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.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the 2009 edition
Preface
Preamble: This is the definition of class hatred
Introduction to the 2003 edition
This is the fable of the thirsty crow
Introducing Monsieur Dupont
We start, as we end, in simplicity
Basic statement
On consciousness
A qualification
Working class consciousness?
Further thoughts and explanations
Summary and counter-interpretation
Dictatorship of the proletariat
Groups
Is Lenin on sale again?
Identity politics
Militants and otherness
Political priorities and consciousness
On economic determinism and autonomism
The revolutionary subject
a recap of our perspective
No way out
Appendices:
The optimism of revolutionaries
Language and consciousness
Recent interventions: May Days, Palestine, and the material base
The ticklish matter
Reply to “the real movement"
To get over the wall, we first have to get to the wall
Some notes concerning future proletarian insurgency
Only we can prevent mythology
Anarchists must say what only anarchists can say
More on anti-imperialism
We're all Claire Short now
Something on political activism
2009 Appendix: Seminar 4
Glossary
Cruelty - or - the inclusion of the distributive sphere
Feint
Thrust
Parry
The inescapable condition
How many of you are there?
Stop thinking expressivity start thinking transcendence