Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2003 16:39:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Shawn P. Wilbur" <swilbur-AT-wcnet.org>
Subject: [postanarchism] correction


My apologies. In looking back over _Philosophy in a time of terror_, i see
that i carelessly included in my note on that volume some elements from
the fragmentary translations of the Habermas-Derrida article. The mention
of the WTO appears to be in the article. Hopefully, the complete
translation of that piece will be available soon, since the existing
commentary seems pretty contradictory, even just about the general
argument of the piece. It *looks* from the fragmentary sources as if the
"endorsement" of the WTO extends as far as a suggestion that its meetings
be among the forums for the assertion of the "European" (non-state, at
least in the realm of Derrida's hopes - however realistic these may be)
values against current practices and policies.

In _Philosophy in a time of terror_, it is clear that Derrida is well
aware of the current uses of international laws and organizations. But, as
he did previously in _The Other Heading_, he appears to be advocating a
transformation of institutions rather than simple opposition. It is not
clear exactly what his program might be here. Perhaps the article will
prove more programatic. But this ambiguity was certainly at work in
_Specters..._ and the other texts where the "democracy to come" has been
discussed before.

I think it would be a serious mistake to see Derrida as having "changed"
in some way in this recent work, which is very much in the same spirit as,
well, most everythink he has done. It would, i think, be a *terrible*
mistake to neglect reading this recent work, which is so concerned with
the concrete problems of war, refugees, the future of the nation state,
etc.

I closed my bookstore yesterday, and am wrapped up in the messy business
of getting the final liquidation rolling, so i am not probably in the
shape to tackle the question of "dogmatic anarchism" particularly
gracefully right now. I'll try to get to that - and to Tom's post - on the
morrow.

Again, my apologies for muddying the water here. I haven't been getting
much sleep...

-shawn