This short book provides a useful synthesis of Badiou's theoretical work with a contemporary event- the 2011 Arab spring. Badiou writes that local riots, often demonised by the Western state and authorities, carry within them the potential to become something more, historical riots such as the Arab Spring which carry across a number of sites and make previously "inexistent" populations "existent". This is relevant as riots are fast becoming a core feature of our time (in 2011).
They do this by ending the state's process of "separating names", whereby we are divided into categories- "white", "muslim", etc. It is a universal truth that separating names must be ended and that the inexistent must be made existent. This is why political protests are reflections of truth.
A revolutionary minority can create a new political order, but only if they follow the symbolism and purpose of the street protests. To do anything else would be to betray the revolution and maintain previous structures of power.
My worry with Badiou is that he does not help us to safeguard our new world once the fires of the revolution have faded. Will not the revolutionary leaders simply create new separative terms, e.g. by proclaiming that some are true to the legacy of the street protests and some are not? And what fate is in store for those poor souls who have been declared to be against the "truth" of the revolution? Will we see their "existence" stripped from them?

Disappointingly shallow, even for 120-whatever pages.

Meh.

Happy New Year!

Particularly good on the categorisation of riots, and why some fizzle out whilst others go on to full-scale revolutions.

Say what you will about postmaoism but he has such a great style.

Badiou is an optimist, remains one even now. He calls this an intervallic period, that difficult doldrums between great emancipatory movements. In this short book he carries out an analysis of the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and beyond, and his excitement is infectious. Sure, these riots and protests don't yet have real shape or unified goals, but that is always the beginning, the gathering of people who agree, at least, that What Should Not Be Currently Is. Or, better: What Should Be Currently Is Not.

One other point I loved: the state, these days, spends much of its time carefully defining what is possible and what is not. Non-exploitative capitalism, of course, we're on the way there. Trust us. Care for the poor and the "undocumented worker"? Are you crazy? That's simply unsustainable.

Of course, Badiou explores this much more carefully and persuasively than I do here. He occasionally lapses into a *little* too much technical language, but if you're one of those that worry he'll bust out set theory on you, you're safe in this book.