The Communist Hypothesis

We know that communism is the right hypothesis. All those who abandon this hypothesis immediately resign themselves to the market economy, to parliamentary democracy - the form of state suited to capitalism - and to the inevitable and 'natural' character of the most monstrous inequalities. Alain Badiou's formulation of the communist hypothesis has travelled around the world since it was first aired in early 2008, in his book, "The Meaning of Sarkozy". The hypothesis is partly a demand to reconceptualize communism after the twin deaths of the Soviet Union and neoliberalism, but also a fresh demand for universal emancipation. As third way reforms prove as empty in practice as in theory, Badiou's manifesto is a galvanizing call to arms that needs to be reckoned with by anyone concerned with the future of our planet. Read more... Abstract: We know that communism is the right hypothesis. All those who abandon this hypothesis immediately resign themselves to the market economy. This title presents a hypothesis that is partly a demand to reconceptualize communism after the twin deaths of the Soviet Union and neoliberalism, and also a demand for universal emancipation. Read more... We Know That Communism Is The Right Hypothesis. All Those Who Abandon This Hypothesis Immediately Resign Themselves To The Market Economy, To Parliamentary Democracy - The Form Of State Suited To Capitalism - And To The Inevitable And 'natural' Character Of The Most Monstrous Inequalities. Alain Badiou's Formulation Of The Communist Hypothesis Has Travelled Around The World Since It Was First Aired In Early 2008, In His Book, The Meaning Of Sarkozy. The Hypothesis Is Partly A Demand To Reconceptualize Communism After The Twin Deaths Of The Soviet Union And Neoliberalism, But Also A Fresh Demand For Universal Emancipation. As Third Way Reforms Prove As Empty In Practice As In Theory, Badiou's Manifesto Is A Galvanizing Call To Arms That Needs To Be Reckoned With By Anyone Concerned With The Future Of Our Planet. Preamble: What Is Called Failure? -- We Are Still The Contemporaries Of May '68 -- The Cultural Revolution: The Last Revolution? -- The Paris Commune: A Political Declaration On Politics -- The Idea Of Communism -- Appendix: Letter From Alain Badiou To Slavoj Žižek: On The Work Of Mao Zedong. Alain Badiou ; Translated By David Macey And Steve Corcoran. Includes Bibliographical References. Front/Back Cover ......Page 1 Front Matter ......Page 2 Contents ......Page 3 Preamble: What Is Called Failure? ......Page 4 I We Are Still the Contemporaries of May '68......Page 24 1 May '68 Revisited, 40 Years On ......Page 25 2 Outline of a Beginning ......Page 38 3 This Crisis Is the Spectacle: Where Is the Real? ......Page 49 II The Cultural Revolution: The Last Revolution? ......Page 54 A Brief Chronology of the Cultural Revolution ......Page 82 III The Paris Commune: A Political Declaration on Politics ......Page 88 IV The Idea of Communism ......Page 118 Appendix: Letter from Alain Badiou to Slavoj Zizek: On the Work of Mao Zedong ......Page 134 “We know that communism is the right hypothesis. All those who abandon this hypothesis immediately resign themselves to the market economy, to parliamentary democracy—the form of state suited to capitalism—and to the inevitable and ‘natural'character of the most monstrous inequalities.”—Alain Badiou Alain Badiou's “communist hypothesis,” first stated in 2008, cut through the cant and compromises of the past twenty years to reconceptualize the Left. The hypothesis is a fresh demand for universal emancipation and a galvanizing call to arms. Anyone concerned with the future of the planet needs to reckon with the ideas outlined within this book. We know that communism is the right hypothesis. All those who abandon this hypothesis immediately resign themselves to the market economy, to parliamentary democracythe form of state suited to capitalismand to the inevitable and naturalcharacter of the most monstrous inequalities. Alain Badiou Alain Badious communist hypothesis,first stated in 2008, cut through the cant and compromises of the past twenty years to reconceptualize the Left. The hypothesis is a fresh demand for universal emancipation and a galvanizing call to arms. Anyone concerned with the future of the planet needs to reckon with the ideas outlined within this book. Alain Badiou's 'The Communist Hypothesis' is partly a demand to reconceptualise communism after the twin deaths of the Soviet Union and neoliberalism, but also a fresh demand for universal emancipation