETTY MU* NONE ( ! ONES *ILDR5 BORN 9 #aie OR #aif IMAG9$ W\LD EXI/ BY #b 7ANTI-GRAVITY SL$S1 TELEPORTATION1 =CE FIELDS1 CLON+1 DEA?-RAYS1 9T]PLANET>Y TRAVEL1 P]SONAL ROBOT ATT5DANTS7 EV] CAME AB\T4 ,IT W\LD BE EASY TO IMAG9E1 :5 OBS]V+ ! CRUDE SPECIAL EFFECTS ( #a#i#eS SCI5CE FICTION MOVIES1 ?AT !IR MAK]S W\LD BE QUITE IMPRESS$ BY ! REM>KABLE EFFECTS ( !IR CONTEMPOR>Y EQUIVAL5TS4 ,BUT1 9 REALITY1 !Y ALMO/ C]TA9LY W\LD NOT4 ,SCI5CE FICTION MOVIES ( ! #a#i#eS W]E (T5 SET 9 ! YE> #b4 ,!Y ASSUM$ WE'D BE DO+ !SE ?+S BY N[--ACTUALLY EXPLOR+ DI/ANT GALAXIES1 NOT JU/ DEVELOP+ EV] MORE IMPRESSIVE WAYS TO SIMULATE IT4 ,:]E1 9 E>LI] G5]ATIONS1 SCI5CE FICTION PROJECTIONS SEEM$ TO REGUL>LY BECOME REALITY A G5]ATION LAT]1 N[ !Y REMA9 TRAPP$ ON ! SCRE5--EV5 IF ! SCRE5 IMAGES LOOK 9CREAS+LY REALI/IC4 

,9 ! LATE #a#i#fS1 ,ALV9 ,T(FL] WROTE A BOOK CALL$ ,FUTURE ,%OCK 9 :I* HE PO9T$ \T ?AT 9 EV]Y REC5T DECADE1 ! FA/E/ SPE$ AT :I* IT WAS POSSIBLE = HUMAN BE+S TO TRAVEL HAD AT LEA/ D\BL$1 & ?AT1 TAK5 OV] A LONG] TIME SPAN1 IT APPE>$ TO BE RIS+ GEOMETRICALLY4 ,C\LD CONQUE/ ( ! />S BE F> AWAY8 ,HE PROV$ AN ATROCI\S PROPHET4 ,9 FACT1 ! TOP SPE$ AT :I* IT WAS POSSIBLE = HUMAN BE+S TO TRAVEL /OPP$ 9CREAS+ ALMO/ ! MOM5T ! BOOK CAME \T & HAS NOT *ANG$ S9CE4 ,TRUE1 WE CAN N[ COMMUNICATE 9/ANTLY ON ! 9T]NET4 ,COMPUT]1 IMAG+1 & COMMUNICATIONS TE*NOLOGY--ALONG ) M$ICAL TE*NOLOGY--HAVE BE5 AB\T ! ONLY K9D ?AT HAVE BE5 ADVANC+ AT ANY?+ LIKE ! PACE PEOPLE ONCE EXPECT$4 ,BUT1 EV5 H]E1 WE HAVE TO REMEMB] H[ HI< ?OSE EXPECTATIONS HAVE TRADITIONALLY BE54 ,9 ! #a#i#eS & #a#i#fS1 IT WAS ASSUM$ BY N[ WE W\LD HAVE COMPUT]S ) :OM WE C\LD C>RY ON A CONV]SATION1 OR ROBOTS :O C\LD PUT AWAY ! DI%ES OR WALK ! DOG4 ,IT SEEMS = ! MOM5T AT LEA/ WE HAVE REA*$ A PO9T :]E DISAPPO9TM5T ) *ILDHOOD DREAMS HAS BECOME 9/ITUTIONALIZ$4 ,IF !Y >E REALIZ$1 !Y >E REALIZ$ 9 A VIRTUAL REALM1 AS SIMULATIONS4 ,IS IT ANY WOND]1 !N1 ?AT WE >E SURR\ND$ BY PHILOSOPH]S TELL+ US ?AT EV]Y?+ IS SIMULATION & ?AT NO?+ IS REALLY NEW8 

,AUTONOMY & ,REVOLUTION>Y ,CONS5SUS 

  

,CLE>LY1 NATIONAL REVOLUTIONS CAN NO LONG] MAKE ! SAME DIFF]5CE !Y ONCE DID2 &1 ON A GLOBAL SCALE1 IT'S 5TIRELY UNCLE> :AT ! EQUIVAL5T ( /ORM+ ! ,BA/ILLE OR ,W9T] ,PALACE W\LD EV5 BE4 ,BUT !RE >E ?OSE :O >GUE ?AT REVOLUTIONS W]E NEV] REALLY NATIONAL AFFAIRS4 ,IMMANUEL ,WALL]/E9 HAS PO9T$ \T ?AT EV5 ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION WASN'T REALLY A NATIONAL REVOLUTION 9 ITS ULTIMATE EFFECTS 7IT MI<T WELL HAVE HAD JU/ AS MU* TRANS=MATIVE EFFECT ON ,D5M>K AS ON ,FRANCE72 ! REVOLUTIONS ( #ahdh OCCURR$ 9 NUM]\S CAPITALS1 TOOK P[] 9 NONE ( !M1 & NONE!LESS MANAG$ TO TRANS=M ! WORLD 9 PR(\ND WAYS2 & ?IS1 HE SAYS1 WAS EV5 MORE TRUE ( ! ANTI-/ATE REVOLUTIONS ( #a#i#f#h1 :I*1 HE >GU$1 REA*$ ,EA/]N ,EUROPE 9 #a#i#h#i4 ,!SE W]E ALL1 HE >GUES1 WORLD REVOLUTIONS4 ,IF SO1 MATT]S APPE> TO HAVE TRANS=M$ EV5 MORE RADICALLY OV] ! LA/ DECADE1 9 :I* A REVOLUTION>Y /RATEGY ( P]MAN5T1 OP5-5D$ GLOBAL UPRIS+ 7FROM ,*IAPAS TO ,SEATTLE1 ,G5OA1 & ,>G5T9A7 HAS BE5 SO SUCCESSFUL ?AT IT'S N[ BE+ ANSW]$ ) A DOCTR9E ( P]MAN5T1 OP5-5D$ GLOBAL W>4 

,! REVOLUTION>Y IMAG9>Y BE+ ADOPT$ )9 ! GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T F9DS ITS ROOTS LESS 9 ! ,M>XI/ TRADITION ?AN ! AN>*I/1 :I* WAS ALWAYS D$ICAT$ TO />T+ TO BUILD A NEW WORLD 0)9 ! %ELL ( ! OLD10 & ON PRIORITIZ+ AN E?ICS ( ORGANIZATION & PRACTICE OV] A FOCUS ON /RATEGIES = SEIZ+ P[]4 ,! AIM IS SIMULTANE\SLY TO EXPOSE1 DELEGITIMIZE1 & UND]M9E ME*ANISMS ( GLOBAL RULE1 :ILE SIMULTANE\SLY CREAT+ SPACES ( AUTONOMY :I* >E1 AS ,C9DY ,MILL/E9 PUTS IT1 0PREFIGURATIVE10 :I* !MSELVES EMBODY ! VIABILITY ( RADICAL ALT]NATIVES4 ,IT IS A WAY ( P]MAN5TLY 9VOK+ :AT ,NEGRI CALLS 0CON/ITU5T P[]40 ,MASS DIRECT ACTIONS LIKE ,SEATTLE1 ,WA%+TON1 ,PRAGUE1 OR ,G5OA1 AIM$ TO DO ALL ?IS SIMULTANE\SLY1 S9CE !IR [N DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC1 LEAD]LESS ORGANIZATION WAS ITSELF A VA/ SOCIAL EXP]IM5T1 & = MO/ P>TICIPANTS1 A DAZZL+LY SUCCESSFUL ONE4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 P]MAN5T 5CLAVES CAN BE E/ABLI%$3 FROM ! AUTONOM\S MUNICIPALITIES ( ,*IAPAS TO ! OCCUPI$ FACTORIES ( ,>G5T9A4 ,9 SU* A /RATEGY1 ONE ( ! MO/ CON/ANTLY 9VOK$ WORDS IS 0PROCESS40 ,UNLIKE ,M>XI/ P>TIES1 :I* HAVE ALWAYS T5D$ TO DEM& IDEOLOGICAL CON=MITY COMB9$ ) TOP-D[N1 USUALLY HI<LY AU?ORIT>IAN1 DECISION-MAK+ /RUCTURES1 AN>*I/-9SPIR$ REVOLUTION>Y 0NETWORKS0 & 0CONV]G5CES0 EMPLOY DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES :I* ASSUME ?AT NO IDEOLOGICAL UNI=MITY CAN OR %\LD BE POSSIBLE4 ,RA!R1 !SE =MS BECOME WAYS ( MANAG+ A DIV]SITY1 EV5 9COMM5SURABILITY1 :I* IS SE5 AS A VALUE 9 ITSELF4 ,! ASSUMPTION IS ?AT ?IS CAN BE MANAG$ ?R\< A SPIRIT ( REASONABL5ESS & MUTUAL COMPROMISE ?AT EM]GES FROM COMMITM5T TO %>$ PROJECTS ( ACTION4 ,?AT IS1 AN>*I/-9SPIR$ GR\PS T5D TO /UDI\SLY AVOID POLITICAL >GUM5TS AB\T ! DEF9ITION ( REALITY1 & ASSUME ?AT DECISION-MAK+ /RUCTURES %\LD CONC5TRATE 9/EAD ON IMM$IATE QUE/IONS ( ACTION 9 ! PRES5T1 ON MA9TA9+ EGALIT>IAN PROCESS 9 DO+ SO1 & MAK+ ?OSE =MS ( PROCESS ! MA9 MODEL ( 7OR1 BETT] P]HAPS1 ELEM5T>Y1 G]M-LIKE TEMPLATE =7 !IR VISION = A JU/ SOCIETY4 ,?IS IS1 9 EFFECT1 A WAY ( PRES]V+ DIV]SITY AS A RES\RCE & A VALUE AT ! SAME TIME3 S9CE1 IF ONE SEES ONE'S WORK ESS5TIALLY AS PRACTICAL PROBLEM-SOLV+1 !N IT IS PRETTY OBVI\S ?AT T5 PEOPLE ) DIV]SE 7EV5 =MALLY 9COMM5SURABLE7 P]SPECTIVES >E MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COME UP ) A WORKABLE SOLUTION ?AN T5 PEOPLE :O ALL %>E EXACTLY ! SAME EXP]I5CE & PO9T ( VIEW4 ,:AT ,I AM SAY+1 !N1 IS ?AT IT IS PRECISELY :AT MO/ \TSIDE OBS]V]S TAKE TO BE ! FOOLI%NESS & NAIVETE ( ! MOVEM5T 7!IR APP>5T LACK ( A COH]5T IDEOLOGY7 HAS TURN$ \T TO BE A TOK5 ( !IR MO/ SOPHI/ICAT$ ACCOMPLI%M5T & CONTRIBUTION TO REVOLUTION>Y !ORY4 ,IT WAS NOT ?AT ! NEW MOVEM5TS LACK IDEOLOGY4 ,AS ,I HAVE >GU$ 9 ! PA/1 !SE NEW =MS ( ORGANIZATION1 :I* PRESUME & >E WAYS ( >TICULAT+ A DIV]SITY ( P]SPECTIVES1 >E ITS IDEOLOGY4 

,IT SEEMS TO ME ?IS PRAGMATIC MODEL MI<T HAVE IMPLICATIONS = SOCIAL !ORY1 & 9 P>TICUL>1 ! PROBLEM ( !ORETICAL DIV]SITY4 ,9 ! NEXT & F9AL SECTION1 ,I WILL TRY TO ILLU/RATE :AT ,I ?9K IS AT /AKE H]E4 

,C,O,N,C,],N,+ ,R,E,G,U,L,A,T,O,R,Y ,P,R,9,C,I,P,L,E,S 

  

,AT ! MOM5T1 SOCIAL !ORY IS EV5 MORE FRAGM5T$ ?AN IT HAS USUALLY BE5 & !RE'S A GOOD DEAL ( DEBATE AS TO :E!R ?IS IS A GOOD OR BAD ?+4 ,SOME DEGREE ( !ORETICAL FRAGM5TATION SEEMS 9EVITABLE1 GIV5 ! WAY ! OBJECT 7SOCIAL REALITY7 HAS BE5 CON/ITUT$1 AS A SOME:AT BATT]$ RESIDUAL SET (F FROM ECONOMICS4 ,AS A !ORETICALLY UNIFI$ NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMICS HAS BECOME 9CREAS+LY DOM9ANT1 TO ! PO9T ( BECOM+ ! EFFECTIVE IDEOLOGY ( RULE = JU/ AB\T ALL ! EM]G+ 9/ITUTIONS ( GLOBAL GOV]NANCE1 & AS ECONOMIC V]SIONS ( 0RATIONALITY0 HAVE 9CREAS+LY BEGUN TO COLONIZE O!R DISCIPL9ES1 IT IS UND]/&ABLE ?AT ?IS DIV]SITY MI<T SEEM LIKE A /RATEGIC WEAKNESS BY ?OSE :O RESI/ ! CURR5T /ATUS QUO4 

,/ILL1 !RE'S NO P>TICUL> REASON TO IMAG9E ?AT AN 9TELLECTUAL UNIT$ FRONT AGA9/ ECONOMISM W\LD DEM& ANY SORT ( IDEOLOGICAL UNI=MITY1 ANY MORE ?AN A POLITICAL ONE W\LD4 ,OR EV5 ?AT IT DEM&S COMPLETE COMM5SURABILITY4 ,= EXAMPLE3 MANY HAVE RECOGNIZ$ ?AT ! MO/ PR(\ND WAY TO *ALL5GE ! ECONOMI/IC WORLD-VIEW !ORETICALLY IS ?R\< ! DEVELOPM5T ( ALT]NATIVE !ORIES ( ACTION1 :I* EXPOSE ! 9H]5TLY ALI5AT+ V]SION ( REALITY PROMULGAT$ BY ECONOMISM BY 9/EAD FOCUS+ ON CREATIVITY1 &1 SPECIFICALLY1 ON TRY+ TO LOCATE ! CAPACITY TO CREATE NEW SOCIAL =MS4 ,!RE HAVE BE5 A NUMB] ( ATTEMPTS 9 ?IS DIRECTION1 RANG+ FROM ,HANS ,JOAS' WORK 9 ! TRADITION ( ,AM]ICAN PRAGMATISM1 TO ,ALA9 ,CAILLE'S1 :I* BEG9S FROM ! CREATION ( NEW SOCIAL RELATIONS 9 ! GIFT1 TO MY [N ATTEMPT TO REWORK SOME ,M>XIAN IDEAS ( PRODUCTION AS A VALUE !ORY ( ACTION4 ,IT IS NOT 5TIRELY CLE>1 H[EV]1 IF ALL ( !SE CAN BE COMPLETELY RECONCIL$4 ,IT IS ALSO NOT 5TIRELY CLE> IF ?IS IS A PROBLEM4 ,C]TA9LY1 !RE >E APPROA*ES \T !RE ?AT >E UTT]LY IRRECONCILABLE EV5 9 ONTOLOGICAL T]MS1 & !SE 9CLUDE SOME ( ! MORE 9T]E/+ & PRODUCTIVE ONES4 ,= 9/ANCE1 ,ACTOR ,NETWORK ,!ORY1 :I* LOOKS AT 0SOCIETY0 AS AN EFFECT RA!R ?AN A CAUSE1 CANNOT BE SQU>$ ) ,CRITICAL ,REALISM1 :I* SEES IT AS AN EM]G5T REALITY :I* CANNOT BE 5TIRELY R$UC$ TO ANY?+ ELSE4 ,& MY [N >GUM5T E>LI] 9 ?IS PAP]1 AB\T ! MUTUAL CON/ITUTION ( IMAG9ATION & REALITY1 PROBABLY CAN'T BE RECONCIL$ ) EI!R4 ,BUT ,I DON'T ?9K !RE IS ANY REASON ?IS 9COMM5SURABILITY CANNOT BE SE5 AS ITSELF A VALUE ?AT ALL[S PRAGMATIC 9TEGRATION ?R\< A COMMON PROJECT ( ACTION 7! PURSUIT ( SOME K9D ( TRU?1 ( C]TA9 VALUES 9EXTRICABLE FROM ?AT PURSUIT1 ETC471 :I* CAN BE AGRE$ ON AS :AT ONE MI<T CALL A REGULATORY PR9CIPLE4 ,:AT DOES SEEM C]TA9 IS ?AT1 )\T SOME?+ ALONG !SE L9ES1 WE >E LIKELY TO SEE EV5 FUR!R DOM9ANCE BY ! LOGIC ( ! M>KET4 

,9 ! ,ABS5CE ( ,REGULATORY ,PR9CIPLES 

  

,LET ME EXPLA9 PRECISELY :AT ,I MEAN BY ?IS4 ,! COLONIZATION ( O!R FIELDS BY ! LOGIC ( ! M>KET DOES NOT JU/ OCCUR ON ! OV]T LEVEL 7I4E41 ) ! PROMULGATION ( 0RATIONAL *OICE0 MODELS1 OR O!R BLATANT =MS ( ECONOMISM71 BUT ALSO ON A LEVEL :I* SEEMS 5TIRELY UNCONSCI\S4 ,9 A SURPRIS+ V>IETY ( WAYS1 ! MO/ O/5SIBLY RADICAL CRITICAL !ORY HAS BE5 KN[N TO ANTICIPATE LAT] NEOLIB]AL >GUM5TS4 ,TAKE1 = EXAMPLE1 ! CONCEPT ( 0PO/MOD]NISM40 ,?IS IS A TRICKY T]M1 ( C\RSE1 BECAUSE !RE W]E NEV] MANY S*OL>S WILL+ TO ACTUALLY CALL !MSELVES 0PO/MOD]NI/S40 ,BUT1 9 A WAY1 ?IS WAS PRECISELY :AT MADE ! T]M SO P[]FUL3 0PO/MOD]NISM0 WAS NOT SOME?+ ANYONE WAS PROPOS+ BUT A FAIT ACCOMPLI ?AT EV]YONE SIMPLY HAD TO ACCEPT4 ,FROM ! #a#i#hS ON1 IT HAS BECOME COMMON TO BE PRES5T$ ) A S]IES ( >GUM5TS :I* MI<T BE SUMM>IZ$1 9 C>ICATURE =M1 AS SOME?+ LIKE ?IS3  

,WE N[ LIVE 9 A ,PO/MOD]N ,AGE4 ,! WORLD HAS *ANG$4 ,NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE1 IT SIMPLY HAPP5$ AS A RESULT ( 9EXORABLE PROCESSES4 ,NEI!R CAN WE DO ANY?+ AB\T IT1 BUT MU/ SIMPLY ADAPT \RSELVES TO NEW CONDITIONS4  

,ONE RESULT ( \R PO/MOD]N CONDITION IS ?AT S*EMES TO *ANGE ! WORLD OR HUMAN SOCIETY ?R\< COLLECTIVE POLITICAL ACTION >E NO LONG] VIABLE4 ,EV]Y?+ IS BROK5 UP & FRAGM5T$4 ,ANYWAY1 SU* S*EMES WILL 9EVITABLY PROVE EI!R IMPOSSIBLE1 OR PRODUCE TOTALIT>IAN NI<TM>ES4  

,:ILE ?IS MI<T SEEM TO LEAVE LITTLE ROOM = HUMAN AG5CY 9 HI/ORY1 ONE NE$ NOT DESPAIR COMPLETELY4 ,LEGITIMATE POLITICAL ACTION CAN TAKE PLACE1 PROVID$ IT IS ON A P]SONAL LEVEL3 ?R\< ! FA%ION+ ( SUBV]SIVE ID5TITIES1 =MS ( CREATIVE CONSUMPTION1 & ! LIKE4 ,SU* ACTION IS ITSELF POLITICAL & POT5TIALLY LIB]ATORY4 ,?IS IS1 AS ,I SAY1 A C>ICATURE3 ! ACTUAL >GUM5TS MADE 9 ANY P>TICUL> !ORETICAL TRACT >E USUALLY 9F9ITELY MORE COMPLEX4 ,/ILL1 !Y ALMO/ 9V>IABLY %>E SOME V]SION ( !SE ?REE !MES4 ,COMP>E !M1 !N1 TO ! >GUM5TS ?AT BEGAN TO BE PROMULGAT$ 9 ! #a#i#iS1 9 ! POPUL> M$IA1 AB\T A PH5OM5A REF]R$ TO AS 0GLOBALIZATION03  
  

  

,WE N[ LIVE 9 ! AGE ( ! ,GLOBAL ,M>KET4 ,! WORLD HAS *ANG$4 ,NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE1 IT SIMPLY HAPP5$ AS ! RESULT ( 9EXORABLE PROCESSES4 ,NEI!R CAN WE DO ANY?+ AB\T IT1 BUT MU/ SIMPLY ADAPT \RSELVES TO NEW CONDITIONS4  

,ONE RESULT IS ?AT S*EMES AIM+ TO *ANGE SOCIETY ?R\< COLLECTIVE POLITICAL ACTION >E NO LONG] VIABLE4 ,DREAMS ( REVOLUTION HAVE BE5 PROV5 IMPOSSIBLE OR1 WORSE1 B\ND TO PRODUCE TOTALIT>IAN NI<TM>ES4 ,EV5 ANY IDEA ( *ANG+ SOCIETY ?R\< ELECTORAL POLITICS MU/ N[ BE AB&ON$ 9 ! NAME ( 0COMPETITIV5ESS40  

,IF ?IS MI<T SEEM TO LEAVE LITTLE ROOM = DEMOCRACY1 ONE NE$ NOT DESPAIR3 M>KET BEHAVIOR1 & P>TICUL>LY 9DIVIDUAL CONSUMPTION DECISIONS1 >E DEMOCRACY2 9DE$1 ALL ! DEMOCRACY WE'LL EV] REALLY NE$4  
  

,!RE IS1 ( C\RSE1 ONE 5ORM\S DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! TWO >GUM5TS4 ,! C5TRAL CLAIM ( ?OSE :O CELEBRAT$ PO/MOD]NISM IS ?AT WE HAVE 5T]$ A WORLD 9 :I* ALL TOTALIZ+ SY/EMS--SCI5CE1 HUMANITY1 NATION1 TRU?1 & SO =?--HAVE ALL BE5 %ATT]$2 :]E !RE >E NO LONG] ANY GR& ME*ANISMS = /IT*+ TOGE!R A WORLD N[ BROK5 9TO 9COMM5SURABLE FRAGM5TS4 ,ONE CAN NO LONG] EV5 IMAG9E ?AT !RE C\LD BE A S+LE /&>D ( VALUE BY :I* TO MEASURE EV]Y?+4 ,! NEOLIB]ALS1 ON ! O!R H&1 >E S++ ! PRAISES ( A GLOBAL M>KET :I* IS1 9 FACT1 ! S+LE GREATE/ & MO/ MONOLI?IC SY/EM ( MEASUREM5T EV] CREAT$1 A TOTALIZ+ SY/EM :I* W\LD SUBORD9ATE EV]Y?+--EV]Y OBJECT1 EV]Y PIECE ( L&1 EV]Y HUMAN CAPACITY OR RELATION%IP--ON ! PLANET TO A S+LE /&>D ( VALUE4 

,IT IS BECOM+ 9CREAS+LY OBVI\S ?AT :AT ?OSE :O CELEBRAT$ PO/MOD]NISM W]E DESCRIB+ WAS 9 L>GE P>T SIMPLY ! EFFECTS ( ?IS UNIV]SAL M>KET SY/EM3 :I*1 LIKE ANY TOTALIZ+ SY/EM ( VALUE1 T5DS TO ?R[ ALL O!RS 9TO D\BT & DIS>RAY4 ,! CRITICAL ?+ = PRES5T PURPOSES IS NOT SO MU* TO ASK H[ !Y C\LD FAIL TO NOTICE ?IS1 BUT TO E/ABLI% ONE SIMPLE TRU?3 ?AT IT IS ABSURD TO PRET5D ?AT ONE C\LD REALLY HAVE AN 9TELLECTUAL UNIV]SE 9 :I* !RE IS NO PR9CIPLE ( >TICULATION BETWE5 DIFF]5T P]SPECTIVES :ATSOEV]4 ,ANYONE :O PRET5DS TO HAVE ELIM9AT$ SU* PR9CIPLES 5TIRELY WILL SIMPLY BE OP5+ ! WAY TO RE9TRODUC+ ! DOM9ANT IDEOLOGY ( ! DAY 9 COV]T =M4 ,& ?IS IS PRECISELY :AT MU* ( ! MO/ EPI/EMOLOGICALLY RADICAL APPROA*ES HAVE 5D$ UP DO+3 RE9TRODUC+ ! LOGIC & SPIRIT ( ! M>KET 7) ITS E?OS ( 5DLESS FLUX1 *OICE1 RE9V5TION1 ETC47 9 A DIFF]5T REGI/]4 ,TO DO O!RWISE W\LD REQUIRE E/ABLI%+ SOME ALT]NATE PR9CIPLE ( >TICULATION4 

,PREFIGURATIVE ,SOCIAL ,!ORY8 

  

,9 ! ABOVE1 ,I HAVE SKET*$ \T SOME V]Y PRELIM9>Y ?\<TS ON :AT SU* A PR9CIPLE MI<T BE LIKE4 ,RA!R ?AN DEVELOP A DETAIL$ >GUM5T 7?IS IS H>DLY ! PLACE71 LET ME 5D1 !N1 BY SUGGE/+ ?AT !RE'S NO REASON :Y SOCIAL !ORY ITSELF MI<T NOT TAKE ON A C]TA9 0PREFIGURATIVE0 ROLE3 ?AT IS1 EMBODY1 9 ITS [N ORGANIZATION1 AS AN >TICULATION ( EXTREMELY DIV]SE PHILOSOPHIES1 A VISION ( :AT A MORE REASONABLE POLITICAL ORD] C\LD POSSIBLY BE LIKE4 ,I ?9K IT IS POSSIBLE4 ,H[EV]1 C]TA9 HABITS ( ?\<T W\LD DEF9ITELY HAVE TO *ANGE4 ,9 EV]YDAY PRACTICE1 ! WAY ?AT DIFF]5T S*OOLS ( ?\<T 9T]ACT DOES NOT EV5 RESEMBLE M>KET RELATIONS SO MU* AS ! /YLE ( >GUM5T PREF]R$ BY CONT5D+ ,M>XI/ SECTS4 ,WE SEE ALL ! SAME SECT>IAN HABITS3 ( R$UC+ O!R POSITIONS 9TO HO/ILE C>ICATURES SO AS TO BE ABLE TO PLUG !M 9TO SOME PREFAB SET ( CATEGORIES1 EA* REPRES5T+ A TYPE ( IDEOLOGICAL ]ROR2 ( TREAT+ M9OR DIFF]5CES AS IF !Y W]E MORAL *ASMS4 ,!RE >E PR(\ND HI/ORICAL REASONS :Y ?IS HAPP5$4 ,! ORGANIZATION ( 9TELLECTUAL S*OOLS OR T5D5CIES HAS ALWAYS RA!R RESEMBL$ ?AT ( VANGU>DI/ POLITICAL P>TIES 7& ALSO1 9 A WAY1 AVANT-G>DE >TI/IC MOVEM5TS72 BUT ?IS IS1 9 P>T1 BECAUSE ALL ?REE HAD !IR ORIG9S 9 ! SAME PLACE1 9 ,SA9T-,SIMON & ,COMTE1 :O DIFF]$ M]ELY ON :E!R AN >TI/IC 0AVANT-G>DE0 OR SOCIAL SCI5TI/S %\LD =M ! PRIE/HOOD ( !IR NEW RELIGIONS4 ,9 ORD] TO BEG9 TO UNIFY ! DIV]SE /R&S ( SOCIAL ?\<T 9 OPPOSITION TO ! HEGEMONY ( ECONOMISM1 IT W\LD BE NECESS>Y1 FIR/ ( ALL1 TO OV]COME ?IS P]NICI\S HI/ORY & =MULATE 9/EAD SOME?+ LIKE :AT ,I SUGGE/$ AT ! 5D ( ! PREVI\S SECTION3 A COLLECTION ( APPROA*ES TO SOCIAL REALITY :I*1 :ILE NECESS>ILY CON/ITUT+ ?AT REALITY 9 RELATION TO A C]TA9 UTOPIAN SOCIAL IMAG9>Y1 >E UNIT$ NOT 9 !IR ASPIRATION TO IMPOSE !MSELVES AS ! ONLY LEGITIMATE APPROA*1 AS IF !Y W]E SO MANY SECTS TRY+ TO SEIZE P[]1 BUT RA!R1 BY !IR %>$ COMMITM5T TO A PROJECT & E?ICS :I* BEG9S ) ! REFUSAL TO DO SO4 ,IT IS A DAUNT+ PROSPECT4 ,SECT>IAN HABITS >E V]Y DEEPLY +RA9$4 ,BUT IT IS H>DLY IMPOSSIBLE4 ,MO/ ( ! BE/ SOCIAL RESE>* ALREADY ADOPTS SOME?+ LIKE ?IS ATTITUDE1 AT LEA/ IMPLICITLY4 ,IT IS1 AGA91 MORE ?AN ANY?+ ELSE A MATT] ( GIV+ S]I\S REFLECTIVE ?\<T TO :AT WE >E ALREADY />T+ TO DO 9 PRACTICE4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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