The real split in the International : theses on the Situationist International and its time, 1972

First published in 1972 in Paris, The Real Split in the International is regarded as one of Guy Debord's finest works. Exploding as politically revolutionary at the heart of the Paris 1968 uprisings, the Situationist International has proved a tenaciously compelling radical movement in terms of asthetics and political theory. This crucially important book is not only a philosophical landmark, it is also a cult classic that has has established the Situationist movement -- of which Debord was the key member -- as one of the most influential of the twentieth century. This new translation by John McHale is the first officially authorised in English. The book has previously been available only in underground or online formats, so McHale's work promises to bring the work of the Situationists to an even wider audience. The Real Split in the International sees Debord not only evaluate the movement as a whole, but also signal the end of it. For him, it had become clear that the Situationist's success had produced -- within its own ranks as well as outside them -- a host of fans and 'onlookers' who amounted to little more than consumers of a radicality that had become fashionable. In this way the movement had begun to encompass the very 'society of the spectacle' that the Situationists had challenged. There was a danger that Situationist theory could turn into ideology -- Debord's reaction was to break up the movement. Contents 8 Translator's Acknowledgements by John McHale 9 Introduction by John McHale 10 Theses on the Situationist International and Its Time by Guy Debord and Gianfranco Sanguinetti 15 Appendix 1: Notes to Serve Towards the History of the SI from 1969 to 1971 by Guy Debord 90 Appendix 2: On Our Enemies' Decay by Guy Debord 108 Appendix 3: Guy Debord's report to the Seventh SI Conference in Paris (excerpts) 139 Appendix 4: Raoul Vaneigem's Letter of Resignation 151 Appendix 5: Communique from the SI Concerning Vaneigem 154 Appendix 6: Declaration of 11 November 1970 by Guy Debord, René Riesel and René Vienet 178 Appendix 7: Statutes Adopted at the Venice Conference on 30 September 1969 (excerpt) 183 Appendix 8: The Detournements in the Theses on the Situationist International and Its Time 184 Appendix 9: Detournement as Negation and Prelude by Guy Debord 186 Index 188 Theses On The Situationist International And Its Time / By Guy Debord And Gianfranco Sanguinetti -- Appendices. Situationist International ; Translated By John Mchale. First Published As La Veritable Scission Dans L'internationale By Editions Champ Libre, Paris, 1972--verso T.p. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A key device in the work of both the Letterist and the Situationist Internationals, the detournements in La Veritable Scission dans L'Internationale begin with the title. First official English translation of philosophy title by French Situationists