Assembly Heretical Thought: A Provocative Exploration of the Commons and Biopolitics by Michael Hardt

In his groundbreaking work Assembly Heretical Thought, Michael Hardt argues that the commons is a space of resistance and creativity that can be used to challenge the dominant neoliberal order. Hardt defines the commons as "a shared resource or a set of practices that are not owned or controlled by any individual or group." He argues that the commons is a space of freedom and equality, where people can come together to create and share knowledge, culture, and resources.

Hardt's work has been praised by many for its originality and its potential to inspire new forms of political action. However, it has also been criticized for its utopianism and its lack of specificity. In this article, I will provide a detailed overview of Hardt's work and its implications for contemporary political theory and practice.

Assembly (Heretical Thought)

by Michael Hardt

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1535 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	366 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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The Commons: A Space of Freedom and Equality

Hardt argues that the commons is a space of freedom and equality because it is not owned or controlled by any individual or group. This means that everyone has the right to participate in the commons and to share in its benefits. Hardt contrasts the commons with the private sphere, which is owned and controlled by individuals or corporations. He argues that the private sphere is a space of inequality and oppression, where people are forced to compete for resources and where their rights are often violated.

Hardt's concept of the commons is closely related to the work of other political theorists, such as Elinor Ostrom and Antonio Negri. Ostrom has argued that the commons can be successfully managed by local communities, without the need for state intervention. Negri has argued that the commons is a key site of resistance to capitalism and that it can be used to create a new society based on cooperation and solidarity.

Biopolitics: The Control of Life

Hardt argues that the commons is under threat from the rise of biopolitics. Biopolitics is a form of power that seeks to control life itself. This power is exercised through a variety of means, such as surveillance, discipline, and normalization. Hardt argues that biopolitics is a threat to the commons because it seeks to privatize and control the very things that make the commons possible, such as our bodies, our knowledge, and our culture.

Hardt's concept of biopolitics is closely related to the work of Michel Foucault. Foucault has argued that biopolitics is a new form of power that has emerged in the modern era. This power is no longer based on the sovereign's right to kill, but on the sovereign's right to make live and let die. Foucault argues that biopolitics is a threat to our freedom because it seeks to control our very lives.

Resistance and Creativity in the Commons

Despite the threats posed by biopolitics, Hardt argues that the commons remains a space of resistance and creativity. He argues that the commons can be used to create new forms of political action and to challenge the dominant neoliberal order. Hardt points to a number of examples of resistance in the commons, such as the Zapatista movement in Mexico, the Occupy movement, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Hardt argues that these movements are examples of the power of the commons to create new forms of political action. He argues that these movements are not based on the traditional left-right divide, but on a new politics of the commons. This politics is based on the principles of cooperation, solidarity, and equality.

Implications for Contemporary Political Theory and Practice

Hardt's work has a number of implications for contemporary political theory and practice. First, Hardt's work challenges the traditional left-right divide in politics. He argues that the left and the right are both based on the same logic of capitalism and that they both seek to control the commons. Hardt's work suggests that we need to move beyond the left-right divide and develop a new politics of the commons.

Second, Hardt's work highlights the importance of the commons to contemporary political struggles. He argues that the commons is a space of resistance and creativity that can be used to challenge the dominant neoliberal order. Hardt's work suggests that we need to defend and expand the commons, and to use it as a base for building a new society based on cooperation, solidarity, and equality.

Michael Hardt's Assembly Heretical Thought is a groundbreaking work that has the potential to change the way we think about politics. Hardt's work provides a new understanding of the commons and its role in contemporary political struggles. Hardt's work also challenges the traditional left-right divide in politics and suggests that we need to develop a new politics of the commons.

Hardt's work is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary political theory and practice. It is a challenging and provocative work, but it is also a work that is full of hope and possibility. Hardt's work suggests that we can create a better world, a world based on cooperation, solidarity, and equality.

Assembly (Heretical Thought)

by Michael Hardt

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1535 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	366 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE