Micropolitics and the Left

Wed, 02/26/2014 - 04:59 Sidewinder [1]

This article is an attem t t! in"esti#ate certain r!$lems !% the le%t "ia the lens !% micr! !litics and macr! !litics, terms %irst intr!d&ced $' (illes )ele&*e and +eli, (&attari -hence%!rth ).(/0 +aced with the challen#in# nat&re !% te,ts %r!m !st-str&ct&ralist thin1ers li1e ).( !r +!&ca&lt, man' e! le ma1e the ass&m ti!n that the' are reall' m!ti"ated $' an elitist desire t! c!n%&se, intimidate and $e%&ddle the masses and di"ert the!r' int! &seless a$stracti!ns, %ar rem!"ed %r!m the c!ncerns !% !rdinar' e! le %!r s!cial trans%!rmati!n and li$erati!n %r!m ! ressi!n and e, l!itati!n0 2!we"er a care%&l readin# !% ).(3s Micropolitics and Segmentarity cha ter in 4A Thousand Plateaus5 -6T7/ re"eals the' ha"e tw! main !$8ects in their the!risin# there - t! ma1e sense !% the e, erience !% %ascism in the 1990s and 1940s and the -then/ m!re recent & risin#s !% 7aris :a' ;6<0 We will tr' t! e,tend that t! l!!1in# at m!re recent r!$lems, assin# "ia the 7!ll Ta, ri!ts !% 1990 t! l!!1in# at t!da'3s c&rrent c!ntr!"ersies ar!&nd intersecti!nalit'

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What is Micropolitics? Two possible definitions There are tw! wa's t! &nderstand the macr! !litics/micr! !litics distincti!n: the c!mm!n sense wa' and the &nc!mm!n sense "ersi!n %r!m ).(3s 6T70 We will e,amine each in t&rn, see what the relati!nshi $etween them is and then see h!w we can &se either !r $!th t! e,amine certain r!$lems !% the le%t0 The c!mm!n sense wa' t! &nderstand the macr! !litics/micr! !litics distincti!n is $' anal!#' t! macr!ec!n!mics and micr!ec!n!mics and the &s&al meanin# !% the macr!- and micr!- re%i,es as 4the $i#5 and 4the small5, res ecti"el'0 S! micr! !litics w!&ld $e the !litics !% inter ers!nal relati!ns and macr! !litics w!&ld $e the !litics !% lar#e entities !r c!llecti"ities0 The !litics !% nati!ns, classes, masses and races and #enders ta1en as a 4wh!le50 =!w rett' m&ch all !litical disc!&rses that ma1e swee in# #eneralisati!ns a$!&t di%%erences $etween 4nati!ns5, 4races5 and 4#enders5 tends t! $e the 1ind !% reacti!nar' ri#ht-win# $!ll!c1s that the le%t in #eneral is rett' &nanim!&s in re8ectin#0 2!we"er, there is a di"isi!n $etween th!se wh!, !n the !ne hand, #! !n t! #eneralise the idea that i% statements a$!&t 4macr!5 cate#!ries li1e nati!n, race and #ender are in"alid, then $' e,tensi!n s! t!! m&st th!se re%erencin# classes, and !n the !ther hand, the m!re e, licitl' s!cialist le%t, wh! re8ect the %!rmer idea as 4li$eralism50 The scare >&!tes ar!&nd li$eralism here are less t! d! with the %act that this is an inc!rrect &se !% the term and m!re t! si#nal that li$eralism is !ne !% th!se w!rds that tend t! #et thr!wn ar!&nd with #a' a$and!n, s!metimes a earin# as little m!re than a le%t' !r s!cialist swear-w!rd %!r 4things I don1t li!e50 2!we"er, in this artic&lar case, the &se !% li$eral has technical merit $eca&se it is

e, licitl' lin1ed t! a artic&lar !nt!l!#'0 ?et3s #ra$ a >&ic1 re%resher %r!m wi1ti!nar' !n what !nt!l!#' means:

Noun

ontology -plural ontologies [9]/ 10 -uncounta,le [4], philosophy [5]/ The $ranch !% meta h'sics [6] that addresses the nat&re !r essential characteristics !% $ein# [7] and !% thin#s that e,ist [8]@ the st&d' !% $ein# 2ua [9] $ein#0 20 -counta,le [10], philosophy [5]/ The the!r' [11] !% a artic&lar hil!s! her !r sch!!l !% th!&#ht c!ncernin# the %&ndamental t' es !% entit' [12] in the &ni"erse [13]0 90 -logic/ 6 l!#ical s'stem [14] in"!l"in# the!r' !% classes, de"el! ed $' Stanislaw ?esniews1i [15] -1<<6-1999/0 40 -computer science [16], in3ormation science/ 6 str&ct&re [17] !% c!nce ts !r entities within a d!main [18], !r#ani*ed $' relati!nshi s [19]@ a s'stem m!del [20]0
S! a s!cial !r !litical !nt!l!#' is !ne which addresses the nat&re !% which s!cial entities can $e said t! reall' e,ist, ins!%ar as the' ha"e !$ser"a$le in%l&ence !n s!cial r!cesses0 6s A ha"e ar#&ed elsewhere -see Bethin1in# Class [21]/ there is s&ch a thin# as a li$eral !nt!l!#', which is recisel' lin1ed t! this idea !% red&cin# all s!cial e,istence t! the indi"id&al le"el, %!r which Thatcher3s %am!&s 4 there1s no such thing as society5 is sim l' the same idea ta1en t! its l!#ical c!ncl&si!n0 An this li$eral !nt!l!#' lar#e-scale !r 4macr!5 entities s&ch as race, class and #ender, are sim l' ima#inar' a$stracti!ns that ma' $e &se%&l t! re%er t! the s&m !% indi"id&als3 e, erience !% racist, 4classist5 !r se,ist discriminati!n %r!m !ther indi"id&als, $&t d! n!t 4reall' e,ist5 t! the e,tent !% $ein# a$le t! e,ert %!rce !n indi"id&als li"es in and !% themsel"es0 :ar,3s characterisati!n !% ca ital as $ein# a 4real a$stracti!n5, %!r instance, is literall' n!nsense in a li$eral !nt!l!#'0 An a li$eral !nt!l!#' then, macr! !litical r!cesses d! n!t reall' e,ist, there is !nl' the s&m t!tal !% interers!nal !r micr! !litical r!cesses, &nderst!!d in the c!mm!n sense wa'0 The ! !siti!n $etween a li$eral !nt!l!#' and a s!cialist !ne that acce ts that macr! entities s&ch as ca ital and class ha"e a real e,istence, is clear and relati"el' eas' t! &nderstand %r!m the !&tset, with!&t an' need t! #! %&rther than the c!mm!n sense "ersi!n !% these terms0

4And no 5, as :!nt' 7'th!n &sed t! sa', 4time 3or something completely di33erent45
Four errors An 4A Thousand Plateaus5 (illes )ele&*e and +Dli, (&attari -hence%!rth ).(/ wr!te a cha ter entitled 4Micropolitics and Segmentarity5 which !&tlines a macr! !litics/micr! !litics distincti!n that is, at %irst si#ht, #reatl' at !dds with the m!re c!mm!n sense ta1e !&tlined a$!"e0 6%ter intr!d&cin# their c!nce t&alisati!n

the' m!"e t! in!c&late the reader a#ainst a m!re c!mm!n sense &nderstandin# $' listin# %!&r err!rs t! $e a"!ided in their %ramew!r1:
+!&r err!rs c!ncernin# this m!lec&lar and s& le se#mentarit' are t! $e a"!ided0 The first is axiological and c!nsists in $elie"in# that a little s& leness is en!&#h t! ma1e thin#s E$etter0E F&t micr!%ascisms are what ma1e %ascism s! dan#er!&s, and %ine se#mentati!ns are as harm%&l as the m!st ri#id !% se#ments0 The second is psychological, as i% the m!lec&lar were in the realm !% the ima#inati!n and a lied !nl' t! the indi"id&al and interindi"id&al0 F&t there is 8&st as m&ch s!cial-Beal !n !ne line as !n the !ther0 Third, the tw! %!rms are n!t sim l' distin#&ished $' size, as a small %!rm and a lar#e %!rm@ alth!&#h it is tr&e that the m!lec&lar w!r1s in detail and ! erates in small #r!& s, this d!es n!t mean that it is an' less c!e,tensi"e with the entire s!cial %ield than m!lar !r#ani*ati!n0 Finally, the >&alitati"e di%%erence $etween the tw! lines d!es n!t recl&de their $!!stin# !r c&ttin# int! each !ther@ there is always a proportional relation between the two, directl' !r in"ersel' r! !rti!nal0

G"en with the s& !rtin# c!nte,t that ).( e>&ate micr! !litics and macr! !litics with 4 supple segmentarity5 and 4rigid segmentarity5 !n the !ne hand, and the 4molar5 and 4molecular5 !n the !ther, the a$!"e >&!te will $e m!stl' im enetra$le t! an'$!d' wh! has n!t alread' read the %&ll cha ter !&t !% which it is l&c1ed0 F&t at least the third err!r >&!ted is en!&#h t! ma1e clear that we are dealin# with s!methin# !ther than the sim le small scale "ers&s lar#e scale ! !siti!n !% the c!mm!n sense de%initi!n a$!"e0 ).(3s macr! !litics and micr! !litics $!th ! erate sim&ltane!&sl' !n all le"els %r!m small t! lar#e scale0 What ma1es them micr! !r macr! is n!t the scale !% the netw!r1 !% interacti!ns $ein# l!!1ed at, $&t the scale !% the c!m !nents -!r s&$-c!m !nents/ interactin# in the netw!r1 and the nat&re !% the interacti!ns $etween them0 S! in the!r' '!& can ha"e a macr! !litics !% a tw! ers!n interacti!n, !r the micr! !litics !% a lar#e #r!& 0 An m!re e"er'da' lan#&a#e the term 4#r!& d'namics5 &s&all' im licitl' incl&des the #h!st !% the n!ti!n !% its micr! !litics t! the e,tent that it acce ts that there is m!re #!in# !n in the d'namics than the m!re "isi$le 4macr!5 elements !% %!rmal !r#anisati!n, !"ert declarati!ns, etc0 Fascism & May ! F&t what is the !int !% s&ch a c!n%&sin# de art&re %r!m c!mm!n sense n!ti!ns !% micr! and macr! and the intr!d&cti!n !% &n%amiliar and, at %irst si#ht, di%%ic&lt t! &nderstand s!cial !nt!l!#iesH Well, as we said in the intr!d&cti!n, am!n#st !ther thin#s ).( set themsel"es t! tas1 !% tr'in# t! ma1e sense !% the e, erience !% %ascism in the 1990s and 1940s and the 7aris :a' da's !% 196<0 An relati!n t! %ascism the' !se the >&esti!n whether there was a si#ni%icant >&alitati"e di%%erence $etween the %ascist t!talitarianism !% +ranc!3s S ain and :&ss!lini3s Atal' !n the !ne hand, and 2itler3s =ati!nal S!cialist 4re"!l&ti!n5 in (erman', !n the !ther0 The answer the' c!me & with relies !n their "ersi!n !% the macr! !litical/micr! !litical distincti!n0 The c!nce t !% t!talitarianism the' %ind %its well with the macr! !litical %!rm %ascism ta1es, $&t the #rassr!!ts le"el a#itati!n and intense ! &lar enth&siasm =ati!nal S!cialism mana#ed t! #enerate in (erman' and 6&stria, the' attri$&te t! micr! !litics, s eci%icall' t! a netw!r1 !% 4micro3ascisms5 that ermeates s!ciet'
We w!&ld e"en sa' that %ascism im lies a m!lec&lar re#ime that is distinct $!th %r!m m!lar se#ments and their centrali*ati!n0 )!&$tless, %ascism in"ented the c!nce t !% the t!talitarian State, $&t there is n! reas!n t! de%ine %ascism $' a c!nce t !% its !wn de"isin#: there are t!talitarian States, !% the Stalinist !r militar' dictat!rshi t' e, that are n!t %ascist0 The c!nce t !% the t!talitarian State a lies !nl' at the macr! !litical le"el, t! a ri#id se#mentarit' and a artic&lar m!de !% t!tali*ati!n and centrali*ati!n0 F&t %ascism is inse ara$le %r!m a r!li%erati!n !% m!lec&lar %!c&ses in interacti!n, which s1i %r!m !int t! !int, ,e3ore $e#innin# t! res!nate t!#ether in the =ati!nal S!cialist

State0 B&ral %ascism and cit' !r nei#h$!rh!!d %ascism, '!&th %ascism and war "eteranIs %ascism, %ascism !% the ?e%t and %ascism !% the Bi#ht, %ascism !% the c!& le, %amil', sch!!l, and !%%ice: e"er' %ascism is de%ined $' a micr!-$lac1 h!le that stands !n its !wn and c!mm&nicates with the !thers, $e%!re res!natin# in a #reat, #enerali*ed central $lac1 h!le0 There is %ascism when a ar machine is installed in each h!le, in e"er' niche0 G"en a%ter the =ati!nal S!cialist State had $een esta$lished, micr!%ascisms ersisted that #a"e it &ne>&aled a$ilit' t! act & !n the Emasses0E )aniel (&erin is c!rrect t! sa' that i% 2itler t!!1 !wer, rather than ta1in# !"er the (erman State administrati!n, it was $eca&se %r!m the $e#innin# he had at his dis !sal micr!!r#ani*ati!ns #i"in# him Ean &ne>&aled, irre lacea$le a$ilit' t! enetrate e"er' cell !% s!ciet',E in !ther w!rds, a m!lec&lar and s& le se#mentarit', %l!ws ca a$le !% s&%%&sin# e"er' 1ind !% cell0 [000] What ma1es %ascism dan#er!&s is its m!lec&lar !r micr! !litical !wer, %!r it is a mass m!"ement: a cancer!&s $!d' rather than a t!talitarian !r#anism0

Similarl' the #reat & risin# !% :a' ;6< in +rance t!!1 the c!&ntr' and m!st !% the e,istin# le%t, entirel' $' s&r rise, escalatin# %r!m a small r!test !"er a min!r 7arisian &ni"ersit' crac1in# d!wn !n %emale st&dents sm&##lin# their $!'%riends int! their w!men-!nl' st&dent acc!mm!dati!n $l!c1, t! $arricades !n the street !% the ca ital, a state !% "irt&al ins&rrecti!n and the %li#ht !% the 7resident %r!m the c!&ntr', in a mere matter !% da's0 6nd the ins&rrecti!nar' "an#&ard at! the $arricades were n!t %act!r' w!r1ers !r C!mm&nist art' card-carr'in# r!letarians, $&t a m!stl' &n!r#anised mass !% st&dents0 6#ain ).( %ind the answer t! the riddle !% 4 here the hell did that come 3rom65 in micr! !litics0
:a' 196< in +rance was m!lec&lar, ma1in# what led & t! it all the m!re im erce ti$le %r!m the "iew !int !% macr! !litics0 At ha ens that e! le wh! are "er' limited in !&tl!!1 !r are "er' !ld #ras the e"ent $etter than the m!st ad"anced !liticians, !r !liticians wh! c!nsider themsel"es ad"anced %r!m the "iew !int !% !r#ani*ati!n0 6s (a$riel Tarde said, what !ne needs t! 1n!w is which easants, in which areas !% the s!&th !% +rance, st! ed #reetin# the l!cal land!wners0 6 "er' !ld, !&tdated land!wner can in this case 8&d#e thin#s $etter than a m!dernist0 At was the same with :a' I6<: th!se wh! e"al&ated thin#s in macr! !litical terms &nderst!!d n!thin# !% the e"ent $eca&se s!methin# &nacc!&nta$le was esca in#0 The !liticians, the arties, the &ni!ns, man' le%tists, were &tterl' "e,ed@ the' 1e t re eatin# !"er and !"er a#ain that Ec!nditi!nsE were n!t ri e0 At was as th!&#h the' had $een tem !raril' de ri"ed !% the entire d&alism machine that made them "alid s !1es e! le0 Fi*arrel', de (a&lle, and e"en 7!m id!&, &nderst!!d m&ch m!re than the !thers0 6 m!lec&lar %l!w was esca in#, min&sc&le at %irst, then swellin#, with!&t, h!we"er, ceasin# t! $e &nassi#na$le0 The re"erse, h!we"er, is als! tr&e: m!lec&lar esca es and m!"ements w!&ld $e n!thin# i% the' did n!t ret&rn t! the m!lar !r#ani*ati!ns t! resh&%%le their se#ments, their $inar' distri$&ti!ns !% se,es, classes, and arties0

J&st as the :a' re"!lt !% the 7arisian st&dents, and indeed the anti-Kietnam war r!testin# st&dents, hi ies, %eminists, $lac1 !wer and #a' li$erati!nists, "e,ed a traditi!nal le%t wh! 4e+aluated things in macropolitical terms5 e,cl&si"el', $ac1 in 196<@ s! t!da', this article ar#&es, d!es intersecti!nalit' r!"!1e similar "e,ati!n and !&tri#ht h!stilit' am!n#st the c!ntem !rar' 4macr!-red&cti!nist5 le%t0 F&t we are #ettin# ahead !% !&rsel"es0 Fe%!re we can see whether it ma1es sense t! e"en tal1 !% a macr!-red&cti!nist le%t we need t! !&tline a minimall'-%&ncti!nal s1etch !% the &n%amiliar ).( "ersi!n !% the term and then c!m are and c!ntrast it with the c!mm!n sense "ersi!n t! decide what the m!st &se%&l meanin# !% the term mi#ht $e0 "ybernetics T! clari%' !ne !% the %eat&res !% the ).( macr!/micr! !litics distincti!n we need t! l!!1 at !ne %eat&re !% their c!m le, and !ri#inal -read intimidatin#l' alien, at %irst si#ht/ !nt!l!#'0 =amel' the c'$ernetic !r s'stem d'namics as ect inc!r !rated in their c!nce t !% the 4machinic50 4C'$ernetic5 itsel% is a di%%ic&lt en!&#h c!nce t t! #et acr!ss #i"en that the a"aila$le de%initi!ns are clear as m&d and m!st e! le ass!ciate it with s!methin# t! d! with c!m &ters, machines and r!$!ts, rather than h&man interacti!n0

=!r$ert Weiner, the %irst %!rmaliser !% the disci line, !ri#inall' de%ined c'$ernetics as 4 the scienti3ic study o3 control and communication in the animal and the machine( 50 Lne !% the $asic c!nce ts !% c'$ernetics is the %eed$ac1 l!! - that '!& ha"e s!me 1ind !% s'stem that $!th recei"es stim&l&s %r!m its en"ir!nment and has $eha"i!&r that acts $ac1 & !n its en"ir!nment, the $eha"i!&r chan#in# in res !nse t! chan#es in the stim&l&s and the en"ir!nment $ein# chan#ed $' that $eha"i!&r and r!d&cin# altered stim&li0 6lth!&#h this can $e in relati!n t! a sin#le indi"id&al machine, animal !r h&man and its nat&ral en"ir!nment, it can als! $e a netw!r1 !% indi"id&als re resentin# an'thin# %r!m a small #r!& & t! a massi"e !r#anisati!n li1e (eneral :!t!rs !r the MS State )e artment0 The 1e' here is that c'$ernetics l!!1s at the r!le !% c!mm&nicati!n lin1s $etween the netw!r1 !% indi"id&als -!r n!des/ in the s'stem and h!w the %l!w !% si#nals $etween them, in res !nse t! e,ternal stim&li, a%%ects the $eha"i!&r and e"!l&ti!n !% that s'stem - and !tentiall', the indi"id&als that c!m !se it0 The !int here, when a l'in# a c'$ernetic ers ecti"e t! a s'stem made & !% h&mans, is t! c!ntrast it with a m!re traditi!nal 4 ers!n-centred5 a r!ach0 An the ers!n-centred a r!ach, all the intelli#ence !% an ass!ciati!n is c!ntained within the indi"id&al intelli#ences !% the e! le that ma1e it & 0 That is, all the thin1in# ta1es lace within the head !% !ne !r m!re indi"id&als, and then the c!mm&nicati!n lin1s $etween them are relati"el' ne&tral !r assi"e c!nd&its that neither add !r s&$tract %r!m the res&lts !% these indi"id&al r!cesses !% &sin# ers!nal intelli#ence0 The c'$ernetic a r!ach, $' c!ntrast, sees the ma !% h!w indi"id&als in the s'stem are lin1ed, h!w si#nals %l!w $etween them, as ha"in# an acti"e determinati"e e%%ect !n the s'stem as a wh!le0 An !ther w!rds that there is a 1ind !% c!llecti"e !r emer#ent intelli#ence !% the s'stem3s $eha"i!&r that is n!t t! $e %!&nd entirel' sil!ed in indi"id&al $rains, $&t c!mes %r!m what asses $etween e! le, and h!w0 An a similar wa', ant c!l!nies !r swarms !% %ish, $irds !r insects can dem!nstrate c!llecti"e intelli#ent $eha"i!&r n!t red&ced t! the c!nsci!&sness !% its indi"id&al c!m !nents0 This is a 1e' art !% the ).( !nt!l!#', that when l!!1in# at the d'namics !% #r!& s !% e! le what asses $etween them, what circ&lates $etween them, is at least as im !rtant a %act!r, i% n!t the m!st im !rtant !ne, in determinin# the !&tc!me !% the s!cial r!cess as a wh!le0 A% this shi%t in ers ecti"e is a little disc!ncertin# %!r an'$!d' &sed t! a m!re traditi!nall' h&manist ers ecti"e, it sh!&ld $e n!ted that ).(3s !nt!l!#' is %ar m!re radicall' anti- !r !st-h&manist than this, $&t we d!n3t need t! l!!1 at that ri#ht here0 +!r !&r &r !ses we can remain %!c&ssed !n the im licati!ns %!r h&man interacti!ns0 The si#ni%icant ta1eawa' here is that we are in"ertin# the m!re c!mm!n ers ecti"e that, in terms !% creati"it' !r s!cial d'namics, e! le are the acti"e art and the c!mm&nicati!ns $etween them assi"e, t! !ne where the c!mm&nicati!ns themsel"es ta1e !n a#enc' - we %!c&s !n what asses $etween e! le0 6nd here we can ill&strate the di%%erence $etween the micr! !litical and macr! !litical %!r ).(, e"en at the smallest scale0 6t the scale !% the indi"id&al and her en"ir!nment, we can distin#&ish $etween a%%ects and %eelin#s0 6 %eelin# is s!methin# the indi"id&al $rin#s t! their c!nsci!&sness $' internall' chec1in# their em!ti!nal state, and sa'in# 4A am ha '5 !r 4A am sad5 !r e"en 4A d!n3t 1n!w h!w A %eel ri#ht n!w50 +eelin#s are then macr! !litical $eca&se the' relate t! the c!nsci!&s sel%0 2!we"er, &nderneath the -ar#&a$l' ill&s!r'/ wh!le !% the c!nsci!&s sel% is the seethin# m&ltit&de !%, m!stl'-&nc!nsci!&s, sim&ltane!&s c!m le,l'interactin# r!cesses that ma1e & a li"in# mind0 6%%ects circ&late in that mind re#ardless !% whether the' are $r!&#ht t! the attenti!n !% the c!nsci!&s sel% and then artic&lated/s&$s&med int! a c!nsci!&s %eelin#, !r n!t0

2ence we sa' that the %eelin#/a%%ect distincti!n mirr!rs the macr! !litical/micr! !litical !ne, e"en at the indi"id&al le"el0 F&t m!re interestin# %r!m a s!cial d'namics !int !% "iew, is that $!th %eelin#s and a%%ects can circ&late directl' $etween indi"id&als in c!mm&nicati!n0 We &nderstand im licitl' that s!me!ne $rin#in# &s #reat news !% a !siti"e de"el! ment %!r &s will en#ender the same %eelin#s !% ha iness and e,citement as the news-teller0 F&t what is less !$"i!&s is that a%%ects, whether !% h' er-stim&lati!n, a#itati!n, calm, etc, can als! ass $etween e! le, with!&t $ein# e, licitl' artic&lated at a c!nsci!&s le"el0 F' $ein# sel%-aware and erce ti"e we can $ec!me aware !% them 4 0o / this person1s really ner+ous/ and that1s ma!ing me ner+ous too50 F&t e"en i% we d!n3t $ec!me c!nsci!&sl' aware !% it, the a%%ect can still ass %r!m them t! &s, and "ice "ersa0 #mall tal$ T! ta1e a sli#htl' !$li>&e e,am le, small tal1 is a c!nce t that can $e di%%ic&lt %!r man' e! le !n the #ee1s ectr&m t! #ras 0 6 %riend, a sel%-c!n%essed #ee1-#irl, !nce t!ld me she didn3t &se t! #et the !int !% it at all0 Wh' did e! le insist !n tal1in# a$!&t tri"ial !r seemin#l' meanin#less t! icsH 6lth!&#h she tried t! res !nd !litel' and in a %riendl' manner t! w!men at w!r1 wh! en#a#ed her in s&ch c!n"ersati!n, internall' she was %r&strated $' the seemin# !intlessness !% the c!n"ersati!n0 She e"en s&s ected that e! le3s m!ti"es %!r ind&l#in# in s&ch tri"ial t! ics m&st $e $eca&se the' were tri"ial e! le in s!me wa'0 Then !ne time she was ha"in# a l!t !% &n%air ress&re at w!r1, catastr! hic ers!nal li%e and thin#s $ein# !"erall shit in #eneral, and was %eelin# & set and misera$le at w!r10 6 %emale c!llea#&e saw h!w & set she was and came !"er and cas&all' en#a#ed her in a c!n"ersati!n a$!&t n!thin# "er' m&ch at all0 :' %riend %elt s! m&ch $etter a%ter this c!n"ersati!n that a li#ht $&l$ went !n in her head0 A %elt li1e s&ch a %!!l, she rec!&nted, t! ha"e ne"er realised $e%!re that the t! ic !% the c!n"ersati!n wasn3t necessaril' the !int !% the c!n"ersati!n0 That s!metimes the &r !se !% a c!n"ersati!n is 8&st reass&rance !r em!ti!nal s& !rt !r "alidati!n and the !stensi$le t! ic is entirel' sec!ndar'0 T! m!st e! le that ma' seem s! !$"i!&s as t! $e a weird thin# t! draw attenti!n t!0 F&t %!r th!se !% &s !n the #ee1-s ectr&m, the disc!"er' that the s&r%ace meanin# !% a c!n"ersati!n ma' $e entirel' sec!ndar' can $e alarmin# as it means that the am!&nt !% st&%% in the $i# $lac1 $!, !% 4d!es n!t c!m &teN5 we %ind ar!&nd s!cial interacti!n s&ddenl' #!t a l!t $i##er0 Small tal1 then, is an e"er'da' e,am le !% h!w e! le instincti"el' !r c!nsci!&sl' ma1e &se !% the micr! !litical assa#e !% a%%ects $etween e! le, &nc!nstrained $' the macr! !litical literal meanin# !% c!n"ersati!n0 (!in# $e'!nd the %eminist sl!#an that 4the personal is political5, ).( r! !se that Ee+erything is political/ ,ut e+ery politics is simultaneously a macropolitics and a micropolitics(E The r! !siti!n that 4e+erything is political5 ma' seem deli$eratel' r!"!cati"e !r e,a##erati!n, $&t it &se%&ll' challen#es the n!ti!n that h&man interacti!n can $e neatl' di"ided int! $!,es !% 4 !litical5 and 4n!t!litical50 S!metimes s!me !% what the traditi!nal le%t s&mmaril' d&m int! the 4n!t- !litical5 $!, is a case !% n!t listenin# r! erl' !r n!t &nderstandin# the real c!nte,t, in the same wa' that the %riend in the anecd!te dismissed small tal1 as meanin#less !r tri"ial0 F&t i% small tal1 is a relati"el' $eni#n micr! !litical hen!nem!n, we need t! &nderstand that micr! !litical d'namics can als! $e as dan#er!&s !r as %atal as macr! !litical !nes, in certain cases0 When ).( tal1 !% 4micr!%ascisms5 the' are n!t limitin# this hen!men!n t! $ein# the micr! !litical &nder innin# !% macr! !litical %ascism al!ne:

Lnl' micr!%ascism r!"ides an answer t! the #l!$al >&esti!n: Wh' d!es desire desire its !wn re ressi!n, h!w can it desire its !wn re ressi!nH The masses certainl' d! n!t assi"el' s&$mit t! !wer@ n!r d! the' EwantE t! $e re ressed, in a 1ind !% mas!chistic h'steria@ n!r are the' tric1ed $' an ide!l!#ical l&re0 )esire is ne"er se ara$le %r!m c!m le, assem$la#es that necessaril' tie int! m!lec&lar le"els, %r!m micr!%!rmati!ns alread' sha in# !st&res, attit&des, erce ti!ns, e, ectati!ns, semi!tic s'stems, etc0 )esire is ne"er an &ndi%%erentiated instinct&al ener#', $&t itsel% res&lts %r!m a hi#hl' de"el! ed, en#ineered set& rich in interacti!ns: a wh!le s& le se#mentarit' that r!cesses m!lec&lar ener#ies and !tentiall' #i"es desire a %ascist determinati!n0 Leftist organizations will not be the last to secrete microfascisms0 AtIs t!! eas' t! $e anti%ascist !n the m!lar le"el, and n!t e"en see the %ascist inside '!&, the %ascist '!& '!&rsel% s&stain and n!&rish and cherish with m!lec&les $!th ers!nal and c!llecti"e0

#e$igun An 1969 a small $rea1awa' #r!& %r!m the Ja anese C!mm&nist ?ea#&e callin# itsel% the Bed 6rm' +acti!n -Se!igun%ha/, $elie"in# the time %!r re"!l&ti!nar' armed ins&rrecti!n had c!me, declared war !n the Ja anese state and c!mmitted a n&m$er !% small $&t "i!lent attac1s !n s!me !lice stati!ns and !ther s'm$!lic instit&ti!ns0 The Ja anese state d&l' res !nded $' arrestin# m!st !% them, !"er 200 arrests, incl&din# the !ri#inal %!&nder and chie% ide!l!#&e Ta1a'a Shi!mi0 The hand%&l !% remnants still at li$ert' mer#ed with a :a!ist $rea1awa' #r!& %r!m the Ja anese C!mm&nist 7art' t! %!rm the Mnited Bed 6rm' - 7engo Se!igun/ with a #rand t!tal !% 29 mem$ers0 2a"in# l'nched -literall'/ tw! !% their c!ntin#ent as s&s ected de%ect!rs !r c!lla$!rat!rs, the remainin# MB6 hid !&t in the m!&ntains in (&nma 7re%ect&re where the' set & a 4(&errilla trainin# $ase cam 50 )&rin# the winter !% 19O1-O2 the MB6 c!nd&cted e,treme sel%-criticism sessi!ns which ended in the m&rder, $' $eatin#s, slashin# with 1ni"es !r t'in# t! trees t! die !% e, !s&re, !% a %&rther 12 !% their e"er-shrin1in# n&m$er0 The MB6 leaders wh! !"ersaw this h!rri%ic sla&#hter later re%&sed t! acce t the deaths as m&rders, re%errin# t! them instead as 4death ,y de3eatism50 +inall' in mid-+e$r&ar' 19O2 tw! men esca ed and the !lice cl!sed in !n the MB6 and arrested nearl' all !% the s&r"i"!rs, a art %r!m %i"e wh! esca ed and h!led & in a m!&ntain l!d#e ta1in# the wi%e !% the l!d#e-1ee er h!sta#e0 The res&ltin# ten da' sie#e was tele"ised acr!ss Ja an al!n# with the l&rid details !% t!rt&re and m&rder the !lice were e,tractin# %r!m the s&r"i"!rs !% the MB6 4anti-de%eatist5 &r#e0 The m!st nat&ral %irst reacti!n t! this h!rri%ic e is!de is t! dismiss it as insanit'0 Andeed the standard res !nse !% the traditi!nal le%t t! !ther e is!des !% t'rannical $eha"i!&r !r internecine "i!lence - !% which there are act&all' >&ite a l!t in ast and m!re recent s!cialist and irish re &$lican hist!r', i% tr&th $e t!ld - is als! t! dr! it in a $i# $in mar1ed 4madness50 This ma' c!n"enientl' side-ste the challen#e !% whether - and h!w micr!%ascist d'namics c!&ld arise within the le%t, $&t it is &ltimatel' r!$lematic !n a n&m$er !% le"els0 Ln the !ne hand the dismissal !% e is!des !% e,cessi"e "i!lence and/!r ne#ati"e intensities sim l' adds t! the #eneral sti#matisati!n !% madness that e>&ates madness and "i!lence #enerall'0 Sec!ndl' it is dan#er!&sl' cl!se t! c!ncedin# the re8&dice !% the d!minant ca italist ide!l!#' that "i!lence in &rs&it !% m!ne' and r!%it is rati!nal, whereas "i!lence in &rs&it !% n!n-m!netar' !litical aims is, ipso 3acto, irrati!nal0 F&t m!st dan#er!&sl' !% all, it im licitl' #i"es an ali$i %!r an' and all $eha"i!&r !% le%tist indi"id&als !r #r!& s !n the #r!&nds that i% A/we are n!t mad, then an' line we ta1e, n! matter h!w wildl' dis r! !rti!nate !r call!&s in re#ard t! the harm im !sed !n !thers, cann!t $e an'thin# !ther than 8&sti%ied $' !&r macr! !litical c!mmitment t! r!letarian emanci ati!n0 Th&s the "ari!&s %acti!nal s linters !% the Fritish WB7 attac1in# each !ther with $ase$all $ats and ir!n $ars in the 19<0s, is n!t e"idence !% metasti*in# micr!%ascisms, $&t c!mmitment t! 4!&r n!$le ca&se50 Similarl', als! in the <0s, when the rad-%em militants !% W!men 6#ainst Ki!lence 6#ainst W!men attac1ed S.: d'1es at the 4Chain Beacti!n5 ni#ht with ir!n $ars, the' %ailed t! see an' ir!n' -&nli1e their $l!!died "ictims/0

6nd in case an' Arish readers thin1 that this 1ind !% thin# !nl' ha ens in im erialist c!&ntries li1e Ja an and the MP, let3s n!t %!r#et there are lent' !% e,am les cl!ser t! h!me0 An %act tal1 t! an'$!d' wh!3s $een !n the le%t %!r a c!& le !% decades and as1 them %!r their %a"!&rite st!ries !% ast 4madness5 and re are t! $e $!##led0 )ismissin# these e is!des as mental illness n!t !nl' d!es in8&stice t! the act&al s!cial r!$lems and sti#mas !% #en&ine mental illness, $&t acts n!t as an e, lanati!n $&t a $arrier t! seri!&s disc&ssi!n !% the s!cial d'namics that can lead t! s&ch disastr!&s !&tc!mes0 %rganiser model 6n!ther e,am le that we can e,amine n!t 8&st the distincti!n, $&t als! the interrelati!n !% the macr!- and micr! !litical, is the ractice !% the !r#aniser m!del in w!r1 lace and c!mm&nit' !r#anisin#0 Traditi!nal &ni!ns ha"e a str!n# tendenc' t! red&ce all >&esti!ns !% &ni!n !wer t! 4densit'5, i0e0 what ercenta#e !% the w!r1%!rce in a #i"en ind&str' !r sh! are &ni!n mem$ers0 This red&cti!n t! &ni!n !wer t! &re e,tensi!n, a sim le head-c!&nt !% n&m$ers, ma1es sense %r!m the ers ecti"e !% the &ni!n $&rea&crac' wh!se a' c!mes %r!m the mem$ers s&$s, $&t als! their ran1 at the ne#!tiatin# ta$le in s!cial artnershi tal1s, etc, c!mes %r!m h!w man' e! le the' can claim t! re resent0 2!we"er e"en the hi#hest densit' %i#&re d!es n!t ma#icall' c!n"ert int! m&ch &ni!n !wer i% the ma8!rit' !% the mem$ershi ha"e neither the c!n%idence, the s1ills !r the inclinati!n t! ta1e !n the $!sses in an act&al %i#ht0 J&st as an !il %ilm that c!"ers a &ddle can $e made t! disa ear with a sim le dr! !% deter#ent, shall!w densit' with!&t an' de th !r intensit' !% mem$er en#a#ement !r !r#anisati!n can lead t! a &ni!n that will r!ll !"er and la' dead at the %irst si#n !% determined attac1 $' em l!'ers !r #!"ernment0 The Arish teachers &ni!ns ha"e a &ni!n densit' in the hi#h 90s, $&t that hasn3t hel ed them %i#ht the swin#in# c&ts in a' and c!nditi!ns that the #!"ernment ha"e in%licted !n them in the last %ew 'ears0 F&t i% m!st !% '!&r mem$ershi treats the &ni!n m!re as a r!%essi!nal $!d', li1e the e>&i"alent !nes %!r d!ct!rs !r law'ers, we sh!&ldn3t $e s&r rised at the lac1 !% act&al !wer all that densit' adds & t!, !r d!esn3t0 The !r#aniser m!del, see1s t! &nd! s!me !% the m!st dama#in# e%%ects !% 4third- art'5 st'le ser"ice &ni!nism $' re-en#a#in# the mem$ershi as acti"e artici ants with !wnershi !% their !wn demands and ha"in# the ca acit' and will t! lead their !wn %i#hts and %i#ht t! win0 The r!cess !% rec!nstr&cti!n this in"!l"es relies hea"il' !n !ne-t!-!ne c!n"ersati!ns aimed at %indin# mem$ers iss&es, and &ltimatel' 4m!"in#5 them -t! &se the 8ar#!n/ int! ma1in# a ers!nal c!mmitment t! acti"el' artici ate0 This r!cess !% 4m!"in#5 e! le is &n>&esti!na$l' a micr! !litical techni>&e, at least in the c!mm!n sense, $asin# itsel% as it d!es !n the s eci%ic iss&es, h! es and %ears !% the indi"id&al in"!l"ed, rather than a macr! !litical a eal t! a #eneral a$stractl' rati!nalist ar#&ment0 L% c!&rse !r#anisin# needs t! deal with the macr! !litical >&esti!n !% densit' as well, i% it is t! ha"e an' chance !% winnin#, $&t it is a #!!d e,am le !% the ! erati!n !% !litical acti"ism that $alances the macr! !litical and micr! !litical t!#ether in the attem t t! ma1e them interact r!d&cti"el' NL& A% the a licati!n !% the !r#aniser m!del t! w!r1 lace !r nei#h$!&rh!!d !r#anisin# is an acti"it' m!st !%ten ass!ciated with a $r!adl' anti-ca italist eth!s, !r at least a "a#&el' 4s!cialist5 c!nsci!&sness !% the need %!r w!r1ers and tenants t! assert their needs r!-acti"el' s! as n!t t! s&%%er the de redati!ns !% &n%ettered ca italism, !&r ne,t e,am le has n! s&ch startin# !int0 +!r an'$!d' wh! hasn3t heard !% =e&r!-?in#&istic 7r!#rammin# $e%!re, the sh!rt "ersi!n is that it3s a l!ad !% !ld h!!e'0 2!we"er it is h!!e' that has a certain s&ccess in r! a#atin# its meme am!n#st s!me secti!ns !% the sales e! le and c!r !rate trainers wh! ma1e a

li"in# %r!m sellin# h!!e' t! the middle-mana#ers and &n%!rt&nate &nderlin#s in the medi&m t! lar#e c!r ! sect!r0 The reas!n =?7 is s! ! &lar am!n#st sales e! le and their il1 is that it h!lds !&t the r!mise !% #ettin# an ed#e in their !wn str&##les t! 4m!"e5 e! le0 Frie%l' it r!mises thr!&#h certain techni>&es !% listenin# and cl!se !$ser"ati!n t! %!rm a m!del !% the s'ch!l!#ical ma1e& and inner r!cesses !% their tar#ets s! as t! $e $etter a$le t! ma1e an end-r&n ar!&nd their c!nsci!&s mind and a eal t! their &nc!nsci!&s tri##ers0 Gssentiall' the' want t! ha"e the ca acit' %!r the same 1ind !% mani &lati!n that sta#e and TK h' n!tists !r 4mind c!ntr!llers5 s&ch as )erren Fr!wn !r Peith Farr' entertain their a&diences with0 L% c!&rse here we are in dan#er !% %allin# int! ).(3s sec!nd err!r as seein# micr! !litics as $ein# merel' a s'ch!l!#ical hen!men!n0 What3s m!re, #i"en that in this case !ne side is c!nsci!&sl' tr'in# -with a #reater !r lesser real &nderstandin#/ t! e, l!it micr! !litical channels !r ! enin#s in the manner !% a c!m &ter hac1er tr'in# t! &se "&lnera$ilities in s!%tware %!r an 4e, l!it5, this is n!t reall' a case !% micr! !litical %l!w0 At sim l' dem!nstrates that the channels e,ist, the ! enin#s thr!&#h which $eha"i!&r-in%l&encin# si#nals can %l!w with!&t #!in# thr!&#h the macr! !litical 4%r!nt d!!r5 !% c!nsci!&sness0 'ric$ on plexiglass Ln the a%tern!!n !% the 6nti-7!ll Ta, dem!nstrati!n !% Sat&rda' 91st :arch 1990 this a&th!r was !n the c!rner !% Whitehall and Tra%al#ar S>&are as three !lice "ans %r!m the Fritish Trans !rt 7!lice rammed their wa' d!wn thr!&#h the ac1ed cr!wd0 S!me ri!tin# had alread' $e#&n %&rther d!wn the r!ad $' )!wnin# Street and the :!) #reen, $&t this rec1less dri"in# !% "ans int! a ac1ed mass !% e! le was the real %lash !int that lit the c!n%la#rati!n that a st&nned w!rld watched !n the news that ni#ht0 6s the "ans entered Whitehall the cr!wd s&r#ed %!rward in their wa1e0 6 thin line !% r!&nd-shield ri!t c! s tried t! h!ld !% the t! !% Whitehall as the missiles rained d!wn !n their le,i#lass shields and helmets, the staccat! !% cl&n1s set a#ainst the $ac1#r!&nd $ass r!ar !% the cr!wd, creatin# that &nmista1a$le dr&m . $ass s!&nd !% the (reat Fritish Bi!t0 The cr!wd w!&ld s&r#e %!rward, the ri!t c! s w!&ld c!&nter-char#e as %ar as the' dared with!&t l!sin# their line !r ris1in# #ettin# %lan1ed0 An this as s! man' !ther ri!ts the cr!wd m!"ed m!stl' with!&t e, licit c!mm&nicati!ns !r an' re- lanned c!!rdinati!n0 Qet there was, and alwa's is, c!!rdinati!n in these sit&ati!ns, whether in ri!ts !r in the immediate reacti!ns !% e! le t! disasters0 G"en in the initial a$sence !% macr! !litical !r#anisati!n, c!mm&nicati!n and c!!rdinati!n, the cr!wd !% e! le wh! ha"e m!stl' ne"er met $e%!re, with!&t 1n!win# the ers!n st!!d ne,t t! them, can act t!#ether and in c!ncert t! achie"e a c!mm!n aim0 :icr! !litical %l!w is an a$s!l&tel' essential art !% c!!rdinati!n in an' ri!t, $attle !r ra id res !nse t! emer#enc'0 L% c!&rse t! s& lement this 4emer#enc' m!de5 &se !% swarm !r herd tactics, a c!m lementar', rein%!rcin# element !% macr! !litical c!!rdinati!n s!!n a ears0 The e, erienced !r ins ired see the ! !rt&nit' t! !"ert&rn a "an and call !&t %!r s& !rt0 S!me!ne needs e! le t! c!me a #et amm! %r!m a near$' $&ildin# site0 Shar -e'ed !$ser"ers with tactical n!&s warn !% im endin# !lice incers tr'in# t! c&t the %r!nt-line !%%0 Small a%%init' #r!& s !% ri!ters wh! 1n!w each !ther and ha"e %!&#ht side $' side !n man' re"i!&s !ccasi!ns m!"e in t! rein%!rce the line0 The macr! and micr! !litical %l!ws !% the ri!t!&s m!$ c!! erati"el' %!rm its c!llecti"e !wer and intelli#ence, with!&t re>&irin# #enerals !r standin# !rders0

Two definitions re(isited At3s n!w time t! ret&rn t! the >&esti!n si#nalled at the start !% h!w t! relate the c!mm!n sense n!ti!ns !% what macr! and micr! mean in relati!n t! !litics and the m!re 4le%t%ield5 -as in, 4!&t there5, rather than s eci%icall' le%t-win#/ ).( ta1e !n the matter0 An m' ! ini!n the ).( ta1e, des ite it3s initiall' aliens!&ndin# lan#&a#e and the &n%amiliarit' !% c!nce t&alisin# the s&$8ect, d!es &se%&ll' re%er t! act&al e, eriences and r!cesses that are %amiliar t! e"er'!ne0 What3s m!re, whether it3s the challen#e !% %acilitatin#/m!deratin# a tense meetin# with clear di"isi!ns and %eelin#s r&nnin# hi#h !n $!th sides, !r the m!re !ne-t!-!ne r!cess !% the !r#aniser c!n"ersati!n, the ractice !% ha"in# t! a' cl!se attenti!n t! n!t !nl' what is $ein# said, $&t what is $ein# sim&ltane!&sl' c!mm&nicated with!&t $ein# e, licitl' said, is a "ital necessit' t! #et r!d&cti"e !&tc!mes0 A% we acce t the need t! a' attenti!n t! tw! arallel r!cesses in ractice, then there sh!&ld $e n! reas!n t! n!t a' attenti!n t! this d&alit' in the!r' as well, s! as t! #&ide !&r ractice0 An m' ! ini!n the ).( %!c&s !n macr! !litics and micr! !litics as the %l!ws that ass $etween e! le3s interacti!ns &se%&ll' e,tends !&r a$ilit' t! d! this, $e'!nd the sim le 4inter- ers!nal "ers&s c!llecti"e5 c!mm!n sense distincti!n0 +&rther that the tw! di%%erent distincti!ns are n!t entirel' in c!n%lict with, !r m&t&all' e,cl&si"e t!, each !ther0 The inter- ers!nal listenin# s1ills !% the !r#aniser in the !ne-t!-!ne c!n"ersati!n is %!c&sed !n the macr! !litical -in the ).( sense/ r!cess !% teasin# !&t a ers!n3s real iss&es %r!m $ehind the sm!1escreen !% 4%irst res !nse5 iss&es that the' initiall' #i"e $eca&se the' thin1 that3s what '!& want t! hear, !r $eca&se, %!r s!me reas!n the' thin1 the' are m!re s!ciall' acce ta$le than their #en&ine iss&es0 7art !% the listenin# s1ills that all!w the !r#aniser t! d! that are micr! !litical !nes !% &ttin# the !ther ers!n at ease, detectin# si#nals !% hesitati!n !r &ns&reness and s! !n0 The r! !sal here, in !ther w!rds, is that the ).( c!nce t&alisati!n d!es n!t s! m&ch c!ntradict the c!mm!n sense "ersi!n, as e,tend it int! an additi!nal dimensi!n, anal!#!&s t! t&rnin# a 2) ict&re int! a 9) !ne0 6$!"e we3"e !nl' reall' tal1ed a$!&t h!w the macr! !litical and micr! !litical r!cesses can w!r1 in harm!n', rein%!rcin# each !ther, !r at cr!ss- &r !ses, c!&nterin# each !ther0 2!we"er we can als! &se a d&alistic anal'sis t! &nderstand h!w ca italism3s di"isi!n !% the s!cial s here int! the !litical and the ec!n!mic act&all' a%%ects the di%%erin# wa's that relati!ns !% e, l!itati!n and d!minati!n !r ! ressi!n mani%est themsel"es t! &s0 This is act&all' a wa' $i##er t! ic than we reall' ha"e r!!m %!r here, in an alread' !"erl!n# !st, $&t it3s w!rth t!&chin# !n $rie%l', $e%!re m!"in# !n t! the c!re iss&e !% the rele"ance !% all this t! the c&rrent $ac1lash a#ainst intersecti!nalit' in man' le%t-win# circles0 6ss&min# that lar#e-scale !r 4macr!5 in the c!mm!n sense, entities d! e,ert in%l&ence !n indi"id&als, the means $' which the' d! this ma' $e either macr! !litical !r micr! !litical in the ).( sense0 Lr, m!re c!rrectl', alth!&#h the entit'/indi"id&al relati!ns will act&all' ass thr!&#h $!th sim&ltane!&sl', al$eit in di%%erent wa's, the d!minant manner ma' $e !ne !r the !ther0 The %irst r! !siti!n here is that cate#!ries !% d!minati!n and ! ressi!n, s&ch as race !r #ender, mani%est themsel"es rimaril' t! indi"id&als !n the macr! !litical le"el - i0e0 '!& are made c!nsci!&s !% them, t! ha"e their e%%ect !n '!&0 An %act, it c!&ld $e ar#&ed that the !int !% d!minati!n is t! &t '!&r c!nsci!&s ch!ices at the ser"ice !% the interest !% the d!minatin# %!rce0 Which is n!t t! sa' that e%%ects !% race, #ender,

heter!se,ism, etc, d! n!t als! im act thr!&#h m!re s&$c!nsci!&s channels - as in %act n&mer!&s critics !% the ! ressi"e e%%ects !% these cate#!ries ha"e !inted !&t -+an!n s rin#s t! mind, %!r e0#0/0 The sec!nd r! !siti!n here, is that cate#!ries $ased !n e, l!itati!n, s&ch as class, ! erate red!minantl' thr!&#h channels a1in t! the micr! !litical -act&all' 4a,i!matic5, within the ).( !nt!l!#', $&t n! time %!r that000/ in $' assin# and $ein# indi%%erent t! c!nsci!&s s&$8ecti"it'0 An %act, #ettin# awa' %r!m the s'ch!l!#ical idea !% micr! !litics as %l!w !% a%%ects, e, l!itati!n is as c!m letel' indi%%erent t! a%%ects as it is t! %eelin#s/em!ti!ns as it asses thr!&#h indi"id&als0 An the 19th cent&r' %act!r' w!r1ers were red&ced t! mere 4hands5, n!t 8&st "er$all', $&t racticall', in ! erati!nal terms0 An an entirel' di%%erent 21st cent&r' c!nte,t, &sers !% +ace$!!1 d! n!t a' t! &se its 4ser"ice5, n!r are the' aid $' it, n!r are their interacti!ns with it #!"erned $' an'thin# !ther than their !wn interests0 =!netheless, shareh!lder "al&e, r!%it, is $ein# e,tracted %r!m this acti"it', with!&t an' macr! !litical c!mmand !"er the +ace$!!1 &ser3s acti"it'0 This t!! is !ne !% ca italism3s %l!ws !% e, l!itati!n, with!&t an' !$"i!&s si#n !% d!minance !r ! ressi!n0 A% cate#!ries s&ch as race !r #ender !n the !ne hand, and class !n the !ther, seem in s!me wa' di%%erent t! &s, this cann!t $e di"!rced %r!m that %act that the' 4a ear5 di%%erentl' t! &s, in the sense !% the wa' the' initiall' mani%est themsel"es in !&r indi"id&al li"es0 A% race !r #ender a ear t! &s directl' in the %!rm !% inter ers!nal and instit&ti!nal relati!ns, then 4c!nsci!&sness-raisin#5 is an a r! riate acti"it' t! ma1e the lin1 %r!m indi"id&al e, eriences !% ! ressi!n t! the s'stemic ! ressi!n0 Ln the !ther hand, i% the class relati!n a ears t! &s in the %!rm !% indi"id&al !ne-t!-!ne "!l&ntar' c!ntracts $etween &s and an em l!'er in the la$!&r mar1et, then the ! erati!n !% e, l!itati!n ta1es lace 4$ehind !&r $ac1s5, as :ar, &t it, and the class relati!n is n!t immediatel' a arent !n an inter ers!nal le"el0 At3s ! erati!n has t! $e seen %irst !n a c!llecti"e le"el, and then the lin1 $ac1 d!wn t! !ne3s indi"id&al e, erience $e made in that !rder0 6s n!ted earlier, this is a $i# t! ic, $&t we need t! m!"e !n0 Macroleft (ersus Microleft We can n!w m!"e t! a c!nsiderati!n !% what we mi#ht mean $' s&ch a term as the 4macr!-red&cti!nist le%t50 The term r! !ses that there is a s&$stantial secti!n !% the le%t that insists either that !nl' macr! !litical d'namics reall' e,ist, !r, alternati"el', that ma'$e s!me !% that 4t!&ch'-%eel'5 st&%% -the 1nee-8er1 sti#matisin# term is itsel% re"elat!r'/ d!es ha"e s!me rele"ance in relati!n t! 4 ers!nal matters5 - ers!nal relati!nshi s and s&ch-li1e/, $&t an' %!c&s !n it r&ns the ris1 !% >&ic1l' trans%!rmin# int! 4 ,ourgeois indi+idualism5 !r, inter-chan#ea$l', 4identity politics5, $!th cardinal sins0 The macr!-red&cti!nist le%t, then, is characterised $' an instincti"e s&s ici!n !%, and h!stilit' t!wards an'thin# that smac1s !% micr! !litics0 7artl' this is t! d! with a 4rati!nalist5 !r !siti"ist disc!m%!rt with d'namics and c!mm&nicati!ns that are inherentl' hard t! directl' detect, >&anti%' and meas&re $' !$8ecti"e meth!ds0 F&t m!re %&ndamentall' it is an im licit re8&dice that, when it c!mes t! !nt!l!#', 4there can ,e only one50 An !ther w!rds, an' de art&re %r!m a !ne-sidedl' macr! !litics m&st $e settin# itsel% & as a !ne-sidedl' micr! !litical alternati"e, which w!&ld im l' the li>&idati!n !% "ital macr! !litical !nt!l!#ical entities s&ch as class0 An !ther w!rds, the macr!le%t see an' e%%!rt t! ta1e micr! !litical iss&es seri!&sl' as e"idence !% a li$eral !nt!l!#', as we !&tlined at the start0 2!we"er, h!w credi$le is thisH A% we l!!1 at the s!cial criti>&es ad"anced $' %eminists, anti-racists and !thers, either $ac1 in the 60s !r t!da', m!st !% them e, licitl' &t %!rward racism !r #ender as 4real a$stracti!ns5 in a similar "ein t! :ar,3s characterisati!n !% ca ital -!1, technicall'

acc!rdin# t! S!hn-Benthal, $&t it3s a ! &lar inter retati!n/0 An a recent inter"iew with Ba$$le, #&ardian 8!&rnalist (ar' Q!&n#e said, in res !nse t! a >&esti!n a$!&t h!w :artin ?&ther Pin# mi#ht ha"e reacted t! the L$ama residenc':
A thin1 it w!&ld $e c!nsistent with the wa' [:?P] s !1e d&rin# his li%e t! sa' that L$ama hi#hli#hts s!me !% the c!ntradicti!ns !% the !st-Ci"il Bi#hts era0 S!me e! le are all!wed t! #et !n0 Bacism is a s'stem R it is n!t a$!&t indi"id&als, it is a$!&t #r!& s0

=!w whether Q!&n#e c!&nts as a 4li$eral5 %!r n!t $ein# an ad"!cate !% the re"!l&ti!nar' !"erthr!w !% ca ital, is n!t the iss&e here0 An terms !% a li$eral !nt!l!#' that re%&ses the e,istence !% racism as !ther than the s&m !% indi"id&al racist re8&dices, his asserti!n that racism is a s'stem, d!esn3t %it0 6nd it3s a rett' c!mm!n !siti!n am!n#st anti-racists0 Similarl', man' %eminists, !% a ran#e !% di%%erent "arieties, w!&ld h!ld that #ender e,erts real !wer as a s'stemic s!cial relati!n0 6nd ditt!, n! d!&$t, >&eer the!rists and !thers0 The acce tance !% the im !rtance !% micr! !litical iss&es d!es n!t, in and !% itsel%, im l' a necessar' re8ecti!n !% the macr! !litical s&ch as in a li$eral !nt!l!#'0 At3s im !rtant t! #ras , h!we"er, that there d!es e,ist a mirr!r ima#e !% the macr!le%t which is a micr!red&cti!nist le%t that %!c&ses !n micr! !litical d'namics either t! the c!m lete e,cl&si!n !% macr! !litical cate#!ries li1e class, !r mista1enl' tr'in# t! artic&late it as a &rel' micr! !litical c!nstr&ct, li1e 4classism50 2!we"er this d!es n!t mean that an' !litics that addresses micr! !litical d'namics seri!&sl', is necessaril' restricted t! s&ch a micr!le%t0 6 d&alist !nt!l!#' that addresses $!th macr! !litical and micr! !litical d'namics is n!t !nl' !ssi$le, $&t is &ltimatel' the !nl' c!m rehensi$le and c!nsistent readin# !% $!th in the sense e, !sed $' ).(0 2!we"er, t! the macr!le%t, the n!ti!n !% a d&alist !nt!l!#' where d'namics are alwa's sim&ltane!&sl' macr! !litical and micr! !litical, is anathema0 Which is ir!nic #i"en that the ideas !% :ar,, which m!st !% the macr! !litical le%t still ta1e as a rimar' re%erence !int, is !ne !% the rimar' s!&rces %!r the &nderstandin# that the hist!rical s eci%icit' !% ca italism is recisel' its !ri#inal %ract&rin# !% the s!cial !nt!l!#' int! the 4!nt!l!#ical d!&$lin#5 !% !litical and ec!n!mic s heres ! eratin# t! a&t!n!m!&s, i% necessaril' interc!nnected, l!#ics0 2!w c!&ld s&ch clearl' d&alist !ri#ins ha"e $een trans%!rmed int! s&ch an a##ressi"el' m!nist !nt!l!#'H The s!l&ti!n t! this c!n&ndr&m is that m&ch !% the !rth!d!, :ar,ist le%t, while a'in# li -ser"ice t! :ar,3s !nt!l!#ical d&alism, in ractice h!ld a m!re se&d!-d&alist !nt!l!#' where !ne !% the !les - the ec!n!mic is 4m!re e>&al5 than the !ther, tendin# t! the e,treme !% "&l#ar ec!n!mism where the ec!n!mic 4$ase5 determines the !litical 4s& erstr&ct&re5 - !r at least in the m!st si#ni%icant cases !% 4 in the 3inal instance50 An essence the !nt!l!#ical r!$lem !% the macr!le%t3s h!stilit' t! micr! !litics, and $' e,tensi!n intersecti!nalit', is n!t d&e t! $ein# t!! :ar,ist, $&t n!t $ein# :ar,ist en!&#h0 That the h!stilit' !% the macr!le%t is reall' t! micr! !litics in #eneral, rather than intersecti!nalit' s eci%icall' is e"idenced $' the str!n# arallels $etween the ar#&ments and attit&des de l!'ed $' the %!rmer a#ainst the latter and th!se !nl' recentl' de l!'ed $' the SW7 a#ainst 4creeping 3eminism5 and 4autonomism5 and the reacti!n a#ainst %eminism, #a' and $lac1 li$erati!n !litics in the 1960s and O0s $' the macr!le%t !% the da'0 L% c!&rse t!da'3s 4de%enders !% real class !litics5 -sic/ a#ainst intersecti!nalit' declare that the' are in %a"!&r

!% %eminism, anti-racism and %i#htin# h!m! h!$ia, and distance themsel"es %r!m the 4&n%!rt&nate5 attit&des !% their %!rer&nners a#ainst same0 6nd, s&$8ecti"el'-s ea1in#, -des ite !%ten $ein# ardent critics !% the acce ta$ilit' !% s&$8ecti"el'-$ased 8&d#ements in !ther circ&mstances/, the' are s ea1in# the tr&th %!r the m!st art0 6nd here A thin1 the !siti!n !% s!me intersecti!nalists that macr!le%t h!stilit' t! them can !nl' $e e"idence !% &nrec!#nised mis!#'n', racism !r h!m! h!$ia is inc!rrect0 +!r the macr!le%t is n!t e,cl&si"el' ! &lated $' men, !r white !r strai#ht e! le0 6nd, %!r that matter, e"en a #!!d n&m$er !% the macr!le%t wh! are strai#ht white men, ha"e dem!nstrated their sincere ! !siti!n t! se,ism, racism and h!m! h!$ia in ast deeds as well as w!rds0 Mnless we are t! ta1e a a#e !&t !% the Si!nist la'$!!1 and ad! t their re &lsi"e ha$it !% slanderin# their Jewish critics as 4sel%-hatin# Jews5, clearl' we need t! l!!1 %!r !litical m!ti"es that #! dee er than sim le re8&dice !n the art !% w!men, #a' !r 7!C ad"!cates !% the macr!le%t ! !siti!n t! intersecti!nalit'0 The 1e' t! dec!nstr&ctin# the inc!nsistenc' !% this ! !siti!n lies in the am$i#&!&s &se !% the w!rd 4di"isi"e5 $' the macr!le%t when s&mmin# & what the' %ind m!st !$8ecti!na$le in intersecti!nalit'0 Ln the !ne hand 4di"isi"e5 in"!1es the s ectre !% a *er!-s&m #ame, a 4class-as-identit'5 ers ecti"e that sees an' attenti!n #i"en t! an' cate#!r' !ther than class as necessaril' s&$tractin# %r!m it0 At3s n!t s! m&ch that the' re%&se t! admit the e,istence !% cate#!ries !% #ender !r race, $&t that the' see them as in direct c!m etiti!n with class, s! that in terms !% 4 rimar' identit'5, class is m&t&all' e,cl&si"e with all !ther cate#!ries0 This sense !% 4di"isi"e5 as $ein# in c!m etiti!n with class res& !ses a m!nistic !r at $est merel' se&d!d&alistic !nt!l!#' that c!n%&ses class and identit', e, l!itati!n and ! ressi!n0 The sec!nd &se !% 4di"isi"e5 is in the acc&sati!n !% intersecti!nalists ca&sin# di"isi"e ar#&ments and alienatin# e! le $' an !"erl' c!n%r!ntati!nal !r a$&si"e manner0 The act&al "alidit' !% these acc&sati!ns are ! en t! >&esti!n, t! sa' the least0 F&t ha"e $een challen#ed and criticised m!re than ade>&atel' elsewhere, s! !ther than sa'in# there is s!methin# !% Arish ri#ht-win# c!l&mnist J!hn Waters3 claim t! $ein# ! ressed $' the li$eral-%emina*i esta$lishment a$!&t s!me !% these claims, the merits !% the char#es themsel"es are n!t at iss&e here0 What is at iss&e - the am$i#&it' alread' menti!ned - is that the criti>&e is e%%ecti"el' a char#e !% micr!%ascistic $eha"i!&r !n the art !% intersecti!nalists0 =!w i% we acce t that micr!%ascisms can arise within the !litical d'namics !% an' #r!& , re#ardless !% it3s stated macr! !litical rinci les, then that challen#e can $e &t t! an' #r!& , n!t 8&st a&th!ritarian s!cialists !% the !rth!d!, :ar,ist il1, $&t n! less anarchists -li$ertarianism is a macr! !litical a%%iliati!n and 4manarchism5 act&all' is 4a thin#5 rather than the sl&r s!me dismiss it as/ and %eminists, intersecti!nalists and an'$!d' else0 2!we"er there is a direct c!ntradicti!n $etween, !n the !ne hand, claimin# that an' acce tance !% micr! !litics as "alid #r!&nds %!r criticism is 4di"isi"e5, and !n the !ther %!rmin# a criti>&e !% 4di"isi"eness5 that is itsel% micr! !litical, !n the !ther0 6nd indeed, the %ew criti>&es %r!m the macr!le%t that rise a$!"e the le"el !% &re ressentiment and a !litical h!stilit', d!es &nmista1ea$l' ha"e this c!ntent0 ?et3s ta1e as an e,am le a recent statement %r!m the 6nti-Ca italist Antiati"e3s Charlie Winstanle' !n the recent Anternati!nal S!lidarit' =etw!r1 s lit, re8ected $' the 6CA $&t #lee%&ll' re rinted $' the e"er-tr!llish Wee1l' W!r1er:

4The t!tal e%%ect is t! create an en"ir!nment in which %ree disc&ssi!n !% ideas is im !ssi$le0 L ressed #r!& s and

indi"id&als ! erate as a %!rm !% &nassaila$le riesth!!d, $asin# their le#itimac' !n the d!ctrine !% !ri#inal sin0 T! e,tend the anal!#', disc&ssi!ns $ec!me c!n%essi!nals in which artici ants are enc!&ra#ed t! sel%-%la#ellate and r!strate themsel"es $e%!re the h!l' writ !% sel%-awareness0 Shame and sel%-de recati!n are enc!&ra#ed t! 1ee n!n! ressed #r!& s in their lace, and s&$"ert the s!cial 'ramid !% ! ressi!n, with ! ressed #r!& s at the t! 0 F&t the >&esti!n $e#s, t! what endsH Wh!m d!es it $ene%it t! ha"e ! ressed #r!& s sittin# at! a c!n"ersati!n increasin#l' restricted t! a tin' and declinin# %ar le%t, $ec!min# e"er m!re e,cl&si"e and alienated %r!m s!cial disc&ssi!n with its h!stile and c!m licated eti>&ettes and r!ced&resH What indi"id&al in their ri#ht mind w!&ld see1 li$erati!n in this m!"ement, riddled with its !wn internal in>&isiti!nH5

An assin#, let3s n!te that the s&$"erted s!cial 'ramid !% ! ressi!n ech!es the earlier criti>&e !% in"erted hierarchies %!&nd in the anarchist - and intersecti!nalist - writer, (a'#e L eraista in their criti>&e !% li$eral #a' !litics in 4A criti2ue o3 anti%assimilationism50 An the >&!te here the 6CA writer is clearl' criti>&in# -h!we"er &n%airl'/ the creati!n !% an a%%ecti"e en"ir!nment !% shame, #&ilt and in>&isiti!n that w!&ld ha"e n! d!&$t $een %amiliar t! the !!r wretches !% the Ja anese Mnited Bed 6rm'0 While we ha"e 'et t! hear !% e! le $ein# l'nched !r 1ni%ed t! death $' the &tati"e 4intersecti!nalist in>&isiti!n5 in the same wa' as the MB6, the !int here is that the criti>&e is n!t !% the !"ert !r macr! !litical c!mmitments !% the intersecti!nalists t! c!m$attin# racism, se,ism, etc, $&t t! an im &ted micr! !litical 4will t! !wer5 %!r d!minati!n and c!ntr!l !% what c!nstit&tes acce ta$le disc&ssi!n0 #o now what? S! h!w d! we #et $e'!nd the stale and &n r!d&cti"e m&t&al h!stilit' and c!n%r!ntati!n $etween the macr!le%t and the micr!le%tH An terms !% th!se ad"!cates !% intersecti!nalit' !r !ther micr! !litical-iss&e addressin# !litical tendencies that act&all' d! e,hi$it a le%t li$eral !nt!l!#', the res !nse is !$"i!&s0 +irstl', sim l' drawin# attenti!n t! all th!se arts !% the w!r1s !% the writers and acti"ists %r!m the artic&lar tendenc' the' ta1e ins irati!n %r!m that e, licitl' tal1 !% the realit' !% s!cial relati!ns and cate#!ries !% ! ressi!n0 Sec!ndl' !intin# !&t the inc!nsistencies !% tr'in# t! red&ce e, l!itati!n in m!ne' terms -and what !ther terms are thereH/ t! $ein# a t' e !% ! ressi!n -!%ten in"ersel' r! !rti!nal in ractice/0 Thirdl' e, !sin# the c!ntradicti!ns in castin# class as a %!rm !% ! ressi!n, rather than e, l!itati!n0 +inall' in !intin# !&t that while '!& d!n3t necessaril' ha"e t! $e int! a&th!ritarian and re resentati!nal !litics t! ad"!cate a m!nist !nt!l!#', it is en!&#h !% a c!n"enient %it %!r s&ch reacti!nar' !litics t! #i"e seri!&s li$erati!nists a&se %!r th!&#ht0 An relati!n t! the macr!le%t, the m!st !$"i!&s c!ntradicti!n is that a tendenc' that rides itsel% !n ha"in# a rati!nal macr! !litical criti>&e !% all s!cial hen!mena sim l' d!es n!t ha"e s&ch a criti>&e !% intersecti!nalit'0 The em er!r has n! cl!thes0 G"er' criti>&e the' ha"e attem ted t! %!rm&late s! %ar, in the rare case !% r!#ressin# $e'!nd sim le a$&se and slander, has $een a micr! !litical !ne, which c!ntradicts the remise !% their ar#&ment, and indeed their $asic !nt!l!#'0 T! #en&inel' criticise the m!nist li$eral !nt!l!#' the' w!&ld ha"e t! e,amine the limits !% their !wn m!nism, and sel%-criticism is recisel' the thin# that the c&rrent macr!le%t h!stilit' t! intersecti!nalit' is tr'in# t! a"!id0 +!r decades the macr!le%t has c!n"inced itsel% that it was 1ee in# the %lame !% w!r1in# class anti-ca italist re$elli!n ali"e, waitin# %!r the ine"ita$le c!min# ca italist crisis0 The crisis has c!me and the res&lt %!r the le%t has $een massi"e de%eat, rather than #r!wth !r "ict!r'0 The res&ltin# dem!ralisati!n has led t! the c&rrent a##ressi"e see1in# %!r enemies t! $lame !r witches t! $&rn0 Whate"er '!& ma' thin1 !% Pe'nes -and the macr!le%t3s dirt' secret is that it claims ?enin $&t demands Pe'nes/ his >&esti!n that 4i% the %acts c!ntradict m' the!r', A chan#e m' the!r'0 What d! '!& d!H5 has ne"er $een s! rele"ant0 An additi!n, the !ne r!$lem that $!th the macr!-le%t and li$eral intersecti!nalists and !ther tendencies !% the micr!le%t act&all' ha"e in c!mm!n, is a %ail&re t! reall' en#a#e with the l!!min# en"ir!nmental catastr! he that !"ershad!ws 21st cent&r' radical !litics0 6#ain this is a r!$lem stemmin# %r!m the !nt!l!#ical

similarit' $etween the tw!0 An this case an !"erl' 4 ers!n-centred5 !r h&manist $ias0 6 m!re #en&inel' materialist -rather than ec!n!mistic/ !nt!l!#' has t! incl&de the intersecti!n !% three relati!nal l!#ics - 1/ the relati!n $etween e! le and the macr! !litical s!cial relati!ns that de%ine !&r c&rrent ca italist m!de !% r!d&cti!n, %ramed $' r! ert', the law !% "al&e and r!d&cin# e, l!itati!n the class str&##le@ 2/ the relati!n $etween e! le and $i#-L 4Lther5 e! le, %ramed $' identit', s&$8ecti%icati!n and r!d&cin# hierarchies !% d!minati!n and ! ressi!n@ 9/ the relati!n $etween e! le and the en"ir!nment, %ramed $' 4e,ternalit'5 -in "al&e terms/ and r!d&cin# en"ir!nmental destr&cti!n and &ns&staina$le res!&rce !"er&se0 An the c!nte,t !% these, the str&##le !% the re"!l&ti!nar' m!"ement is t!wards ec!n!mic emanci ati!n, !litical li$erati!n and en"ir!nmental transiti!n0 =either $rain-dead 4de"el! ment !% the %!rces !% r!d&cti!n5 -a1a 4J!$s . (r!wthT5/, n!r ers!nal li$erati!n %r!m all inter ers!nal ! ressi!ns is #!in# t! deal with the en"ir!nmental crisis0 =either will lea"in# it t! th!se wh! thin1 a new 4#reen5 state a&th!ritarianism is the answer either, %!r that matter0 Gn!&#h0 G, l!rin# ).(3s n!ti!n !% the macr! !litical class relati!n ha"in# its micr! !litical c!&nter art in masses, im !rtant as it is t! &nderstandin# $!th the %!rce and the limits !% the & risin#s !% the 6ra$ S rin#, the m!"ement !% s>&ares, etc, will ha"e t! wait %!r an!ther time0 )fterword This is !ne !% th!se ieces '!& start !%% in the c!m lacent c!n"icti!n that '!& ha"e a clear idea !% what '!&3re #!in# t! write a$!&t, h!w the ar#&ment will $e str&ct&red, with a start, middle and c!ncl&si!n, !nl' t! disc!"er that '!& were &tterl', &tterl' mista1en0 At was s!me wa' in $e%!re A realised that A c!&ldn3t h! e t! %inish this iece A w!&ld 8&st ha"e t! settle %!r >&ittin# at s!me !int0 Lnce A started &llin# !n this c!nce t&al thread m!re and m!re thin#s 1e t ! in# !&t, m!re c!nnecti!ns, m!re thin#s t! $e e, lained, m!re >&esti!ns t! $e answered0 An a wa' the te,t itsel% $ecame a mini ).(-st'le war machine, insatia$le, &nc!ntr!lla$le and &nst! a$le0 The res&lt, A3m a%raid is an &nr&l' ram$lin# mess0 A can3t sa' i% the attem t t! read it will $rin# '!& an' $ene%it, $&t %r!m an entirel' sel%ish !int !% "iew, A %!&nd writin# it ama*in#l' r!d&cti"e in terms !% the lines !% %&t&re en>&ir' it has ! ened & %!r me0 A can !nl' !%%er c!mmiserati!ns i% the r!cess !% readin# it t&rned !&t t! $e ain%&l, %r&stratin# !r m'sti%'in#, th!&#h0 :' %irst enc!&nter with )ele&*e and (&attari was thr!&#h m' c!mrades in the +ree 6ss!ciati!n, !ne !% wh!m, Peir, s&##ested that !&r ne,t readin# #r!& w!r1 sh!&ld $e 6 Th!&sand 7latea&s0 2e claimed that readin# it had chan#ed the wa' he th!&#ht a$!&t !litics, li%e, e"er'thin#, e"en i% he c!&ldn3t e, lain it0 (ra lin# with 6T7 was a $it li1e that $it at the start !% 6lien where the crew e, l!re a shi wrec1ed alien s aceshi 0 :!st !% !&r readin# #r!& c!n"ersati!ns started with 4What the %&c1 d!es this $it meanH5 &s&all' res !nded with 4)&nn!, $&t A thin1 ma'$eN n!t s&re, th!&#h50 ?i1e the alien in%ecti!n, '!& wal1 awa' %r!m '!&r enc!&nter with 6T7 and initiall' thin1 '!&3re &nchan#ed and &na%%ected0 6nd then s!me time later, e"en 'ears a%terwards, it s&ddenl' $&rsts !&t !% '!&r chest, mewlin# its m!nstr!&s desire t! de"!&r the w!rld0 S! A $lame '!& %!r this Peir, it3s all '!&r %a&ltN @/ +inall', A was #!in# t! incl&de the %!ll!win# as a header >&!te, $&t as !ne !% m' dra%t re"iewers ri#htl' !inted !&t, that s!rt !% thin# is LP %!r $!!1 cha ters, $&t d!esn3t reall' w!r1 with !nline ieces, artic&larl' i% the rele"ance is !$li>&e, rather than !$"i!&s & %r!nt0 6s a m&sician A %ind the anal!#' $etween a d&alistic anal'sis, s&ch as the !ne macr! !litics and micr! !litics #i"es &s, and the 4dialectical &nit'5 - &ntil recentl' mista1en $' Western m&sic!l!#' as !l' h!n' - !% the 6%rican cr!ss-rh'thm t! $e irresisti$le0 Lne da' s!!n, erha s, the le%t will ha"e the c!n%idence t! "ent&re $e'!nd the 4%!&r-%!&r-t!-the-%l!!r5 marchin# $and m!n!metric rh'thm !% ast d!#mas and start learnin# t! dance t! a di%%erent $eat, !ne m!re c!m le, and 'et m!re tr&e t! li%e0 We li"e in h! e0

4cross-rhythm: A rhythm in hich the regular pattern o3 accents o3 the pre+ailing meter is contradicted ,y a
con3licting pattern and not merely a momentary displacement that lea+es the pre+ailing meter 3undamentally unchallenged5 =ew 2ar"ard )icti!nar' !% :&sic

4By the +ery nature o3 the desired resultant rhythm/ the main ,eat scheme cannot ,e separated 3rom the secondary ,eat scheme( It is the interplay o3 the t o elements that produces the cross%rhythmic te8ture5
+!&ndati!nal C!&rse in 6%rican :&sic, C0P0 ?ad*e1 ! E#The. resultant #':-. rhythm holds the !ey to understanding ( ( ( there is no independence here/ ,ecause - and ' ,elong to a single Gestalt0E Be resentin# 6%rican :&sic: 7!stc!l!nial =!tes, U&eries, 7!siti!ns, P!%i 6#awe

Be%s:

)ele&*e . (&attari, :icr! !litics and Se#mentarit'

htt ://www0a%ter196<0!r#/a /we$r!!t/& l!ads/T7-:icr! !litics0 d% [22] htt ://li$c!m0!r#/li$rar'/criti>&e-anti-assimilati!n-#a'#e-! eraista [29] htt ://www0c #$0!r#0&1/h!me/wee1l'-w!r1er/99O/is-netw!r1-sel%-%la#ellati!n-and-the-1in1'-s lit [24]