Nihilist Communism: A Critique of Optimism in the Far Left

Originally self-published in 2003, now edited and designed by Ardent Press, still one of the most hard-nosed books to call the left to account — with scathing, thoughtful rebuttals to those who continue to believe that the revolution is just a matter of consciousness-raising and recruitment, or that identity politics has anything to do with Marxist thought. Many will reject the materialism inherent in this analysis, but we appreciate the logical consistency (and the occasional brilliance of writing) of Monsieur Dupont; so refreshing in a world in which people withdraw to muddle-headedness in incoherent attempts to fit all topics into some kind of grab bag, attempts seemingly designed to avoid offense rather than to follow ideas through to their logical (or even illogical) conclusions. Unlike so many people who either reject theory all together (rather, who obscure the theory that they work from), or who embrace theory and ignore the ways reality doesn’t fit their ideas, Msr Dupont reflected on their experience (and that of others) and changed their theory to suit their lives. We need more people who are willing to be unpopular, who work an idea until it groans, who reflect on real life experiences and then acknowledge the ways in which prevailing theory doesn’t make sense, and who are then capable of challenging prevailing theory to be more coherent, more realistic, and more useful. species being could be considered a companion text to Nihilist Communism, or vice versa: reading them together has been helpful for some. Nihilist Communism refers more to specific political occurrences, and species being fleshes out some of the more esoteric ideas. Contents ......Page 4 Preface ......Page 8 Preamble: This is the definition of class hatred......Page 24 Introduction to 2003 edition......Page 26 Introducing Monsieur Dupont......Page 28 We start, as we end, in simplicity......Page 30 Basic statement......Page 34 On consciousness......Page 35 A qualification......Page 39 Working class consciousness?......Page 44 Further thoughts and explanations......Page 57 Summary and counter-interpretation......Page 60 Groups......Page 61 Is Lenin on sale again?......Page 62 Identity politics......Page 73 Militants and otherness......Page 75 Political priorities and consciousness......Page 76 On economic determinism and autonomism......Page 79 The revolutionary subject......Page 84 A recap of our perspective......Page 86 No way out......Page 87 The optimism of revolutionaries......Page 89 Language and consciousness......Page 97 May Days, Palestine, and the material base......Page 111 The Ticklish Matter......Page 127 Reply to "the real movement"......Page 142 To get over the wall, we first have to get to the wall......Page 152 Some notes concerning future proletarian insurgency......Page 159 Only we can prevent mythology ......Page 166 Anarchists must say what only anarchists can say......Page 177 More on anti-imperialism ......Page 196 We're all Claire Short now......Page 199 Something on political activism......Page 204 2009 Appendix: Seminar 4......Page 211 Glossary......Page 217 Feint......Page 242 Thrust......Page 245 Parry......Page 248 The inescapable condition......Page 251 How many of you are there?......Page 289 Stop thinking expressivity, start thinking transcendence......Page 293 Index ......Page 302 Contents 4 Preface 8 Preamble: This is the definition of class hatred 24 Introduction to 2003 edition 26 Introducing Monsieur Dupont 28 We start, as we end, in simplicity 30 Basic statement 34 On consciousness 35 A qualification 39 Working class consciousness? 44 Further thoughts and explanations 57 Summary and counter-interpretation 60 Dictatorship of the proletariat 61 Groups 61 Is Lenin on sale again? 62 Identity politics 73 Militants and otherness 75 Political priorities and consciousness 76 On economic determinism and autonomism 79 The revolutionary subject 84 A recap of our perspective 86 No way out 87 Appendices 89 The optimism of revolutionaries 89 Language and consciousness 97 Recent Interventions: 111 May Days, Palestine, and the material base 111 The Ticklish Matter 127 Reply to "the real movement" 142 To get over the wall, we first have to get to the wall 152 Some notes concerning future proletarian insurgency 159 Only we can prevent mythology 166 Anarchists must say what only anarchists can say 177 More on anti-imperialism 196 We're all Claire Short now 199 Something on political activism 204 2009 Appendix: Seminar 4 211 Glossary 217 Cruelty of the inclusion of the distributive sphere 242 Feint 242 Thrust 245 Parry 248 The inescapable condition 251 How many of you are there? 289 Stop thinking expressivity, start thinking transcendence 293 Index 302