Pro-Empire Multitude

Smith argues that Hardt and Negri’s proposals for resistance to empire are insufficiently radical (FL is “libertarian freedom”):

“what the multitude desires is absolute freedom, and what the multitude opposes in Empire is its repression and restriction of freedom. But just what concept of freedom is operative in their proposal? It would seem clear, given the negative mode of formulation (freedom as a freedom from restrictions), the concept of freedom that drives both their critique and constructive vision is a most radical version of FL. But if, as I’ve tried to demonstrate above, Empire—as instantiated in the ‘world market’ and served by American foreign policy—is itself rooted in FL, then it would seem that Hardt and Negri’s alternative vision is still nourished by the same libertarian well. And for just that reason, their alternative is insufficiently radical insofar as it does not really oppose the root ( radix ) of Empire. If the injustices of Empire are in some significant way the fruit of FL, then it’s hard to see how further radicalizing FL will redress this situation of injustice.”

Occupy Wall Street is in secret cahoots with Wall Street.