From: "Lowe Laclau" <lowelaclau-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: AUT: Difference of Concept: Empire & Imperialism
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 05:52:24 -0400
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<P>>As far as this comment of yours - </P>
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<P>> </P>
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<P>>>I'm not suggesting, of course, that Negri was trying </P>
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<P>>>to write a manifesto for Blairism and academic snobs, </P>
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<P>>>but I do think that the people who seem most </P>
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<P>>>interested in his book show up some of its </P>
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<P>>>shortcomings. Give me the theory of imperialism over </P>
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<P>>>Empire any day! </P>
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<P>> </P>
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<P>> <BR><FONT size=2>When people criticize the concept that N & H developed in "empire", I often wonder if they've really comprehended what it captures, or of what it allows one to speak as opposed to "imperialism". I do not believe they should be interpreted as competing "theories". This is entirely the wrong way to look at their writings completely. Imperialism describes something just as specific in terms of a conceptualization of phenomena as does Empire. It is not even an issue of whether one believes that "empire" or "imperialism" are even 'real' or existing things. Insofar as they are concepts and I or they speak them to you, either you understand what they are conceiving with these terms or you don't. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>As far as the differences of type of people who one might call empire or imperial theorists, shouldn't these be seen as differences-of-kind like any other. Not everyone in a culture will speak of "unconscious" processes (to give an example), some people might speak of "subconscious" processes (we're acknowledging of course that these describe two different things), others may not acknowledge anything at all that exists for an individual outside of consciousness itself. The difference between these three conceptual spheres will be the differences in ability with which they will be able to analyze themselves or the sphere of psychic life for a living organism with consciousness. Those who do not acknowledge an out-of-consciousness life for organisms will obviously be the least progressive and will be able to explain the least of the complexity of psychic life, while the other two will in different ways be able to explain for complex possibities of action. Those who acknowledge all three conceptual possibilities or even acknowledge an even more complex unconscious with different types of unconscious productions will be have the greatest advantage in whatever type of communication she will have with people in discussion of this issue, insofar as she takes the complexity (potential or real) the furthest with regards to the phenomena they are attempting to describe. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>It is on the one hand a matter of personal preference insofar as Imperial theorists can take this concept and bend, twist or fractalize it until it is able to do what the empire theory can do and perhaps more. But in conceiving of Empire one is starting afresh with a concept different from that of Imperialism and can leave that to describe what it does and allow your new concept to describe this new thing that needs expressing. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>On the other hand, if one treats these concepts like dogmas of perspective that are inflexible to the differences people will present to each other or that the world will present to you, then it is much more than an issue of preference, but also ultimately of conceptual <EM>resistance - </EM>being more comfortable with what one knows the way one knows it than with being able to progress conceptually or at least being flexible with the differences of conceiving and speaking that may arise in a place at a particular time. </FONT></P>
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