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S c r e e n e d Out • Jean Baudrillard Translated by Chris Turner V VERSO London • N e w York This edition first p...

Author: Jean Baudrillard

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S c r e e n e d Out •

Jean Baudrillard Translated by Chris Turner

V

VERSO London • N e w York

This edition first published by Verso 2002 © Verso 2002 Translation © Chris Turner 2002 First published as Ecran total © Editions Galilee 2000 All rights reserved The moral rights of the author and the translator have been asserted 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Verso UK: 6 Meard Street, London W1F 0EG USA: 180 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4606 www.versobooks.com Verso is the imprint of New Left Books ISBN 1-85984-660-2 ISBN 1-85984-385-9 (pbk) British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress Typeset by M Rules Printed at the Bath Press

H i s t o r y r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s farce Farce r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s h i s t o r y

Contents

Translator's Foreword

ix

AIDS: Virulence or Prophylaxis?

1

We are all Transsexuals Now

9

Necrospective around Martin Heidegger

15

In Praise of a Virtual Crash

21

The Viral Economy

26

The Depressurization of the West

33

The Defrosting of Eastern Europe and the End of History

39

No Pity for Sarajevo

45

Otherness Surgery

51

The Powerlessness of the Virtual

57

Western Subserbience

62

When the West Takes the Dead Man's Place

66

The Great Laundering

70

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Weep, Citizens!

75

Helots and Elites

79

Information at the Meteorological Stage

85

Disembodied Violence: Hate

91

Psychedelic Violence: Drugs

96

T h e Dark C o n t i n e n t of C h i l d h o o d

102

T h e Double Extermination

107

'Lost from V i e w ' and Truly Disappeared

112

Sexuality as a Sexually Transmitted Disease

118

Sovereignty of the Strike

123

Tierra del Fuego - N e w York

128

World D e b t and Parallel Universe

133

T h e Shadow of the C o m m e n d a t o r e

138

T h e Mirror of C o r r u p t i o n

144

Disneyworld C o m p a n y

150

T h e Global and the Universal

155

D e e p Blue or the Computer's Melancholia

160

T h e R a c i n g Driver and his D o u b l e

166

R u m i n a t i o n s for Spongiform Encephala

171

Screened O u t

176

T h e Art Conspiracy

181

TV Fantasies

186

Of Course Chirac is Useless

191

T h e C l o n e or the Degree Xerox of the Species

196

Exorcism in Politics or the Conspiracy of Imbeciles

203

viii

Translator's

Foreword

i

W i t h a few e x c e p t i o n s , these pieces originally a p p e a r e d as articles in t h e Paris n e w s p a p e r Liberation b e t w e e n J u n e 1 9 8 7 a n d M a y 1 9 9 7 . T h e a u t h o r m a d e several m i n o r c h a n g e s i n t u r n i n g t h e m i n t o b o o k f o r m a n d a v e r y few, e v e n m o r e m i n o r rectific a t i o n s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n p r e p a r i n g this t r a n s l a t i o n . T h e publication in b o o k form contained no footnotes, some of the material initially p u b l i s h e d a s s u c h i n t h e n e w s p a p e r articles h a v i n g b e e n r e s t o r e d t o t h e b o d y o f t h e t e x t . T h e f o o t n o t e s t o this t r a n s l a t i o n are t h e r e f o r e w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n m y o w n a n d are i n c l u d e d solely t o e l u c i d a t e p o i n t s t h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n clear t o a F r e n c h a u d i e n c e a t t h e t i m e , b u t m a y b e o b s c u r e t o a n o n - F r e n c h a u d i e n c e today. C.T.

ix

AIDS: Virulence or Prophylaxis?

A I D S , c o m p u t e r viruses, t e r r o r i s m . . . V i r u l e n c e m a k e s its a p p e a r a n c e w h e n a b o d y , s y s t e m or n e t w o r k expels all its n e g a t i v e e l e m e n t s a n d resolves i n t o a c o m b i n a t o r i a l of s i m p l e o n e s . In this sense, virality is closely r e l a t e d to fractality a n d digitality. I t i s b e c a u s e c o m p u t e r s a n d e l e c t r o n i c m a c h i n e s h a v e b e c o m e a b s t r a c t i o n s , v i r t u a l m a c h i n e s , n o n - b o d i e s , t h a t viruses r u n r i o t i n t h e m ( t h e y are m u c h m o r e vulnerable than traditional mechanical machines). It is because the b o d y itself has b e c o m e a n o n - b o d y , an e l e c t r o n i c , v i r t u a l m a c h i n e , t h a t viruses seize h o l d o f it. T h e current pathology of the b o d y is n o w b e y o n d the reach of conventional m e d i c i n e , s i n c e it affects t h e b o d y n o t us form, b u t as formula. T h e b o d y of c a n c e r i s t h e b o d y fallen v i c t i m t o t h e d i s r u p t i o n o f its g e n e t i c f o r m u l a . T h e A I D S b o d y i s t h e b o d y d a m a g e d a n d i m p a i r e d i n its i m m u n e systems, i n its systems o f c o n t r o l s and anti-bodies. T h e s e n e w p a t h o l o g i e s are t h e illnesses o f a codified, m o d e l l e d b o d y ; t h e y are sicknesses o f t h e c o d e a n d t h e m o d e l . T h e h u m a n being, conceived as an electronic, cybernetic machine, makes a

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perfect h o m e for viruses a n d viral illnesses, j u s t a s c o m p u t e r s p r o v i d e a n ideal t e r rain for e l e c t r o n i c viruses. H e r e again, t h e r e i s n o effective p r e v e n t i o n o r t h e r a p y ; t h e metastases i n v a d e t h e w h o l e n e t w o r k ' v i r t u a l l y ' ; d e - s y m b o l i z e d m a c h i n e l a n g u a g e s offer n o m o r e r e sistance t o v i r u s e s t h a n d o d e - s y m b o l i z e d b o d i e s . T h e t r a d i t i o n a l m e c h a n i c a l a c c i d e n t o r b r e a k d o w n h a d a g o o d o l d reparative m e d i c i n e t o deal w i t h it, b u t t h e s u d d e n failures, a n o m a l i e s a n d 'betrayals' o f a n t i - b o d i e s (quite apart f r o m any d e l i b erate ' h a c k i n g ' i n t o t h e i r functions) are b e y o n d r e m e d y . Virality i s t h e p a t h o l o g y o f c l o s e d circuits, o f i n t e g r a t e d circuits, o f p r o m i s c u i t y a n d c h a i n r e a c t i o n s . It is a p a t h o l o g y of incest, u n d e r s t o o d in a b r o a d , m e t a p h o r ical sense. H e w h o lives b y t h e s a m e will die b y t h e s a m e . T h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f e x c h a n g e , o f reciprocity, o f alterity secretes t h a t o t h e r invisible, diabolic, elusive alterity, t h a t a b s o l u t e O t h e r , t h e v i r u s , itself m a d e u p o f s i m p l e e l e m e n t s a n d o f r e c u r r e n c e t o infinity. W e are i n a n i n c e s t u o u s society. A n d t h e fact t h a t A I D S f i r s t hit t h e h o m o s e x u a l c o m m u n i t y a n d d r u g abusers has t o d o w i t h this i n c e s t u o u s n e s s o f g r o u p s w h i c h f u n c t i o n as c l o s e d circuits. I n t h e past, h a e m o p h i l i a s t r u c k a t families w i t h l o n g h i s t o r i e s o f c o n s a n g u i n e m a r r i a g e s , h i g h l y e n d o g a m o u s lineages. T h e s t r a n g e disease w h i c h for a l o n g t i m e a t t a c k e d cypress trees was a k i n d of v i r u s w h i c h was in t h e e n d a t t r i b u t e d to a r e d u c t i o n i n t h e t e m p e r a t u r e differential b e t w e e n s u m m e r a n d w i n t e r , t o t h e seasons c o m i n g t o i n t e r m i n g l e . T h e r e again, t h e s p e c t r e o f t h e Self-same s t r u c k . I n e v e r y c o m p u l s i o n for r e s e m b l a n c e , e v e r y e x c i s i o n o f differences, i n e v e r y case o f things being contiguous w i t h their o w n images or b e c o m i n g confused w i t h their o w n c o d e , t h e r e is a t h r e a t of i n c e s t u o u s v i r u l e n c e , of a diabolical alterity, k n o c k i n g t h e m a r v e l l o u s m a c h i n e r y o u t o f kilter. I n o t h e r cases, this takes t h e f o r m o f t h e

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r e s u r g e n c e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l (there i s n o m o r a l d i m e n s i o n o r guilt h e r e : t h e principle of Evil is merely s y n o n y m o u s w i t h the principle of reversion and t h e p r i n c i p l e o f adversity). I n systems m o v i n g t o w a r d s t o t a l p o s i t i v i z a t i o n — a n d h e n c e d e - s y m b o l i z a t i o n - evil s i m p l y e q u a t e s , in all its f o r m s , w i t h t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e of reversibility. T h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d p r o d u c t i o n o f p o s i t i v i t y has a t e r r i f y i n g c o n s e q u e n c e : i f n e g a t i v i t y e n g e n d e r s crisis a n d c r i t i q u e , a b s o l u t e positivity, for its p a r t , e n g e n d e r s c a t a s t r o p h e , precisely t h r o u g h its i n c a p a c i t y t o distil t h e crisis. E v e r y s t r u c t u r e , s y s t e m o r social b o d y w h i c h ferrets o u t its n e g a t i v e , critical e l e m e n t s t o e x p e l t h e m o r e x o r c i s e t h e m r u n s t h e risk o f a c a t a s t r o p h e b y total i m p l o s i o n a n d r e v e r sion, j u s t a s e v e r y b i o l o g i c a l b o d y w h i c h h u n t s d o w n a n d e l i m i n a t e s all its g e r m s , bacillae a n d parasites - in s h o r t , all its b i o l o g i c a l e n e m i e s - r u n s t h e risk of c a n c e r or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , o f a positivity d e v o u r i n g its o w n cells. I t r u n s t h e risk o f b e i n g d e v o u r e d b y its o w n a n t i - b o d i e s , w h i c h n o w h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o . I t i s logical t h a t A I D S (and c a n c e r ) s h o u l d h a v e b e c o m e t h e p r o t o t y p e s for o u r m o d e r n p a t h o l o g y a n d for all lethal virality. W h e n t h e b o d y i s e x p o s e d t o artificial p r o s t h e s e s a n d , at t h e s a m e t i m e , to g e n e t i c fantasies, its d e f e n c e systems are d i s o r g a n i z e d , its b i o l o g i c a l l o g i c d e s t r o y e d . T h i s fractal b o d y , f a t e d t o see its o w n e x t e r n a l f u n c t i o n s multiply, i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e d o o m e d t o u n s t o p p a b l e i n t e r n a l division a m o n g its o w n cells. I t metastasizes: t h e i n t e r n a l , b i o l o g i c a l metastases are i n a w a y s y m m e t r i c a l w i t h t h o s e e x t e r n a l metastases, t h e p r o s t h e s e s , t h e n e t w o r k s , the connections. I n a n o v e r - p r o t e c t e d space, t h e b o d y loses all its defences. W e k n o w t h a t i n o p e r a t i n g t h e a t r e s , t h e r e i s s u c h a level o f p r o p h y l a x i s t h a t n o m i c r o b e o r b a c t e r i a c a n survive. N o w , it is precisely t h e r e , in t h a t absolutely spotless space t h a t we are s e e i n g m y s t e r i o u s , a n o m a l o u s , viral diseases e m e r g i n g . F o r viruses s u r v i v e a n d proliferate a s s o o n a s r o o m i s m a d e for t h e m . S o l o n g a s t h e r e w e r e m i c r o b e s , t h e r e w e r e n o

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viruses. In a w o r l d c l e a n s e d of its o l d i n f e c t i o n s , in an ' i d e a l ' clinical w o r l d , an i n t a n g i b l e , i m p l a c a b l e p a t h o l o g y unfurls, a p a t h o l o g y b o r n of d i s i n f e c t i o n itself. A p a t h o l o g y o f t h e t h i r d k i n d . J u s t a s w e are u p against a n e w v i o l e n c e i n o u r societies — a v i o l e n c e b o r n of t h e p a r a d o x of a permissive a n d pacified society, so we are u p against n e w diseases, t h e diseases o f b o d i e s o v e r - p r o t e c t e d b y t h e i r artificial shields - b o t h m e d i c a l a n d c o m p u t e r shields. B o d i e s w h i c h are, as a result, s u s c e p tible to e v e r y virus, to t h e m o s t ' p e r v e r s e ' , u n e x p e c t e d c h a i n reactions. A p a t h o l o g y n o l o n g e r b a s e d i n accidents o r a n o m i e , b u t i n ' a n o m a l i e s ' . A n d i t i s t h e s a m e i n t h e social b o d y , w h e r e t h e s a m e causes p r o d u c e t h e s a m e p e r v e r s e effects, t h e s a m e unpredictable dysfunctions and a w h o l e range of anomalies and terrorisms, c o m parable to t h e g e n e t i c d i s t u r b a n c e of cells — a p h e n o m e n o n similarly b r o u g h t a b o u t b y o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n a n d o v e r - c o d i n g . T h e social system, like t h e b i o l o g i c a l b o d y , i s l o s i n g its n a t u r a l s y m b o l i c d e f e n c e s i n d i r e c t p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e i n c r e a s e d t e c h n o logical s o p h i s t i c a t i o n of its p r o s t h e s e s . A n d m e d i c i n e is n o t g o i n g to find it easy to deal w i t h this e n t i r e l y n e w p a t h o l o g y , s i n c e i t i s itself p a r t o f t h e s y s t e m o f o v e r p r o t e c t i o n , t h e s y s t e m o f p r o t e c t i o n i s t a n d p r o p h y l a c t i c zeal t o w a r d s t h e b o d y . Just as t h e r e is a p p a r e n t l y no political s o l u t i o n to t h e p r o b l e m of t e r r o r i s m , so t h e r e d o e s n o t c u r r e n t l y s e e m t o b e any b i o l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f A I D S o r cancer. A n d for t h e s a m e reason: t h e s e are a n o m a l o u s s y m p t o m s , a c e r t a i n t y p e o f v i o l e n c e a n d c e r t a i n t y p e s o f illness arising f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f t h e s y s t e m itself a n d c o u n t e r i n g , w i t h reactive v i o l e n c e o r v i r u l e n c e , t h e political o v e r - c o n t r o l o f t h e social b o d y , t h e b i o l o g i c a l o v e r - c o n t r o l o f t h e physical b o d y . Yet this n e w f o r m o f v i r u l e n c e i s a m b i g u o u s , a n d A I D S i s a n e x a m p l e o f it. A I D S p r o v i d e s an a r g u m e n t for a n e w sexual p r o h i b i t i o n , b u t it is no l o n g e r a moral p r o h i b i t i o n : it is a f u n c t i o n a l p r o h i b i t i o n on t h e c i r c u l a t i o n of sex. T h i s b r e a k s all t h e c o m m a n d m e n t s o f m o d e r n i t y . Sex, like m o n e y , like i n f o r m a t i o n , m u s t c i r c u late freely. E v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e fluid, a n d a c c e l e r a t i o n i s i n e v i t a b l e . T o r e v o k e

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sexuality on t h e g r o u n d s of a viral d a n g e r is as a b s u r d as s t o p p i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t i t i s fuelling t h e c a n c e r o u s rise o f t h e dollar. N o o n e seriously envisages s u c h a t h i n g . N o w , at a stroke w i t h A I D S : a s t o p p i n g of sex. A c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n t h e system? P e r h a p s this s u s p e n s i o n has s o m e e n i g m a t i c p u r p o s e , l i n k e d c o n t r a d i c t o r i l y t o t h e equally e n i g m a t i c p u r p o s e o f sexual l i b e r a t i o n ? T h e s p o n t a n e o u s self-regulation o f systems i s s o m e t h i n g w e l l - k n o w n . W e k n o w h o w they p r o d u c e accidents of their o w n , p u t a brake on their o w n operation, in o r d e r t o s u r v i v e o n a basis c o n t r a r y t o t h e i r o w n p r i n c i p l e s . All societies s u r v i v e against t h e i r o w n v a l u e - s y s t e m s : t h e y h a v e to have s u c h a system, b u t t h e y also h a v e t o d e n y i t a n d o p e r a t e i n o p p o s i t i o n t o it. N o w , w e live b y a t least t w o p r i n c i p l e s : t h e p r i n c i p l e o f sexual l i b e r a t i o n a n d t h a t o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . B u t i t i s e n t i r e l y a s t h o u g h t h e species w e r e , t h r o u g h t h e A I D S t h r e a t , p r o d u c i n g a n a n t i d o t e to its p r i n c i p l e of sexual l i b e r a t i o n , a n d , t h r o u g h cancer, w h i c h is a d i s r u p t i o n o f t h e g e n e t i c c o d e a n d t h e r e f o r e a p a t h o l o g y o f i n f o r m a t i o n , a resistance t o t h e a l l - p o w e r f u l p r i n c i p l e o f c y b e r n e t i c c o n t r o l . W h a t i f all this signified a r e j e c t i o n o f t h e o b l i g a t o r y flows o f s p e r m , sex, signs a n d w o r d s , a r e j e c t i o n o f forced c o m m u n i c a t i o n , p r o g r a m m e d i n f o r m a t i o n a n d sexual p r o m i s c u i t y ? W h a t i f all this w e r e a vital resistance to t h e e x p a n s i o n of flows, circuits a n d n e t w o r k s a d m i t t e d l y , a t t h e cost o f a n e w lethal p a t h o l o g y , b u t a p a t h o l o g y w h i c h w o u l d i n t h e e n d p r o t e c t u s f r o m s o m e t h i n g e v e n m o r e serious? W i t h A I D S a n d cancer, w e m i g h t b e said t o b e p a y i n g t h e p r i c e for o u r o w n system: w e are e x o r c i s i n g its banal v i r u l e n c e in a fatal f o r m . N o o n e c a n foretell h o w effective this e x o r c i s m will b e , b u t w e h a v e t o ask t h e q u e s t i o n : w h a t i s i t - w h a t e v e n w o r s e e v e n t u a l i t y (the t o t a l h e g e m o n y o f t h e g e n e t i c code?) - t h a t c a n c e r is resisting? W h a t is it - w h a t e v e n w o r s e e v e n t u a l i t y (a sexual e p i d e m i c , total sexual p r o m i s c u i t y ? ) - t h a t A I D S is resisting? T h e d r u g s p r o b l e m is t h e s a m e : all d r a m a t i z i n g a p a r t , we h a v e to ask w h a t it is p r o t e c t i n g us

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from, w h a t k i n d o f escape r o u t e i t r e p r e s e n t s f r o m a n e v e n w o r s e evil (rational s t u p e f a c t i o n , n o r m a t i v e sociability, universal r e g i m e n t a t i o n ) . W e m a y say t h e s a m e of t e r r o r i s m : isn't its secondary, r e a c t i o n a l , a b r e a c t i o n a l v i o l e n c e p r o t e c t i n g us from a n e p i d e m i c o f c o n s e n s u s , f r o m a g r o w i n g political l e u k a e m i a a n d d e l i q u e s c e n c e , a n d t h e invisible t r a n s p a r e n c y o f t h e State? E v e r y t h i n g i s a m b i g u o u s a n d reversible. After all, it is by n e u r o s i s t h a t m a n p r o t e c t s h i m s e l f m o s t effectively f r o m m a d n e s s . In this sense, A I D S is n o t a p u n i s h m e n t from on h i g h ; it m i g h t r a t h e r be a d e f e n sive e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n of t h e species against t h e d a n g e r of a total p r o m i s c u i t y , a total loss o f i d e n t i t y i n t h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n a n d a c c e l e r a t i o n o f t h e n e t w o r k s . I f A I D S , t e r r o r i s m , e c o n o m i c collapse a n d e l e c t r o n i c viruses are c o n c e r n s n o t j u s t for t h e p o l i c e , m e d i c i n e , s c i e n c e a n d t h e e x p e r t s , b u t for t h e e n t i r e collective i m a g i n a t i o n , this i s b e c a u s e t h e r e i s m o r e t o t h e m t h a n m e r e e p i s o d i c events i n a n irrational w o r l d . T h e y e m b o d y t h e e n t i r e logic o f o u r system, a n d are merely, s o t o speak, t h e p o i n t s at w h i c h t h a t l o g i c crystallizes spectacularly. T h e i r p o w e r is a p o w e r o f i r r a d i a t i o n a n d t h e i r effect, t h r o u g h t h e m e d i a , w i t h i n t h e i m a g i n a t i o n , i s itself a viral o n e . T h e y are i m m a n e n t p h e n o m e n a w h i c h are all related t o e a c h o t h e r ; t h e y o b e y t h e s a m e p r o t o c o l o f v i r u l e n c e a n d h a v e c o n t a m i n a t i o n effects w a y b e y o n d t h e i r actual i m p a c t . F o r e x a m p l e , a single terrorist act forces us to r e v i e w t h e w h o l e p o l i t ical d i m e n s i o n i n t h e light o f t h e t e r r o r i s t h y p o t h e s i s . T h e v e r y e m e r g e n c e o f A I D S , e v e n at a statistically l o w level, forces us to r e v i e w t h e w h o l e s p e c t r u m of d i s eases a n d b o d i e s i n t h e light o f t h e viral, i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y h y p o t h e s i s . T h e tiniest little c o m p u t e r v i r u s w h i c h d e g r a d e s t h e P e n t a g o n ' s m e m o r y b a n k s o r floods e n t i r e n e t w o r k s w i t h C h r i s t m a s g r e e t i n g s i s e n o u g h t o w r e c k t h e credibility o f c o m p u t e r systems, a n d forces us to r e v i e w all data w i t h an eye to possible infiltration, c a l c u l a t e d d i s i n f o r m a t i o n , risk a n d u n c e r t a i n t y . W h i c h i s n o t , objectively, w i t h o u t its f u n n y side.

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T h i s i s t h e p r i v i l e g e o f e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a , a n d o f c a t a s t r o p h e i n g e n e r a l , since all t h e s e viral processes are clearly o f t h e o r d e r o f c a t a s t r o p h e ( n o t i n t h e m o r a l sense, b u t a s a n a n o m a l o u s w a y o f t h i n g s t u r n i n g o u t ) . T h e secret o r d e r o f c a t a s t r o p h e lies in t h e inseparability of all t h e s e c o n t e m p o r a r y processes - a n d , also, in t h e affinity o f these e c c e n t r i c p h e n o m e n a w i t h t h e banality o f t h e w h o l e system. All e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a are c o h e r e n t w i t h o n e a n o t h e r ; t h e y are s o b e c a u s e t h e y are c o h e r e n t w i t h the w h o l e system. T h i s m e a n s i t i s n o use l o o k i n g t o t h e r a t i o n a l i t y o f t h e s y s t e m t o c o m b a t its e x c r e s c e n c e s . I t i s a total d e l u s i o n t o t h i n k e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a c a n b e a b o l i s h e d . T h e y will, rather, b e c o m e increasingly e x t r e m e a s o u r systems b e c o m e increasingly s o p h i s t i c a t e d . A n d this i s f o r t u n a t e , s i n c e t h e y are t h e c u t t i n g - e d g e therapy, t h e h o m e o p a t h i c t h e r a p y for t h o s e systems. P i t t i n g G o o d against E v i l n o l o n g e r exists as a strategy. In t r a n s p a r e n t - h o m e o s t a t i c or h o m e o f l u i d - s y s t e m s , t h e o n l y r e m a i n i n g strategy i s that o f E v i l against Evil: t h e strategy o f t h e g r e a t e r evil. T h e o n l y possible strategy is a fatal strategy. A n d this is n o t e v e n a m a t t e r of c h o i c e : we c a n see it h a p p e n i n g b e f o r e o u r eyes. T h e r e is, t h e n , a homeopathic v i r u l e n c e to A I D S , t o s t o c k m a r k e t crashes, t o c o m p u t e r viruses etc. S t o c k m a r k e t crashes, t e r r o r i s m , c o m p u t e r viruses, d e b t etc. are t h e p a r t o f t h e c a t a s t r o p h e w h i c h s h o w s a b o v e t h e w a t e r l i n e . T h e o t h e r n i n e - t e n t h s are s u b m e r g e d i n virtuality. T h e t o t a l c a t a s t r o p h e w o u l d b e a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h all i n f o r m a t i o n w a s o m n i p r e s e n t , a state of total t r a n s p a r e n c y - a state w h i c h is h a p p i l y o b s c u r e d in its effects b y t h e c o m p u t e r virus. T h a n k s t o t h a t virus, w e shall n o t race straight t o t h e end of information and communication. T h a t w o u l d be death. As an excrescence of this lethal transparency, t h e virus also serves as an a l a r m signal. It is r a t h e r like t h e acceleration of a fluid: it p r o d u c e s t u r b u l e n c e a n d a n o m a l i e s w h i c h halt its course, or disperse it. C h a o s serves as a limit to w h a t w o u l d , o t h e r w i s e , r u n off i n t o t h e absolute void. So e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a serve, in t h e i r secret disorder, as p r o p h y l a x i s - b y - c h a o s

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against a n e x t r e m e escalation o f o r d e r a n d transparency. T h a t catastrophe, t h e t r u e catastrophe, does, t h a n k s t o t h e m , r e m a i n virtual. I f i t did materialize, t h a t w o u l d b e t h e e n d . A n d i n d e e d , i n spite o f t h e m , w e are already today s e e i n g t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e e n d of a certain t h i n k i n g process. Similarly, in t h e case of sexual liberation, we are already seeing t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e e n d of a certain process ofjouissance. If total sexual p r o m i s c u i t y c a m e a b o u t , it is sex itself w h i c h w o u l d be a b o l i s h e d in its asexual e x p l o s i o n . It is t h e same w i t h stock m a r k e t crashes a n d w i t h trade. S p e c u l a t i o n as e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n o n , a s t u r b u l e n c e , p u t s a stop o n t h e total e m a n c i p a t i o n o f real trading. B y simulating t h e instantaneous ultra-circulation o f value, b y s h o r t i n g o u t t h e e c o n o m i c m o d e l , it also shorts o u t t h e catastrophe that t h e free c o m m u n i c a t i o n of all e x c h a n g e w o u l d r e p r e s e n t - this total l i b e r a t i o n o f t r a d e b e i n g t h e t r u e catastrophic m o m e n t o f value. I n t h e face o f this t h r e a t o f total w e i g h t l e s s n e s s , o f a n u n b e a r a b l e lightness o f b e i n g , a universal promiscuity, a linearity of processes w h i c h w o u l d p i t c h us i n t o t h e v o i d , t h e s e s u d d e n w h i r l w i n d s w e call c a t a s t r o p h e s are w h a t k e e p u s f r o m c a t a s trophe. T h e s e anomalies, these e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a recreate zones of gravitation a n d d e n s i t y w h i c h p r e v e n t t h i n g s f r o m d i s p e r s i n g totally W e m a y see this a s o u r societies s e c r e t i n g t h e i r o w n p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f ' a c c u r s e d s h a r e ' , like t h o s e t r i b e s w h i c h r i d themselves of t h e i r excess p o p u l a t i o n by suicidal p l u n g e s i n t o t h e o c e a n a h o m e o p a t h i c suicide of s o m e of their m e m b e r s w h i c h preserved the h o m e o s t a tic b a l a n c e o f t h e w h o l e . C a t a s t r o p h e reveals itself, t h e n , to be a w e l l - t e m p e r e d strategy of t h e species. O r , rather, o u r viruses, o u r e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a — v e r y real, b u t localized — w o u l d s e e m to enable us to maintain intact the energy of virtual catastrophe, w h i c h is the e n g i n e d r i v i n g all o u r processes - in t h e e c o n o m y , in politics, in t h e arts a n d in h i s tory. A n d isn't e n e r g y itself, in its c o n c e p t , a f o r m of catastrophe? 1 June

8

1987

We are all T r a n s s e x u a l s Now

It is i n t e r e s t i n g to track t h e c h a n g e s in t h e sexed b o d y , e x p o s e d as it is t o d a y to a k i n d of artificial fate. A n d t h a t artificial fate is transsexuality. An artificial fate n o t in t h e sense of a d e v i a t i o n from t h e n a t u r a l o r d e r , b u t insofar as it is t h e p r o d u c t of a c h a n g e i n t h e s y m b o l i c o r d e r o f sexual difference. A n d transsexual n o t (just) i n t h e sense o f a n a t o m i c a l sexual t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , b u t i n t h e w i d e r sense o f transvestism — o f p l a y i n g o n i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e signs o f sex, a n d , b y c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e p r e v i o u s play on sexual difference, of playing on sexual indifference. Indifference in t w o senses: t h e transsexual is b o t h a play on n o n - d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n (of t h e t w o poles of sexuality) a n d a f o r m of indifference to puissance, to sex as puissance. T h e sexual has puissance as its focus (jouissance is t h e l e i t m o t i f of sexual l i b e r a t i o n ) , w h e r e a s t h e transsexual t e n d s t o w a r d s artifice - b o t h t h e a n a t o m i c a l artifice o f c h a n g i n g sex a n d t h e play o n v e s t i m e n t a r y , m o r p h o l o g i c a l a n d gestural signs c h a r acteristic of cross-dressers. In b o t h cases - surgical or s e m i u r g i c a l o p e r a t i o n , sign or o r g a n - w h a t is i n v o l v e d is p r o s t h e t i c s a n d today, w h e n it is t h e b o d y ' s d e s t i n y to b e c o m e a prosthesis, i t i s logical t h a t t h e m o d e l o f sexuality s h o u l d b e c o m e t r a n s sexuality a n d t h a t transsexuality s h o u l d e v e r y w h e r e b e c o m e t h e site o f s e d u c t i o n .

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We are all transsexuals. Just as we are all p o t e n t i a l b i o l o g i c a l m u t a n t s , so we are all also p o t e n t i a l transsexuals. A n d this is n o t e v e n a m a t t e r of biology. We are all symbolically

transsexuals.

Take La Cicciolina.

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I s t h e r e a n y m o r e w o n d e r f u l e m b o d i m e n t o f sex, o f t h e

p o r n o g r a p h i c i n n o c e n c e o f sex? S h e has b e e n c o n t r a s t e d w i t h M a d o n n a , t h e v i r g i n p r o d u c t of a e r o b i c s a n d a glacial a e s t h e t i c , d e v o i d of all c h a r m a n d sensuality, a m u s c l e d a n d r o i d , r i p e for precisely t h a t r e a s o n for c o n v e r s i o n i n t o a c o m p u t e r g e n e r a t e d i d o l o n a c c o u n t o f t h e s t r a n g e d e t e r r e n c e she g e n e r a t e s . B u t , i f w e t h i n k a b o u t it, is n o t La C i c c i o l i n a also a transsexual? H e r l o n g , p l a t i n u m - b l o n d e hair, h e r a m p l e , p n e u m a t i c breasts, h e r ideal b l o w - u p - d o l l f o r m s , h e r l y o p h i l i z e d - c a r t o o n o r s c i e n c e - f i c t i o n e r o t i c i s m a n d , a b o v e all, t h e e x a g g e r a t i o n o f t h e sexual d i s c o u r s e ( n e v e r p e r v e r s e , n e v e r l i b e r t i n e ) , total t r a n s g r e s s i o n o n a plate; t h e ideal t e l e p h o n e c h a t - l i n e w o m a n , plus a c a r n i v o r o u s erotic i d e o l o g y w h i c h n o w o m a n t o d a y w o u l d sign up to — e x c e p t , precisely, a transsexual, a transvestite: t h e y a l o n e , as we k n o w , live b y t h e e x a g g e r a t e d , c a r n i v o r o u s signs o f sexuality. H e r e , t h a t f l e s h l y e c t o p l a s m L a C i c c i o l i n a m e e t s t h e artificial n i t r o g l y c e r i n e o f M a d o n n a o r t h e a n d r o g y n o u s , F r a n k e n s t i n i a n c h a r m o f M i c h a e l J a c k s o n . T h e y are all m u t a n t s , transvestites, g e n e t ically b a r o q u e b e i n g s , w h o s e e r o t i c ' l o o k ' c o n c e a l s t h e i r g e n d e r i n d e t e r m i n a c y . T h e y are all ' g e n d e r - b e n d e r s ' , as t h e y say in t h e U S A . In reality, t h e m y t h of sexual l i b e r a t i o n is still alive in m a n y f o r m s , b u t , in t h e i m a g i n a r y register, t h e transsexual m y t h — w i t h its a n d r o g y n o u s , h e r m a p h r o d i t i c variants — is d o m i n a n t . After t h e orgy, desire a n d sexual difference, we have h e r e t h e flourishing of e r o t i c simulacra of all k i n d s a n d transsexual k i t s c h in all its glory. P o s t m o d e r n p o r n o g r a p h y , s o t o speak, i n w h i c h sexuality gets lost i n t h e t h e a t r i c a l

1. T h e H u n g a r i a n - b o r n p o r n star Ilona Staller, w h o w e n t on to b e c o m e an Italian m e m b e r of parliament on an anti-nuclear, pro-sexual freedom platform.

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excess o f its a m b i g u i t y a n d indifference. T h i n g s have c e r t a i n l y c h a n g e d since sex a n d politics w e r e p a r t o f t h e s a m e subversive project: i f L a C i c c i o l i n a can b e e l e c t e d t o t h e Italian P a r l i a m e n t n o w , t h a t i s precisely b e c a u s e t h e t r a n s s e x u a l a n d t h e t r a n s p o l i t i c a l m e e t i n t h e s a m e i r o n i c i n d i f f e r e n c e . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r feat, w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n u n t h i n k a b l e j u s t a few years ago, b u t w h i c h t o d a y m e e t s w i t h w a r m g e n e r a l approval, attests t o t h e fact t h a t i t i s n o t j u s t sexual c u l t u r e , b u t t h e w h o l e o f t h e political c u l t u r e t h a t has g o n e o v e r t o transvestism. T h e strategy o f e x o r c i z i n g t h e s e x u a l b o d y b y w i l d l y e x a g g e r a t i n g t h e signs o f sex, of e x o r c i z i n g desire by its secret d e p o l a r i z a t i o n a n d t h e e x a g g e r a t i o n of its mise en scene, is m u c h m o r e effective t h a n t h a t of g o o d old repression, w h i c h , by contrast, u s e d p r o h i b i t i o n to create difference. Yet it is n o t clear w h o benefits f r o m this strategy, as e v e r y o n e suffers it w i t h o u t d i s t i n c t i o n . T h i s travestied r e g i m e - in t h e b r o a d e s t sense — has b e c o m e t h e v e r y basis o f o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s . Y o u find i t e v e r y w h e r e — i n politics, a r c h i t e c t u r e , t h e o r y , i d e o l o g y a n d e v e n i n s c i e n c e . Y o u e v e n f i n d i t i n o u r d e s p e r a t e q u e s t for i d e n t i t y a n d difference. W e n o l o n g e r h a v e t h e t i m e t o seek o u t a n i d e n t i t y i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d , i n m e m o r y , i n a past, n o r i n d e e d i n a p r o j e c t o r a future. W e have t o h a v e a n i n s t a n t m e m o r y w h i c h w e c a n p l u g i n t o i m m e d i a t e l y - a k i n d o f p r o m o t i o n a l i d e n t i t y w h i c h c a n b e verified a t e v e r y m o m e n t . W h a t w e l o o k for today, w h e r e t h e b o d y i s c o n c e r n e d , i s n o t s o m u c h h e a l t h , w h i c h i s a state o f o r g a n i c e q u i l i b r i u m , b u t fitness, w h i c h i s a n ephemeral, hygienic, promotional radiance of the b o d y - m u c h m o r e a perf o r m a n c e t h a n a n ideal state — w h i c h t u r n s sickness i n t o failure. I n t e r m s o f fashion a n d a p p e a r a n c e , w e n o l o n g e r p u r s u e b e a u t y o r seductiveness, b u t t h e ' l o o k ' . E v e r y o n e i s after t h e i r ' l o o k ' . S i n c e y o u c a n n o l o n g e r set a n y store b y y o u r o w n e x i s t e n c e (we no l o n g e r l o o k at e a c h o t h e r - a n d s e d u c t i o n is at an e n d ! ) , all t h a t r e m a i n s is to p e r f o r m an appearing act, w i t h o u t b o t h e r i n g to be, or e v e n to be seen. It is n o t : 'I exist, I ' m h e r e ' , b u t ' I ' m visible, I ' m i m a g e — l o o k , l o o k ! ' T h i s is n o t

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e v e n narcissism. It's a depthless e x t r a v e r s i o n , a k i n d of p r o m o t i o n a l i n g e n u o u s n e s s in w h i c h everyone becomes the impresario of his/her o w n appearance. T h e ' l o o k ' i s a k i n d o f m i n i m a l , l o w - d e f i n i t i o n i m a g e , like t h e v i d e o i m a g e or, a s M c L u h a n w o u l d say, a tactile i m a g e , w h i c h p r o v o k e s n e i t h e r a t t e n t i o n n o r a d m i r a t i o n , as fashion still d o e s , b u t is a p u r e special effect w i t h o u t a n y p a r t i c u l a r m e a n i n g . T h e l o o k i s n o t e x a c t l y fashion a n y m o r e ; i t i s a f o r m o f fashion w h i c h has passed b e y o n d . It no l o n g e r s u b s c r i b e s to a l o g i c of d i s t i n c t i o n a n d it is no l o n g e r a play of difference; it plays at difference w i t h o u t b e l i e v i n g in it. It is indifference. B e i n g o n e s e l f b e c o m e s a n e p h e m e r a l p e r f o r m a n c e , w i t h n o lasting effects, a disenchanted m a n n e r i s m in a w o r l d w i t h o u t m a n n e r s . R e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , this t r i u m p h of t h e transsexual a n d t h e travestied casts a s t r a n g e light o n t h e sexual l i b e r a t i o n o f earlier g e n e r a t i o n s . T h a t l i b e r a t i o n , far f r o m b e i n g , as in its o w n self-image, t h e i r r u p t i o n of a m a x i m u m e r o t i c value of t h e b o d y — w i t h a n e l e v a t i o n o f t h e f e m i n i n e a n d jouissance ( t h e m a s c u l i n e h a v i n g r a t h e r r e s e r v e d for itself u p t o t h a t p o i n t t h e f i e l d o f p o w e r ) - will p e r h a p s m e r e l y h a v e b e e n a n i n t e r m e d i a t e phase o n t h e p a t h t o g e n d e r c o n f u s i o n . T h e sexual r e v o l u t i o n will p e r h a p s m e r e l y h a v e b e e n a decisive stage i n t h e j o u r n e y t o w a r d s t r a n s s e x u a l ity. T h i s is, ultimately, t h e p r o b l e m a t i c fate of e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n . By releasing all t h e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o f desire, t h e s e x u a l r e v o l u t i o n leads t o t h e basic q u e s t i o n : a m I m a n or w o m a n ? (psychoanalysis has at least played a p a r t in g e n e r a t i n g this sexual u n c e r tainty p r i n c i p l e ) . As for t h e political a n d social r e v o l u t i o n - t h e p r o t o t y p e for all t h e o t h e r s - b y g i v i n g h u m a n b e i n g s t h e use o f t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d t h e i r o w n free will, i t w i l l h a v e l e d t h e m , i n a n i m p l a c a b l y logical process, t o w o n d e r w h e r e t h e i r free will lies, w h a t t h e y u l t i m a t e l y w a n t a n d w h a t t h e y are e n t i t l e d t o e x p e c t o f t h e m selves - a p r o b l e m p r e v i o u s l y q u i t e u n k n o w n . T h i s is t h e p a r a d o x i c a l o u t c o m e of every r e v o l u t i o n . W i t h r e v o l u t i o n b e g i n s i n d e t e r m i n a c y , a n x i e t y a n d c o n f u s i o n , b u t m a n y o t h e r pleasures t o o : c h o i c e , p l u r a l i s m , d e m o c r a c y .

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B u t t h e r e s i m p l y i s n o d e m o c r a t i c p r i n c i p l e o f sexuality. S e x i s n o t p a r t o f h u m a n r i g h t s a n d t h e r e i s n o p r i n c i p l e o f t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f sexuality. O n c e t h e o r g y was over, sexual l i b e r a t i o n c o u l d b e s e e n t o h a v e h a d t h e effect o f l e a v i n g e v e r y o n e s e a r c h i n g for t h e i r g e n d e r , t h e i r sexual a n d g e n d e r identity, w i t h f e w e r a n d f e w e r possible answers, g i v e n t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f signs a n d t h e m u l t i p l i c i t y o f pleasures. T h i s i s h o w w e subtly b e c a m e transsexuals, j u s t a s w e secretly b e c a m e transpolitical — t h a t is to say, politically indifferent a n d u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d b e i n g s , politically a n d r o g y n o u s a n d h e r m a p h r o d i t i c . H a v i n g s u b s c r i b e d t o , d i g e s t e d a n d rejected the m o s t contradictory ideologies, we n o w merely wear the masks and have b e c o m e i n o u r m i n d s , p e r h a p s u n w i t t i n g l y , political cross-dressers. W h a t o t h e r t h i n g s d o w e see s i m u l t a n e o u s l y g a i n i n g t h e u p p e r h a n d ? T e r r o r i s m a s (transpolitical) political f o r m , A I D S a n d c a n c e r a s p a t h o l o g i c a l f o r m , t h e t r a n s sexual a n d t h e travestied a s sexual a n d a e s t h e t i c f o r m i n g e n e r a l . O n l y t h e s e f o r m s p r o v i d e any g e n u i n e m e n t a l fascination today. N e i t h e r t h e sexual r e v o l u t i o n n o r t h e political d e b a t e , n e i t h e r cardiovascular disease n o r a c c i d e n t s a t w o r k , n o r e v e n c o n v e n t i o n a l warfare, interest a n y o n e collectively any m o r e (this is a g o o d t h i n g w h e r e w a r i s c o n c e r n e d ; w e shall h a v e b e e n s p a r e d m a n y w a r s b e c a u s e t h e y w o u l d have b e e n o f n o i n t e r e s t t o a n y o n e ) . T h e t r u e p h a n t a s m s lie e l s e w h e r e . T h e y lie i n t h e s e t h r e e f o r m s , all o f t h e m p r o d u c t s o f t h e d i s t u r b a n c e o f a p r i n c i p l e o f f u n c t i o n i n g a n d t h e r e s u l t a n t c o n f u s i o n o f effects, a n d e a c h o f t h e m ( t e r r o r i s m , transvestism, A I D S ) c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o a n e x a c e r b a t i o n o f t h e political, sexual o r g e n e t i c g a m e , as w e l l as to a defectiveness a n d collapse of t h e respective c o d e s of t h e political a n d sexual s p h e r e s . T h e y are all viral, fascinating, indifferent f o r m s , f o r m s m u l t i p l i e d b y t h e v i r u l e n c e o f i m a g e s , since all t h e m o d e r n m e d i a - t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s systems - h a v e t h e m s e l v e s a viral p o w e r a n d t h e i r v i r u l e n c e is c o n t a g i o u s . We are i n a c u l t u r e w h e r e b o d i e s a n d m i n d s are i r r a d i a t e d b y signals a n d i m a g e s a n d ,

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t h o u g h t h a t c u l t u r e p r o d u c e s t h e finest effects, it c o m e s as no s u r p r i s e t h a t it also p r o d u c e s t h e m o s t lethal viruses. T h e n u c l e a r i z a t i o n o f b o d i e s b e g a n a t H i r o s h i m a , b u t i t c o n t i n u e s e n d e m i c a l l y , incessantly, i n i r r a d i a t i o n b y t h e m e d i a , b y i m a g e s , signs, p r o g r a m m e s a n d n e t w o r k s . 14 October

14

1987

Necrospective around Martin Heidegger

T h e futile q u a r r e l o v e r H e i d e g g e r has n o specific m e a n i n g w i t h i n p h i l o s o p h y . I t i s m e r e l y s y m p t o m a t i c o f a w e a k n e s s i n c u r r e n t t h i n k i n g . U n a b l e t o find a n y n e w energy, p h i l o s o p h i c a l t h o u g h t keeps g o i n g b a c k obsessively over its o r i g i n s , over t h e p u r i t y of its references; it is n o w painfully reliving, in this fin de siecle p e r i o d , its o w n p r i m a l s c e n e o f t h e early p a r t o f t h e c e n t u r y . M o r e generally, t h e H e i d e g g e r case i s s y m p t o m a t i c o f t h e collective v o g u e for revivals w h i c h has t a k e n h o l d o f this s o c i e t y as it b e g i n s its e n d - o f - c e n t u r y s t o c k - t a k i n g : a revival of N a z i s m , fascism a n d t h e h o l o c a u s t . T h e s a m e t e m p t a t i o n t o r e - e x a m i n e t h e c e n t u r y ' s historical p r i m a l s c e n e is at w o r k here, a t e m p t a t i o n to 'launder' t h e corpses and clean up the historical r e c o r d , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e t h e r e is also in all this a p e r v e r s e fascination w i t h a r e t u r n t o t h e w e l l s p r i n g s o f v i o l e n c e , a collective a t t e m p t t o h a l l u c i n a t e t h e h i s t o r ical t r u t h

o f evil.

O u r present imagination must be weak indeed and our

indifference t o o u r o w n s i t u a t i o n a n d o u r o w n p h i l o s o p h i z i n g v e r y g r e a t for u s t o n e e d s u c h regressive m a g i c . I n t h e case o f H e i d e g g e r w e are s u d d e n l y d i s c o v e r i n g his act o f i n t e l l e c t u a l t r e a c h e r y (if s u c h it was) today, e v e n t h o u g h we h a v e lived q u i t e h a p p i l y w i t h it for

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forty years. W e saw t h e s a m e t h i n g h a p p e n w i t h M a r x a n d F r e u d . W h e n M a r x i s t t h o u g h t lost its t r i u m p h a l aura, p e o p l e started ferreting a b o u t in M a r x ' s life a n d d i s c o v e r e d t h a t h e w a s a b o u r g e o i s w h o slept w i t h his m a i d . W h e n p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h o u g h t b e g a n t o lose its u n c o n t e s t e d i n f l u e n c e , p e o p l e b e g a n l o o k i n g i n t o Freud's o w n life a n d p s y c h o l o g y a n d , inevitably, f o u n d h e was sexist a n d p a t r i a r c h a l . N o w we have H e i d e g g e r accused of b e i n g a Nazi. T h e fact t h a t h e has b e e n s o a c c u s e d a n d t h a t efforts are b e i n g m a d e t o p r o v e his i n n o c e n c e i s really o f n o c o n s e q u e n c e : b o t h parties t o t h e q u a r r e l h a v e fallen i n t o t h e s a m e p e t t y - m i n d e d i n t e l l e c t u a l trap, t h e trap o f a n e n e r v a t e d f o r m o f t h i n k i n g w h i c h n o l o n g e r e v e n takes p r i d e i n its o w n basic t e n e t s , n o r has t h e e n e r g y t o g o b e y o n d t h e m , a n d w h i c h i s s q u a n d e r i n g w h a t e n e r g y i t still possesses i n h i s t o r i c a l trials, a c c u s a t i o n s , justifications a n d verifications. T h i s i s t h e self-defence o f t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l w o r l d casting a suspicious eye on t h e d u b i o u s m o r a l s of its m a s t e r s (if n o t , i n d e e d , t r a m p l i n g t h e m d o w n a s ' m a s t e r - t h i n k e r s ' ) . I t i s t h e self-defence o f a n entire society w h i c h is unable to generate a n e w history and is h e n c e c o n d e m n e d t o k e e p o n r e - h a s h i n g past h i s t o r y t o p r o v e its o w n e x i s t e n c e , o r e v e n t o p r o v e its o w n crimes. B u t w h a t are w e t r y i n g t o prove? I t i s b e c a u s e w e have d i s a p p e a r e d today p o l i t ically a n d historically (this i s o u r real p r o b l e m ) t h a t w e w a n t t o p r o v e w e actually d i e d b e t w e e n 1 9 4 0 a n d 1 9 4 5 at A u s c h w i t z or H i r o s h i m a — t h a t at least is a k i n d of h i s t o r y t h a t really has s o m e w e i g h t t o it. I n this w e are b e h a v i n g j u s t like t h e A r m e n i a n s w h o n e v e r stop t r y i n g t o p r o v e t h e y w e r e m a s s a c r e d i n 1 9 1 7 ; a n i n accessible, useless proof, b u t o n e w h i c h is vital to t h e m in a way. It is b e c a u s e p h i l o s o p h y t o d a y has d i s a p p e a r e d (that is its p r o b l e m : h o w c a n it live on in a state o f d i s a p p e a r a n c e ? ) t h a t i t has t o p r o v e t h a t i t was definitively c o m p r o m i s e d b y w h a t H e i d e g g e r d i d o r r e n d e r e d aphasic b y A u s c h w i t z . W h a t i s h a p p e n i n g , t h e n , is a d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t to s n a t c h a p o s t h u m o u s t r u t h from history, a p o s t h u m o u s

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e x c u l p a t i o n — a n d this at a m o m e n t w h e n t h e r e is precisely n o t e n o u g h t r u t h a r o u n d t o a l l o w u s t o arrive a t a n y s o r t o f verification, n o r e n o u g h p h i l o s o p h y t o g r o u n d any relation whatever b e t w e e n t h e o r y and practice, n o r e n o u g h history to p r o d u c e a n y k i n d o f historical p r o o f o f w h a t h a p p e n e d . W e t e n d all t o o easily t o forget t h a t o u r reality c o m e s t o u s t h r o u g h t h e m e d i a , t h e tragic events o f t h e past i n c l u d e d . T h i s m e a n s t h a t i t i s t o o late t o verify a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h e m historically, for precisely w h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s o u r c e n t u r y ' s e n d i s t h e fact t h a t t h e tools o f historical intelligibility have disappeared. H i s t o r y h a d t o b e u n d e r s t o o d w h i l e t h e r e still was history. H e i d e g g e r s h o u l d h a v e b e e n d e n o u n c e d (or d e f e n d e d ) w h i l e t h e r e still w a s t i m e . A trial c a n o n l y b e c o n d u c t e d w h e n t h e r e i s s o m e w a y for j u s t i c e t o b e d o n e afterwards. I t i s t o o late n o w ; w e h a v e b e e n m o v e d o n t o o t h e r t h i n g s , a s w e saw w h e n Holocaust was s h o w n o n t e l e v i s i o n , a n d e v e n w h e n Shoah was screened. T h o s e p h e n o m e n a w e r e n o t u n d e r s t o o d a t t h e t i m e w h e n w e still h a d t h e m e a n s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m . T h e y will n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d n o w . T h i s is so b e c a u s e s u c h f u n d a m e n t a l n o t i o n s as responsibility, o b j e c t i v e cause a n d t h e m e a n i n g (or n o n - m e a n i n g ) o f h i s t o r y h a v e already d i s a p p e a r e d o r are d i s a p p e a r i n g . T h e effects o f m o r a l c o n s c i e n c e , o r collective c o n s c i e n c e , are e n t i r e l y m e d i a effects, a n d y o u can see from t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h e r a p e u t i c effort b e i n g m a d e to resuscitate t h a t c o n s c i e n c e h o w little life is left in it. W e shall n e v e r k n o w w h e t h e r N a z i s m , t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s o r H i r o s h i m a w e r e i n t e l l i g i b l e o r n o t . W e are n o l o n g e r i n t h e s a m e m e n t a l u n i v e r s e . T h e reversibility o f v i c t i m a n d v i c t i m i z e r , t h e diffraction a n d d i s s o l u t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l ity - t h e s e are t h e v i r t u e s o f o u r m a r v e l l o u s interface today. W e n o l o n g e r h a v e t h e s t r e n g t h t o forget; o u r a m n e s i a i s t h e a m n e s i a o f i m a g e s . A m n e s t i e s s e e m i m p o s sible: since e v e r y o n e i s guilty, w h o c o u l d declare o n e ? A s for a u t o p s i e s , n o o n e believes i n t h e a n a t o m i c a l v e r a c i t y o f facts a n y m o r e . W e w o r k o n m o d e l s . E v e n i f t h e facts w e r e t h e r e s t a r i n g u s i n t h e face, w e w o u l d n o t b e c o n v i n c e d .

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T h u s t h e m o r e w e have p o r e d over N a z i s m a n d t h e gas c h a m b e r s i n a n effort t o analyse t h o s e t h i n g s , t h e less intelligible t h e y have b e c o m e , a n d w e h a v e i n t h e e n d a r r i v e d q u i t e logically a t t h e i m p r o b a b l e q u e s t i o n : ' W h e n i t c o m e s d o w n t o it, d i d all these things really exist?' T h e q u e s t i o n m a y b e s t u p i d o r m o r a l l y indefensible, b u t w h a t is i n t e r e s t i n g is w h a t m a k e s it logically possible to ask it. A n d w h a t m a k e s it possible i s t h e w a y t h e m e d i a h a v e s u b s t i t u t e d t h e m s e l v e s for events, ideas a n d h i s tory. T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e l o n g e r y o u e x a m i n e t h e s e p h e n o m e n a , t h e m o r e y o u m a s t e r all t h e details t o identify t h e i r causes, t h e m o r e t h e i r e x i s t e n c e fades a n d t h e m o r e t h e y c o m e t o h a v e n o t e x i s t e d a t all: a c o n f u s i o n o v e r t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h i n g s i n d u c e d b y t h e v e r y act o f investigating a n d m e m o r i z i n g t h e m . A n indifference o f m e m o r y , a n indifference t o h i s t o r y t h a t i s e x a c t l y e q u a l t o t h e v e r y efforts m a d e t o objectify it. O n e day w e shall ask o u r s e l v e s i f H e i d e g g e r h i m s e l f really existed. Faurisson's p a r a d o x m a y s e e m a b o m i n a b l e - a n d , insofar as he claims t h a t t h e gas 2

c h a m b e r s d i d n o t exist historically, it is a b o m i n a b l e - b u t in a sense it exactly expresses t h e s i t u a t i o n o f a n e n t i r e c u l t u r e : t h e d e a d - e n d t h a t o u r fin-de-siecle s o c i e t y has g o t itself i n t o , fascinated a s i t i s t o t h e p o i n t o f d i s t r a c t i o n b y t h e h o r r o r o f its o w n o r i g i n s . S i n c e i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o forget t h o s e o r i g i n s , t h e o n l y w a y o u t i s denial. If p r o o f is futile h e r e , as t h e r e is no h i s t o r i c a l d i s c o u r s e in w h i c h to c o n d u c t a trial, p u n i s h m e n t i s also impossible. N o t h i n g can a t o n e for A u s c h w i t z a n d t h e h o l o caust. T h e r e i s n o possible w a y o f fitting t h e p u n i s h m e n t t o t h e c r i m e , a n d t h e unreality o f a possible p u n i s h m e n t m a k e s t h e facts themselves s e e m u n r e a l . W h a t w e are l i v i n g t h r o u g h has n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h all this. W h a t i s h a p p e n i n g r i g h t n o w , collectively, confusedly, in all t h e s e trials a n d p o l e m i c s is t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e

2. R o b e r t Faurisson, formerly a professor at the University of Lyon is t h e most p r o m i n e n t of France's 'revisionist' historians.

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p h a s e o f h i s t o r y t o a p h a s e o f m y t h . W e are s e e i n g t h e m y t h i c r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e m e d i a r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , of all t h e s e e v e n t s . A n d in a sense this m y t h i c c o n v e r s i o n is t h e o n l y o p e r a t i o n w h i c h c a n , i f n o t p e r h a p s m o r a l l y e x c u l p a t e us, a t least absolve us in fantasy of responsibility for this o r i g i n a l c r i m e . B u t before this process can take place, b e f o r e a c r i m e can b e c o m e a m y t h , t h e c r i m e has first to be divested of its h i s t o r i c a l reality. O t h e r w i s e , since w e h a v e b e e n , a n d still are, u n a b l e t o c o m e t o t e r m s h i s t o r i c a l l y w i t h all t h e s e t h i n g s - fascism, c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s , t h e h o l o caust - w e w o u l d b e c o n d e m n e d t o r e p e a t t h e m e t e r n a l l y a s a p r i m a l s c e n e . I t i s n o t n o s t a l g i a for fascism w h i c h i s d a n g e r o u s . W h a t i s d a n g e r o u s a n d l a m e n t a b l e i s this p a t h o l o g i c a l revival o f t h e past, i n w h i c h e v e r y o n e — b o t h t h o s e w h o d e n y a n d t h o s e w h o assert t h e reality o f t h e gas c h a m b e r s , b o t h H e i d e g g e r ' s c r i t ics a n d his s u p p o r t e r s - is c u r r e n t l y p a r t i c i p a t i n g ( i n d e e d v i r t u a l l y c o n n i v i n g ) , this c o l l e c t i v e h a l l u c i n a t i o n w h i c h transfers t h e p o w e r o f i m a g i n a t i o n t h a t i s l a c k i n g f r o m o u r o w n p e r i o d , a n d all t h e b u r d e n o f v i o l e n c e a n d reality w h i c h has t o d a y b e c o m e m e r e l y illusory, b a c k t o t h a t earlier p e r i o d i n a s o r t o f c o m p u l s i o n t o relive its history, a c o m p u l s i o n a c c o m p a n i e d by a p r o f o u n d sense of g u i l t at n o t h a v i n g b e e n t h e r e . All this is a d e s p e r a t e e m o t i o n a l r e s p o n s e to t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t t h e e v e n t s i n q u e s t i o n a r e c u r r e n t l y e l u d i n g u s a t t h e level o f reality. T h e H e i d e g g e r affair, t h e B a r b i e trial e t c . are t h e p a t h e t i c little c o n v u l s i o n s p r o d u c e d b y t h e loss o f reality t h a t afflicts u s today, a n d Faurisson's p r o p o s i t i o n s are s i m p l y t h e c y n i c a l t r a n s p o s i t i o n o f t h a t loss o f reality i n t o t h e past. F a u r i s s o n ' s ' n o n e o f this e v e r e x i s t e d ' q u i t e s i m p l y m e a n s t h a t w e d o n o t e v e n exist e n o u g h t o d a y t o sustain a m e m o r y , a n d t h a t all t h a t r e m a i n s to give us a sense of b e i n g alive are t h e techniques of hallucination. P o s t s c r i p t : i n v i e w o f all this, c o u l d w e n o t j u s t skip t h e rest o f t h e c e n t u r y ? I i n t e n d t o l a u n c h a collective p e t i t i o n ( w h i c h will m a k e a c h a n g e f r o m t h e usual h u m a n i t a r i a n o r presidential petitions) calling for t h e 1990s t o b e c a n c e l l e d , s o t h a t

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w e c a n m o v e directly f r o m 1 9 8 9 t o t h e y e a r 2 0 0 0 . A s t h e fin-de-siecle has already a r r i v e d , w i t h all its n e c r o c u l t u r a l p a t h o s , its endless l a m e n t a t i o n s , c o m m e m o r a t i o n s a n d m u m m i f i c a t i o n s , d o w e really h a v e t o s p e n d a n o t h e r t e n b o r i n g years o n this s a m e o l d treadmill? 27 January

20

1988

In P r a i s e of a V i r t u a l C r a s h

T h e interesting element in the tragicomedy on the stock exchanges in recent m o n t h s i s t h e u n c e r t a i n t y a s t o w h e t h e r a c a t a s t r o p h e has o c c u r r e d . H a s t h e r e b e e n a 'real' c a t a s t r o p h e ? W i l l t h e r e be o n e ? T h e a n s w e r is: t h e c a t a s t r o p h e is a v i r t u a l o n e , a n d t h e r e w i l l b e n o real c a t a s t r o p h e b e c a u s e w e live u n d e r t h e sign o f v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e . T h i s is c o n n e c t e d w i t h a state of affairs w h i c h was s h o w n up s t r i k i n g l y h e r e : t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e fictional e c o n o m y a n d t h e real e c o n o m y . It is this d i s c r e p a n c y w h i c h p r o t e c t s u s f r o m a real c a t a s t r o p h e o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e e c o n o m i e s . Is this a g o o d or a b a d t h i n g ? It is e x a c t l y t h e s a m e as t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n orbital w a r a n d l a n d w a r s . L a n d w a r s g o o n e v e r y w h e r e , b u t n u c l e a r w a r has n o t broken out. If the t w o were n o t disconnected, the nuclear confrontation w o u l d h a v e e r u p t e d l o n g since. W e are d o m i n a t e d b y b o m b s a n d v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e s w h i c h d o n o t e x p l o d e : t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t o c k m a r k e t crash (this has n o t really e v e n t u a t e d a n d i t will n o t ) , n u c l e a r w a r , t h e t h i r d - w o r l d d e b t , a n d e v e n t h e d e m o g r a p h i c t i m e - b o m b . O n e c o u l d , o f c o u r s e , a r g u e t h a t all t h e s e things will inevitably b l o w u p i n o u r faces o n e day, j u s t a s t h e r e has l o n g b e e n a p r e d i c t i o n t h a t , w i t h i n t h e n e x t fifty years, an e a r t h q u a k e will surely see C a l i f o r n i a slide i n t o t h e Pacific.

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B u t t h e facts are clear: w e are i n t h e s i t u a t i o n w h e r e t h e c a t a s t r o p h e d o e s n o t e v e n t u a t e , in a s i t u a t i o n of v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e — eternally v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e . T h i s is h o w t h i n g s are for us; it is t h e o n l y reality objectively facing us: a w i l d , orbital r o u n d - d a n c e o f capital w h i c h , w h e n i t b r e a k s d o w n , p r o d u c e s n o s u b s t a n tial d i s e q u i l i b r i u m i n real e c o n o m i e s (unlike t h e 1 9 2 9 C r a s h , w h e n t h e fictional a n d t h e real e c o n o m i e s w e r e by no m e a n s as d i s c o n n e c t e d , a n d , as a result, t h e c a t a s t r o p h e w i t h i n t h e o n e h a d a n i m p a c t o n t h e o t h e r ) , e i t h e r b e c a u s e real e c o n o m i e s are themselves s o speculative t h a t t h e y a b s o r b m o r e easily t o d a y w h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t a b s o r b i n 1 9 2 9 , o r b e c a u s e t h e s p h e r e o f virtual capital has b e c o m e s o a u t o n o m o u s , so o r b i t a l i z e d , t h a t it can in s o m e cases proliferate — or e v e n d e v o u r itself — w i t h o u t l e a v i n g a n y trace. I t d o e s , h o w e v e r , leave a t least o n e c a t a s t r o p h i c t r a c e : t h e crash t h a t has o c c u r r e d has b e e n n o t s o m u c h i n t h e e c o n o m y a s i n e c o n o m i c t h e o r y , w h i c h is n o w at a t o t a l loss b e f o r e this e x p l o s i o n of its o b j e c t . F o r e v e r y t h i n g has b e c o m e a p r o b l e m o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . I n t h e orbital s p h e r e o f capital, t h e r e i s w o n d e r f u l l y g o o d c o m m u n i c a t i o n (the p e r v e r s e c o m p u t e r s a n d t h e ' g o l d e n b o y s ' , w h o are t h e m s e l v e s h u m a n c o m p u t i n g m a c h i n e s ) . T h i s i s t h e r e a s o n w h y i t i s i n a p e r m a n e n t l y c a t a s t r o p h i c state: t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s are t o o g o o d . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , b e t w e e n t h e t w o s p h e r e s ( o f t h e v i r t u a l a n d t h e real), t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y c o m m u n i c a t i o n . F o r t u n a t e l y o r o t h e r w i s e . F o r i t i s this b r e a k b e t w e e n t h e t w o , this loss o f a referent o n t h e p a r t o f t h e v i r t u a l e c o n o m y , w h i c h enables i t t o p r o d u c e p r o d i g i o u s effects, b u t i t i s also this w h i c h p r o t e c t s t h e real e c o n o m y from the catastrophes w h i c h m a y o c c u r in the o t h e r sphere. W o u l d it be better if t h e real e c o n o m y b e c a m e t h e referent a n d c r i t e r i o n for t h e fictional e c o n o m y (every e c o n o m i s t ' s d r e a m ) ? T h e r e i s little i n d i c a t i o n t h a t i t w o u l d , a n d i n a n y case it is u n t h i n k a b l e . T r a d i t i o n a l t h e o r i s t s of w a r m u s t be equally at a loss before t h e e x p l o s i o n of t h e i r o b j e c t o f study. For, paradoxically, i t isn't t h e b o m b w h i c h has e x p l o d e d , b u t t h e 22

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w a r - o b j e c t , w h i c h has e x p l o d e d i n t o t w o separate parts - a total, virtual w a r in orbit a n d m u l t i p l e real w a r s o n t h e g r o u n d . T h e t w o h a v e n e i t h e r t h e s a m e d i m e n s i o n s n o r t h e s a m e rules, j u s t a s t h e v i r t u a l e c o n o m y a n d t h e real e c o n o m y d o n o t have t h e s a m e d i m e n s i o n s o r t h e s a m e r u l e s . W e shall h a v e t o g e t u s e d t o this virtually definitive division, a c c u s t o m ourselves to a w o r l d d o m i n a t e d by this discrepancy. T h e r e was, a d m i t t e d l y , a crisis i n 1 9 2 9 , a n d a n e x p l o s i o n a t H i r o s h i m a , a n d h e n c e t h e r e was a m o m e n t w h e n t h e s e t w o w o r l d s explosively c o n t a m i n a t e d e a c h o t h e r , a m o m e n t w h e n t h e e c o n o m i c s l u m p a n d n u c l e a r warfare w e r e real, b u t w e s h o u l d n o t b e m i s l e d b y this a s t o w h a t was t o follow. C a p i t a l has n o t l u r c h e d f r o m o n e crisis t o a n o t h e r , e a c h w o r s e t h a n t h e last (as M a r x a r g u e d i t w o u l d ) , n o r have w e l u r c h e d f r o m o n e w a r t o a n o t h e r . T h e e v e n t t o o k p l a c e o n c e a n d t h a t i s all. W h a t c a m e after was s o m e t h i n g q u i t e different: it was t h e h y p e r - r e a l i z a t i o n of b i g finance capital, t h e h y p e r - r e a l i z a t i o n o f overkill capacity, b o t h o r b i t a l i z e d a b o v e o u r h e a d s on a c o u r s e q u i t e b e y o n d o u r grasp, a n d a c o u r s e w h i c h is, fortunately, also b e y o n d t h e grasp o f reality itself. H y p e r - r e a l i z e d w a r a n d h y p e r - r e a l i z e d m o n e y circulate i n a n inaccessible space, b u t i n d o i n g s o t h e y leave t h e w o r l d j u s t a s i t is. I n t h e e n d , t h e e c o n o m i e s c o n t i n u e t o p r o d u c e , w h e r e a s t h e tiniest logical c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s i n t h e fictional e c o n o m y w o u l d l o n g a g o h a v e sufficed t o w i p e t h e m o u t (let u s n o t forget t h a t i n t h e daily figures for i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e , o n l y 1 0 0 b i l l i o n dollars goes o n c o m m e r c i a l t r a n s a c t i o n s , w h i l e capital m o v e m e n t s s t a n d a t 9 0 0 billion). T h e w o r l d c o n t i n u e s t o exist, e v e n t h o u g h o n e t h o u s a n d t h o f t h e available n u c l e a r p o w e r w o u l d have b e e n e n o u g h t o a n n i h i l a t e it; t h e T h i r d W o r l d - a n d t h e o t h e r — survive e v e n t h o u g h t h e slightest i n c l i n a t i o n t o m e e t its d e b t w o u l d already h a v e w i p e d i t f r o m t h e m a p . Instead, t h a t d e b t has b e g u n t o p u t itself i n t o o r b i t ; i t i s b e g i n n i n g t o circulate f r o m o n e b a n k t o a n o t h e r , o n e c o u n t r y t o a n o t h e r , each b u y i n g it b a c k from t h e o t h e r s . In this w a y it will e v e n t u a l l y be f o r g o t t e n , as it is sent i n t o o r b i t w i t h n u c l e a r w a s t e a n d a g r e a t m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s .

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W h e n t h e d e b t b e c o m e s t o o b u r d e n s o m e w e e x p e l i t i n t o a v i r t u a l space, w h e r e it a p p e a r s as a c a t a s t r o p h e frozen in o r b i t . T h e d e b t b e c o m e s a satellite of t h e e a r t h , j u s t as w a r has b e c o m e a satellite of t h e e a r t h , j u s t as t h e billions of dollars of speculative capital h a v e b e c o m e a satellite-heap, r e v o l v i n g endlessly a r o u n d t h e p l a n e t . A n d i t is, n o d o u b t , b e t t e r t h a t i t s h o u l d b e t h a t way. W h i l e t h e y are r e v o l v i n g - a n d e v e n if t h e y e x p l o d e in space (as t h e billions 'lost' in t h e 1 9 8 7 crash did) - t h e w o r l d i s n o t c h a n g e d b y t h e m , a n d this i s t h e best w e can h o p e for. T h e ' r a t i o n a l ' h o p e o f r e c o n c i l i n g t h e fictional a n d real e c o n o m i e s i s e n t i r e l y Utopian: t h e s e billions o f dollars exist o n l y virtually; t h e y c a n n o t b e t r a n s p o s e d i n t o t h e real e c o n o m y . A n d a g o o d t h i n g t o o , for i f t h e y c o u l d b y s o m e m i r a c l e b e r e - i n j e c t e d i n t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n e c o n o m i e s , t h a t w o u l d spell real catastrophe. Similarly, w e definitely s h o u l d n o t t r y t o r e - c o n n e c t t h e t w o separate spheres o f warfare: let u s leave v i r t u a l w a r in o r b i t , since t h a t is w h e r e it p r o t e c t s us. In its v e r y a b s t r a c t i o n , its m o n s t r o u s e c c e n t r i c i t y , t h e n u c l e a r i s o u r b e s t p r o t e c t i o n . A n d let u s g e t u s e d t o living i n t h e s h a d e o f t h e s e m o n s t r o u s e x c r e s c e n c e s : t h e orbital b o m b , financial s p e c u l a t i o n , t h e w o r l d d e b t , o v e r - p o p u l a t i o n (for w h i c h n o orbital s o l u t i o n has yet b e e n f o u n d — p e r h a p s h e r e again it will lie in t h e e c c e n t r i c m o b i l i z a t i o n a n d c i r c u l a t i o n of t h e excess). As t h e y are, t h e y e x o r c i z e themselves in t h e i r excess, in t h e i r v e r y hyperreality, a n d , after a fashion, leave t h e w o r l d intact, leave it free of its double. T h e e n d o f political e c o n o m y i s a t h i n g w e d r e a m e d o f w i t h M a r x . I t was a d r e a m i n w h i c h classes d i e d o u t a n d t h e social s p h e r e b e c a m e t r a n s p a r e n t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a n i n e l u c t a b l e l o g i c o f t h e crisis o f capital. T h e n w e d r e a m e d t h e d r e a m against M a r x himself, d i s a v o w i n g t h e p o s t u l a t e s o f e c o n o m i c s . A radical alternative this, d e n y i n g any p r i m a c y t o t h e e c o n o m i c o r political spheres i n first o r last i n s t a n c e : political e c o n o m y q u i t e s i m p l y a b o l i s h e d a s e p i p h e n o m e n o n , v a n q u i s h e d b y its o w n s i m u l a c r u m a n d b y a h i g h e r l o g i c . W e n o l o n g e r e v e n n e e d t o

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d r e a m o f t h a t e n d today. Political e c o n o m y i s d i s a p p e a r i n g b y its o w n h a n d b e f o r e o u r v e r y eyes; it is t u r n i n g i n t o a t r a n s e c o n o m i c s of s p e c u l a t i o n a n d flouting its o w n l o g i c ( t h e l a w o f value, o f t h e m a r k e t , p r o d u c t i o n , s u r p l u s - v a l u e , t h e v e r y l o g i c o f capital), as it d e v e l o p s i n t o a g a m e w i t h floating, arbitrary rules, a jeu de catastrophe. Political e c o n o m y will have c o m e to an e n d , b u t n o t at all as we e x p e c t e d it to - it will have e n d e d b y b e c o m i n g e x a c e r b a t e d t o t h e p o i n t o f parody. S p e c u l a t i o n i s n o l o n g e r s u r p l u s - v a l u e ; i t i s t h e ecstasy o f v a l u e , w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e t o p r o d u c t i o n o r its real c o n d i t i o n s . I t i s t h e p u r e a n d e m p t y f o r m , t h e e x p u r g a t e d f o r m o f value, w h i c h plays n o w o n its o w n orbital c i r c u l a t i o n a n d r e v o l u t i o n a l o n e . I t i s b y d e s t a bilizing itself monstrously, ironically, as it w e r e , t h a t political e c o n o m y s h o r t - c i r c u i t s e v e r y alternative. F o r w h a t c a n y o u set against s u c h a n u p p i n g o f t h e stakes, w h i c h i n its o w n w a y takes over t h e e n e r g y o f p o t l a t c h , o f p o k e r , o f t h e c h a l l e n g e t o its o w n l o g i c , a n d r e p r e s e n t s , a s i t w e r e , t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o t h e aesthetic a n d frenzied phase of the e c o n o m y — a way of p u t t i n g an e n d to the e c o n o m y that is the most singular in style, u l t i m a t e l y m o r e o r i g i n a l t h a n o u r political Utopias? F a c e d w i t h this d a n g e r o u s leap, c a n t h e o r y m a k e a d o u b l e leap t o m a i n t a i n its a d v a n t a g e ? 2 March

25

1988

The Viral Economy

A I D S , t h e stock m a r k e t crash (followed b y t h e d a w n raiders a n d a s t r i n g o f t a k e o v e r bids), c o m p u t e r viruses - w e are h a v i n g m o r e t h a n o u r fair share o f ' s u p e r c o n d u c t i v e ' e v e n t s . M o r e t h a n o u r fair s h a r e o f t h e s e s u d d e n i n t e r c o n t i n e n t a l ravages w h i c h n o l o n g e r affect states, i n d i v i d u a l s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s , b u t e n t i r e s t r u c t u r e s , s t r u c t u r e s r u n n i n g r i g h t across society: sex, m o n e y , i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a tions. T h e t h r e e t h i n g s are n o t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e , b u t t h e r e i s a family r e s e m b l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e m . A I D S i s a k i n d o f collapse o f t h e sexual m a r k e t , a n d w e o u g h t n o t to f o r g e t t h a t c o m p u t e r s , t h e m s e l v e s affected w i t h a k i n d of A I D S today, played a ' v i r u l e n t ' role i n t h e Wall Street C r a s h . B u t t h e g a l l o p i n g c o n t a m i n a t i o n o f c o m p u t e r s c o u l d also be seen as a k i n to a d e v a s t a t i n g fall in t h e s t o c k of c o m p u t i n g . C o n t a g i o n is n o t m e r e l y active within e a c h system; it o p e r a t e s between systems. All t h e s e d e v e l o p m e n t s h a v e a g e n e r i c p a t t e r n t o t h e m : t h e p a t t e r n o f catast r o p h e . A d m i t t e d l y , signs o f this v i r u l e n c e a n d d i s r u p t i o n have l o n g b e e n p r e s e n t i n e a c h o f t h e s e systems: A I D S i s n o w e n d e m i c ; financial collapse, p r e f i g u r e d i n t h e f a m o u s Wall Street C r a s h of 1 9 2 9 , is always a risk if p a n i c sets in on t h e m a r k e t s ;

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a n d h a c k i n g ( a n d serial e l e c t r o n i c accidents) g o b a c k a t least t w e n t y years. B u t t h e fact o f all t h e s e e n d e m i c f o r m s a p p e a r i n g t o g e t h e r - a n d b e i n g a l m o s t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y r a t c h e t e d up to a v i r u l e n t state, a state of g a l l o p i n g a n o m a l y - creates an entirely o r i g i n a l , e x c i t i n g situation. T h e effects are n o t necessarily o f t h e same o r d e r in t h e collective c o n s c i o u s n e s s : A I D S m a y be e x p e r i e n c e d as a real c a t a s t r o p h e ; t h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash, by c o n t r a s t , s e e m s a jeu de catastrophe, a n d as for t h e c o m p u t e r v i r u s , t h a t is, a d m i t t e d l y , d r a m a t i c i n its v i r t u a l c o n s e q u e n c e s , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e it is hilariously ironic. It is, in a sense, a catastrophic parody. T h e c o n t a g i o n of c o m p u t e r viruses is also t h e c o n t a g i o n of l a u g h t e r (laughter is a f o r m of c o n t a g i o n b o r n of t h e catastrophic collapse of t h e real — e v e n an infinitesimally tiny collapse; l a u g h ter i s a h o m e o p a t h i c c a t a s t r o p h e ) . A n d t h e s u d d e n e p i d e m i c w h i c h i s s t r i k i n g d o w n c o m p u t e r s , d e s t r o y i n g t h e i r d e f e n c e a n d i m m u n e systems, can b e a s o u r c e o f justified r e j o i c i n g — at least in t h e i m a g i n a t i o n ( t h o u g h n o t for t h e professionals concerned). To t h e s e v a r i o u s aspects of a single e c c e n t r i c cluster of p h e n o m e n a , I shall a d d t w o v e r y different t h i n g s , t h o u g h t h e y inevitably p u t u s i n m i n d o f t h e s a m e m e c h a n i s m s . T h e first i s art, w h i c h i s e v e r y w h e r e b e s e t b y q u e s t i o n s o f f a l s e h o o d , a u t h e n t i c i t y , c o p y i n g , c l o n i n g a n d s i m u l a t i o n (there is a positive c o n t a g i o n h e r e , destabilizing aesthetic values, w h i c h are also l o s i n g t h e i r i m m u n e defences) a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y b y a m a d , s p e c u l a t i v e u p w a r d spiral o f p r i c e s ( t h o u g h t h e art ' m a r k e t ' is no l o n g e r a m a r k e t , b u t a centrifugal proliferation of value, in e v e r y w a y equivalent to the secondary infections of a b o d y irradiated by lucre). T h e s e c o n d p h e n o m e n o n i s a political o n e : t e r r o r i s m . N o t h i n g m o r e r e s e m b l e s t h e c h a i n r e a c t i o n o f t e r r o r i s m i n o u r i r r a d i a t e d societies ( i r r a d i a t e d b y w h a t ? B y superfusion o f h a p p i n e s s , security, i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n ; b y t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f c o r e s y m b o l s , f u n d a m e n t a l rules, social contracts? — w h o k n o w s ? ) t h a n t h e c h a i n r e a c t i o n o f A I D S , t h e d a w n raiders, o r t h e h a c k e r s . A n d t h e c o n t a g i o n o f

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t e r r o r i s m is as l o c a l l y - c o n f i n e d , e p h e m e r a l , e n i g m a t i c a n d irrepressible as t h e c o n t a g i o n o f all t h e s e p h e n o m e n a . H o s t a g e - t a k i n g i s c o n t a g i o u s t o o : w h e n a software e n g i n e e r p u t s a 'soft b o m b ' i n t o t h e p r o g r a m m e , u s i n g t h e possible d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h a t p r o g r a m m e a s a m e a n s o f e x e r t i n g pressure, w h a t i s h e d o i n g b u t t a k i n g t h e p r o g r a m m e a n d all its future users hostage? A n d w h a t do d a w n raiders do b u t take and hold — companies hostage, speculating on their death or resurrection on the s t o c k m a r k e t ? W e m a y say, t h e n , t h a t all t h e effects d e s c r i b e d o p e r a t e o n t h e s a m e m o d e l as t e r r o r i s m (hostages h a v e a m a r k e t p r i c e like shares or p a i n t i n g s ) , w i t h t h e same D u t c h auction g o i n g on, the same unpredictability, the same destabilization a n d c h a i n - r e a c t i o n effects. B u t w e c o u l d j u s t a s w e l l see t e r r o r i s m o n t h e m o d e l o f A I D S , c o m p u t e r viruses o r hostile t a k e o v e r b i d s : n o n e o f t h e s e p h e n o m e n a takes p r e c e d e n c e o v e r t h e o t h e r s ; t h e r e is no process of cause a n d effect h e r e ; it is a single c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f collusive, c o n t e m p o r a r y p h e n o m e n a . T h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash finds a c o n t i n u a t i o n in t h e t a k e o v e r frenzy. It is no l o n g e r stocks a n d shares b e i n g b o u g h t , b u t c o m p a n i e s b e i n g b o u g h t u p . A virtual effervescence i s c r e a t e d , w i t h a p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t o n e c o n o m i c r e s t r u c t u r i n g w h i c h , in spite of w h a t is said, is p u r e l y speculative. T h e h o p e is that this e n f o r c e d c i r c u l a t i o n will p r o d u c e a broker's c o m m i s s i o n — exactly as on t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e . N o t e v e n an o b j e c t i v e profit exactly: t h e profit f r o m s p e c u l a t i o n is n o t exactly s u r p l u s value, a n d w h a t is at stake h e r e is certainly n o t w h a t is at stake in classical capitalism. S p e c u l a t i o n , like p o k e r or roulette, has its o w n r u n a w a y logic, a c h a i n - r e a c t i o n logic, a process o f intensification [Steigerung], i n w h i c h t h e thrill o f t h e g a m e a n d o f b i d d i n g up t h e stakes plays a c o n s i d e r a b l e role. T h i s is w h y t h e r e is no p o i n t c r i t i c i z i n g i t o n t h e basis o f e c o n o m i c logic (this i s w h a t m a k e s t h e s e p h e n o m e n a s o e x c i t i n g : the e c o n o m i c being overtaken by a r a n d o m , vertiginous form). T h e g a m e i s s u c h a s t o b e c o m e suicidal: b i g c o m p a n i e s e n d u p b u y i n g b a c k t h e i r o w n shares, w h i c h i s n o n s e n s i c a l f r o m t h e e c o n o m i c p o i n t o f v i e w : t h e y e n d u p 28

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m o u n t i n g t a k e o v e r bids for t h e m s e l v e s ! B u t this i s all p a r t o f t h e s a m e m a d n e s s . I n t h e case of t a k e o v e r s , c o m p a n i e s are n o t t r a d e d - do n o t circulate - as real capital, as u n i t s of p r o d u c t i o n ; t h e y are t r a d e d as a q u a n t i t y of shares, as a m e r e p r o b a b i l i t y o f p r o d u c t i o n , w h i c h i s e n o u g h t o create a v i r t u a l m o v e m e n t w i t h i n t h e e c o n o m y . T h a t this will be a p r e l u d e to o t h e r crashes is h i g h l y p r o b a b l e , for t h e s a m e reasons as apply in t h e case of stocks a n d shares: things are circulating t o o quickly. We m i g h t i m a g i n e l a b o u r itself - l a b o u r p o w e r — m o v i n g i n t o this speculative o r b i t t o o . T h e w o r k e r w o u l d no l o n g e r sell his l a b o u r p o w e r for a w a g e , as in t h e classic c a p i t a l ist process, b u t sell his j o b itself, his e m p l o y m e n t . A n d h e w o u l d b u y o t h e r s a n d sell t h e m o n again, a s t h e i r s t o c k w e n t u p o r d o w n o n t h e L a b o u r E x c h a n g e (the t e r m w o u l d t h e n a s s u m e its full m e a n i n g ) . I t w o u l d n o t b e s o m u c h a q u e s t i o n o f d o i n g the j o b s as keeping t h e m circulating, creating a virtual m o v e m e n t of e m p l o y m e n t w h i c h s u b s t i t u t e d for t h e real m o v e m e n t o f l a b o u r . S c i e n c e fiction? H a r d l y . I n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n are b a s e d o n t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a v a l u e w h i c h has c e a s e d t o b e referential a n d i s n o w b a s e d o n p u r e circulation. P u r e added-value — a d d e d by dint of t h e message, the m e a n i n g passing from image to image and screen to screen. This is no longer even the surplus-value and exchange-value of the c o m m o d i t y (which does, however, a n t i c i p a t e this p r o c e s s ) . T h a t is b a s e d in p r i n c i p l e on a u s e - v a l u e a n d h e n c e still belongs to the sphere of the economy. H e r e there is no longer any exchange p r o p erly s p e a k i n g : w e are i n t h e r e a l m o f p u r e c i r c u l a t i o n a n d c h a i n r e a c t i o n s t h r o u g h the networks: a w h o l e n e w definition of value as s o m e t h i n g purely centrifugal, l i n k e d t o p u r e s p e e d a n d i n t e n s i f i e d e x c h a n g e . T h i s i s largely w h a t w e see i n t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n field - a field of v i r t u a l i t y ; o p e r a t i o n a l , b u t never operative. B u t this ' t r a n s e c o n o m i c ' m o d e l of value already exists in a sense in p r i m i t i v e c u l tures. F o r e x a m p l e , kula is a cycle of g i f t - e x c h a n g e in w h i c h t h e gifts a c q u i r e

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i n c r e a s i n g v a l u e t h e m o r e t h e y have b e e n g i v e n a n d r e c e i v e d .

3

T h e y can even

r e t u r n t o t h e starting p o i n t w i t h o u t h a v i n g c h a n g e d , b u t w i t h t h e i r value e n h a n c e d a h u n d r e d f o l d (isn't i t t h e s a m e o n today's art m a r k e t ? ) . T h e m e r e fact o f passing f r o m o n e p e r s o n t o a n o t h e r creates a k i n d o f s y m b o l i c c i r c u l a t i o n e n e r g y , w h i c h t r a n s m u t e s i n t o value. B u t t h a t value c a n n o t b e realized. I t c a n n o t b e ' p r o d u c e d ' , n o r can it be transferred i n t o t h e circuit of useful values (gimwali); it c a n o n l y c i r culate indefinitely, i n c r e a s i n g as e x c h a n g e s o c c u r (or, possibly, c o l l a p s i n g if t h e y s t o p ) . N o w kula is, in a sense, t h e sacred level, t h e prestige level of (symbolic) e x c h a n g e . T h e o t h e r level, t h e level o f b a r t e r , o f e q u i v a l e n c e , has n o s y m b o l i c v a l u e ; it is f u n c t i o n a l . Potlatch t o o is a speculative s t r u c t u r e of o u t b i d d i n g , of p r o duction of value by purely and simply b i d d i n g up the price. C a n we say, t h e n , t h a t t h e r e is an e c h o of kula a n d potlatch in t h e s e w a y w a r d effects, w h i c h basically c o n t r a d i c t t h e e c o n o m i c p r i n c i p l e o f v a l u e a n d e q u i v a l e n c e , t h e p r i n c i p l e o f l a b o u r a n d p r o d u c t i o n ? I n all l o g i c (even i n t h e l o g i c o f radical c r i t i q u e ) , w e c o u l d n o t c o n d e m n t h e s e excesses. A n d e v e r y o n e enjoys t h e m a s s p e c t a c l e : t h e s t o c k m a r k e t , t h e art m a r k e t , t h e Wall S t r e e t r a i d e r s . W e all d e l i g h t i n t h e s e t h i n g s a s p a r t o f capital's s p e c t a c u l a r b r i g h t e n i n g o f o u r lives, its m a n i a for t h e a e s t h e t i c . A t t h e s a m e t i m e w e d e l i g h t - w i t h m o r e difficulty a n d m o r e pain, and m o r e ambiguously - in the spectacular pathology of that system, i n t h e v i r u s e s w h i c h , like A I D S , t h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash a n d c o m p u t e r v i r u s e s , l a t c h o n t o this d e l i c a t e m a c h i n e r y a n d k n o c k i t o u t o f kilter. B u t t h e y are i n fact f o l l o w i n g o u t t h e s a m e l o g i c : v i r u s e s a n d v i r u l e n c e are p a r t o f t h e l o g i c a l , h y p e r logical c o h e r e n c e o f all o u r systems; t h e y take t h e s a m e paths a n d e v e n create s o m e n e w o n e s ( c o m p u t e r viruses e x p l o r e m a r g i n a l areas o f t h e n e t w o r k s w h i c h e v e n

3.

On the kula system, see Marcel Mauss, Tlte Gift. Hie Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic

Societies ( N e w Y o r k / L o n d o n : W. W. N o r t o n , 2000), pp. 2 1 - 3 1 .

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t h e n e t w o r k s h a d n o t p l a n n e d t o u s e ) . C o m p u t e r v i r u s e s are a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e lethal t r a n s p a r e n c y o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . A I D S i s a n e m a n a t i o n o f t h e lethal t r a n s p a r e n c y of sexual l i b e r a t i o n on a scale affecting e n t i r e social g r o u p s . F i n a n c i a l crashes are a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e lethal t r a n s p a r e n c y o f e c o n o m i e s o n e t o a n o t h e r , o f t h e f u l g u r a t i n g c i r c u l a t i o n o f values, w h i c h i s t h e v e r y basis o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d e x c h a n g e . O n c e t h e y h a v e b e e n ' l i b e r a t e d ' , all t h e s e p r o c e s s e s e n t e r a s u p e r c o o l e d state, t h e F r e n c h t e r m c h i m i n g felicitously h e r e w i t h n o t i o n s o f fusion a n d m e l t d o w n . T h i s s u p e r c o o l i n g o f event processes w h i c h b e c o m e d e c o u p l e d f r o m t h e i r real s u b s t a n c e i s o n e o f t h e g r e a t a t t r a c t i o n s of our age.

4

A n d i t i s q u i t e s o m e p a r a d o x t o see t h e e c o n o m y c o m i n g t r i u m p h a n t l y b a c k o n t o t h e a g e n d a , i n c l u d i n g t h e m e d i a a g e n d a (let u s n o t forget t h a t t h e w o r l d o f t h e m e d i a is a viral w o r l d t o o , a n d t h a t t h e c i r c u l a t i o n of i m a g e s a n d messages functions a s a p e r p e t u a l r u m o u r mill). B u t c a n w e still s p e a k o f t h e ' e c o n o m y ' ? O r , i n d e e d , o f political e c o n o m y (the l o g i c o f capital)? C e r t a i n l y n o t . A t t h e v e r y least, t h e s t r i k i n g p r o m i n e n c e o f t h e e c o n o m y a t t h e m o m e n t has n o t a t all t h e s a m e m e a n i n g i t h a d i n t h e classical o r M a r x i s t analysis. F o r i t i s n o l o n g e r i n a n y sense d r i v e n by the infrastructure of material p r o d u c t i o n , n o r i n d e e d by t h e superstructure. T h e e n g i n e o f t h e e c o n o m y i s t h e d e s t r u c t u r i n g o f value, t h e destabilizing o f m a r kets a n d real e c o n o m i e s , t h e t r i u m p h o f a n e c o n o m y relieved o f i d e o l o g i e s , social sciences, h i s t o r y a n d political e c o n o m y a n d y i e l d e d u p t o p u r e s p e c u l a t i o n ; i t i s t h e t r i u m p h o f a v i r t u a l e c o n o m y relieved o f real e c o n o m i e s ( n o t really, o f c o u r s e , b u t virtually: yet i t i s n o t reality w h i c h h o l d s sway t o d a y b u t virtuality); t h e t r i u m p h o f a viral e c o n o m y w h i c h c o n n e c t s u p i n this w a y w i t h all t h e o t h e r viral processes. I t

4. Baudrillard is here exploiting the t e r m suffusion ('supercooling' or 'undercooling') for its poetic resources. This is also 'surfusion' as an excess of, a b e y o n d of, 'fusion'.

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is as an arena of special effects, of u n p r e d i c t a b l e (almost m e t e o r o l o g i c a l ) h a p p e n ings - as t h e d e s t r u c t i o n a n d e x a c e r b a t i o n of its o w n l o g i c - t h a t it is b e c o m i n g o n c e again a k i n d o f e x e m p l a r y t h e a t r e o f c u r r e n t events. 9 November

32

1988

The Depressurization of the West

W i t h t h e R u s h d i e affair, K h o m e i n i c a n b e said t o h a v e o p e n e d u p a n e w era i n t h e history of hostage-taking. T h e a w k w a r d part in hostage-taking, as is well k n o w n , i s s t o r i n g a n d k e e p i n g t h e h o s t a g e . K h o m e i n i has p u l l e d off t h e b r i l l i a n t t r i c k o f h a v i n g t h e W e s t e r n p o w e r s t h e m s e l v e s d e t a i n a n d stand g u a r d o v e r t h e h o s t a g e . A n d , t h r o u g h R u s h d i e , h e has p u l l e d off t h e brilliant t r i c k o f h a v i n g t h e W e s t a s a w h o l e t a k e itself h o s t a g e . T h i s s p e c t a c u l a r e n h a n c e m e n t o f h o s t a g e - t a k i n g strategy has t u r n e d it i n t o s o m e t h i n g global - a s y m b o l i c strategy capable of o v e r t u r n i n g all relations o f force m e r e l y b y o p e n i n g o n e ' s m o u t h . I n s t e a d o f t a l k i n g a lot o f n o n s e n s e a b o u t t h e Ayatollah's m e d i e v a l b a r b a r i t y a n d h o p i n g t h e w h o l e t h i n g will d i s a p p e a r m i r a c u l o u s l y w i t h his d e a t h , i t w o u l d b e b e t t e r t o p o n d e r w h y a n act o f this k i n d has s u c h s y m b o l i c p o t e n c y , w h y i t i s s o s y m b o l i c a l l y - diabolically - effective. After a n e x h a u s t i n g w a r a n d i n a n e n t i r e l y n e g a t i v e political, m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n , w i t h t h e w h o l e w o r l d u n i t e d against h i m , t h e A y a t o l l a h has a single, tiny, i m m a t e r i a l w e a p o n at his disposal. B u t it is close to b e i n g t h e a b s o l u t e w e a p o n : t h e p r i n c i p l e o f Evil. A p o s i t i o n o f a b s o l u t e disavowal o f t h e W e s t e r n 33

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values o f p r o g r e s s , rationality, p o l i t i c a l m o r a l i t y , d e m o c r a c y , e t c . D e n y i n g t h e universal c o n s e n s u s o n all t h e s e fine t h i n g s confers o n h i m t h e w h o l e e n e r g y o f E v i l — all t h e satanic e n e r g y o f t h e o u t c a s t , t h e eclat o f t h e a c c u r s e d share. H e a l o n e speaks today, b e c a u s e h e a l o n e , against all c o m e r s , has t a k e n u p t h e M a n i c h e a n p r i n c i p l e o f Evil; h e a l o n e has t a k e n i t u p o n h i m s e l f t o speak evil a n d e x o r c i s e it, h e a l o n e agrees t o e m b o d y i t i n t e r r o r . W h a t lies b e h i n d his d e c i s i o n i s b e y o n d o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d t h e r e i s little t o b e g a i n e d f r o m r a m b l i n g o n a b o u t t h e i n t e r n a l divisions w i t h i n Islam. W h a t w e can state w i t h c e r t a i n t y , h o w e v e r , i s t h e s u p e r i o r i t y this affords h i m o v e r t h e W e s t , w h e r e t h e possibility o f s p e a k i n g evil n o l o n g e r exists a n y w h e r e , w h e r e t h e slightest c r i t i c i s m , t h e slightest radical n e g a t i v i t y i s stifled b y t h e v i r t u a l c o n s e n sus o n all v a l u e s b a s e d o n n e g o t i a t i o n a n d r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . Political p o w e r i n t h e W e s t n o w o n l y h a l f - h e a r t e d l y exercises its f o r m e r f u n c t i o n s , o n e o f w h i c h w a s t o d e s i g n a t e t h e O t h e r , t h e E n e m y , t h e stakes, t h e t h r e a t , t h e evil. P o w e r exists o n l y a s l o n g a s i t has this s y m b o l i c p o t e n c y . I t n o l o n g e r has t h a t p o t e n c y t o d a y a n d , conversely, t h e r e i s n o o p p o s i t i o n w h i c h i s able o r w i l l i n g t o d e s i g n a t e t h e c u r r e n t p o w e r s - t h a t - b e a s t h e evil. W e are n o w v e r y l o w o n satanic, i r o n i c , p o l e m i c a l , a n t a g o n i s t i c e n e r g y ; w e h a v e b e c o m e fanatically soft s o c i e t i e s , o r softly fanatical ones. B y h o u n d i n g o u t t h e ' a c c u r s e d s h a r e ' f r o m w i t h i n ourselves, a n d a l l o w i n g o n l y p o s i t i v e values t o s h i n e f o r t h , w e h a v e b e c o m e d r a m a t i c a l l y v u l n e r a b l e t o t h e slightest viral attack, i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f t h e Ayatollah, w h o s e i m m u n e d e f e n c e s are c e r t a i n l y n o t d o w n . T h e o n l y t h i n g w e c a n r a n g e against h i m - a n d i t i s n o t m u c h — i s h u m a n r i g h t s , w h i c h i s itself p a r t o f o u r political i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y . A n d , m o r e o v e r , i n t h e n a m e o f h u m a n r i g h t s , w e e n d u p d e s c r i b i n g t h e Ayatollah h i m s e l f as ' a b s o l u t e E v i l ' ( M i t t e r a n d ) , t h a t is to say, e n d up i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h his i r rational curse in a way that stands in total contradiction to o u r e n l i g h t e n e d

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d i s c o u r s e (do w e call a m a d m a n ' m a d ' t o d a y ? W e d o n ' t e v e n call a h a n d i c a p p e d p e r s o n ' h a n d i c a p p e d ' , s o afraid are w e o f E v i l , s o m u c h d o w e w a l l o w i n e u p h e m i s m s i n o r d e r t o avoid d e s i g n a t i n g t h e O t h e r , m i s f o r t u n e , t h e i r r e d u c i b l e ) . W e s h o u l d n o t b e s u r p r i s e d t h a t s o m e o n e capable o f s p e a k i n g t h e l a n g u a g e o f Evil - s p e a k i n g it literally a n d t r i u m p h a n t l y - s h o u l d trigger s u c h an access of w e a k ness i n W e s t e r n c u l t u r e s , i n spite o f p e t i t i o n s b y intellectuals t h e w o r l d over. T h e fact is t h a t legality, h u m a n i t a r i a n g o o d c o n s c i e n c e a n d r e a s o n itself yield in t h e face of i m p r e c a t i o n . R e a s o n is c o m p l e t e l y fascinated by it a n d falls in w i t h it, as do all t h e w o r l d ' s m e d i a . All i t c a n d o i s m o b i l i z e its reserves o f s t i g m a t i z a t i o n a n d satanization, b u t , in so d o i n g , it lapses i n t o t h e s a m e l a n g u a g e a n d falls i n t o t h e trap o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l , w h i c h i s essentially c o n t a g i o u s . W h o i s t h e w i n n e r ? T h e Ayatollah o f c o u r s e . A d m i t t e d l y , w e still h a v e t h e p o w e r t o d e s t r o y h i m , b u t s y m b o l i c a l l y h e has w o n a n d s y m b o l i c p o w e r i s always s u p e r i o r t o t h e p o w e r o f w e a p o n s a n d m o n e y ; o u r m o d e r n i d e a l i s m s h o u l d have t a u g h t u s that. I t is, i n a way, t h e r e v e n g e o f t h e o t h e r w o r l d . T h e T h i r d W o r l d h a d n e v e r really m a n a g e d t o m o u n t a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e W e s t . A n d t h e U S S R , w h i c h for a few d e c a d e s p e r s o n i f i e d t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l for t h e W e s t , has clearly m o v e d over q u i e t l y t o t h e side o f G o o d , t h e side o f a w e l l - t e m p e r e d m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e w o r l d ' s affairs. B y a m a r vellous irony, t h a t c o u n t r y e v e n offered itself a s m e d i a t o r b e t w e e n t h e W e s t a n d t h e Satan o f T e h e r a n . A n d i t has t h e e x p e r i e n c e t o d o that, h a v i n g s p e n t f i v e years d e f e n d i n g W e s t e r n values i n A f g h a n i s t a n , w i t h o u t a n y o n e p r o p e r l y realizing it. S o m e c o m m e n t a t o r s h a v e a t least a c k n o w l e d g e d , w i t h s o m e b i t t e r n e s s , t h a t K h o m e i n i ' s s e n t e n c e has, by force of a n a t h e m a , restored a fantastic value to b o o k s — a value t h e y h a d lost. T h i s is to r e c o g n i z e t h e s h a m e f u l state politics has fallen i n t o in our countries. T h e effect o f f a s c i n a t i o n , a t t r a c t i o n a n d r e p u l s i o n o n a w o r l d scale, u n l e a s h e d b y t h e Ayatollah's d e a t h s e n t e n c e o n R u s h d i e , i s e x a c t l y like t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f

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s u d d e n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n o f a n aircraft c a b i n w h e n t h e r e i s a h o l e o r c r a c k i n t h e fuselage (even if this is a c c i d e n t a l , it always r e s e m b l e s a t e r r o r i s t act). E v e r y t h i n g is s u c k e d v i o l e n t l y o u t w a r d s i n t o t h e v o i d , as a result of t h e p r e s s u r e differential b e t w e e n t h e t w o spaces. Y o u h a v e o n l y t o m a k e a b r e a c h , a h o l e i n t h e u l t r a - t h i n film s e p a r a t i n g t h e t w o w o r l d s . T e r r o r i s m , h o s t a g e - t a k i n g , i s p r e - e m i n e n t l y t h e act w h i c h m a k e s this k i n d o f b r e a c h i n a n artificial — a n d artificially p r o t e c t e d — u n i v e r s e ( o u r u n i v e r s e ) . T h e w h o l e o f Islam, current Islam, w h i c h i s n o t i n a n y sense t h e Islam o f t h e M i d d l e A g e s , a n d w h i c h has t o b e assessed i n s t r a t e g i c , n o t m o r a l or religious terms, is creating a v a c u u m a r o u n d the Western system (including the countries of Eastern Europe) and, from time to time, m a k i n g breaches in that s y s t e m , b y a single act o r s t a t e m e n t , t h r o u g h w h i c h all o u r values h u r t l e o u t i n t o t h e v o i d . Islam d o e s n o t e x e r t r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r e s s u r e o n t h e W e s t e r n w o r l d ; t h e r e i s n o d a n g e r t h a t Islam will c o n v e r t o r c o n q u e r it: i t i s h a p p y t o destabilize i t b y this viral a g g r e s s i o n i n t h e n a m e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l (to w h i c h w e h a v e n o a n s w e r ) a n d o n t h e basis o f t h e v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e t h a t i s t h e p r e s s u r e differential b e t w e e n t h e t w o m i l i e u s - t h e p e r p e t u a l risk for t h e p r o t e c t e d u n i v e r s e ( o u r u n i verse) o f a s u d d e n d e - p r e s s u r i z i n g o f t h e air (the values) w e b r e a t h e . A d m i t t e d l y , q u i t e a b i t o f o x y g e n has a l r e a d y e s c a p e d f r o m o u r W e s t e r n w o r l d t h r o u g h all k i n d s o f fissures a n d cracks. W e w o u l d b e w e l l a d v i s e d t o h o l d o n t o o u r o x y g e n masks. O u r e n t i r e s y s t e m r u s h e s t o serve t h e Ayatollah. H e has m e r e l y t o raise his little finger a n d t h e p r i n c i p l e o f Evil d r a w s u s t o h i m i n frenzied fascination. C o n t r a r y to all t h a t is said of it, his strategy is a s t o n i s h i n g l y m o d e r n . M u c h m o r e m o d e r n t h a n o u r s , since i t consists i n subtly i n j e c t i n g archaic e l e m e n t s i n t o a m o d e r n c o n t e x t : a fatwa, a d e c r e e of e x e c u t i o n , a c u r s e or any o l d t h i n g . If o u r W e s t e r n w o r l d w e r e r o b u s t , this w o u l d simply b e m e a n i n g l e s s . B u t t h e w h o l e o f o u r s y s t e m falls i n t o t h e trap a n d b e c o m e s a s o u n d i n g - b o x for t h e s e e l e m e n t s , a s u p e r c o n d u c t o r for

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t h e v i r u s . H o w c a n w e e x p l a i n this? O n c e again, w h a t w e h a v e h e r e i s t h e r e v e n g e o f t h e O t h e r W o r l d : w e , i n o u r t i m e , i n f e c t e d t h e rest o f t h e w o r l d w i t h e n o u g h g e r m s , diseases, e p i d e m i c s a n d i d e o l o g i e s against w h i c h t h e y h a d n o resistance. Today, in an i r o n i c twist, it s e e m s we are ourselves defenceless in t h e face of a t i n y little a r c h a i c m i c r o b e . T h e h o s t a g e h i m s e l f i s b e c o m i n g m i c r o b i a l . Alain B o s q u e t s h o w s i n his latest b o o k (Le Metier d'otage) h o w , o n c e d e f l e c t e d i n t o t h e v o i d , t h e h o s t a g e — t h a t p a r ticle o f t h e W e s t e r n w o r l d — c a n n o t g o h o m e , n o l o n g e r w a n t s t o g o h o m e . F o r o n e t h i n g h e i s d e m e a n e d i n his o w n eyes, b u t also his o w n p e o p l e , his c o u n t r y a n d fellow citizens are collectively d e m e a n e d b y t h e i r e n f o r c e d passivity, t h e i r r o u t i n e c o w a r d i c e , t h e v e r y act o f n e g o t i a t i o n , w h i c h i s d e g r a d i n g i n itself a n d f u n d a m e n tally useless. For, q u i t e apart f r o m t h e n e g o t i a t i o n , every h o s t a g e - t a k i n g proves t h e i n e s c a p a b l e c o w a r d i c e o f e n t i r e c o m m u n i t i e s vis-a-vis t h e least significant o f t h e i r m e m b e r s . A n d i n d e e d , t h e indifference o f t h e c o m m u n i t y t o its m e m b e r s has its c o u n t e r p a r t i n t h e indifference o f e a c h i n d i v i d u a l t o t h e c o m m u n i t y : this i s h o w w e f u n c t i o n (badly) i n t h e W e s t a n d i t i s this political i m p o v e r i s h m e n t w h i c h t h e strategy of h o s t a g e - t a k i n g ruthlessly e x p o s e s . By destabilizing a single i n d i v i d u a l , an e n t i r e s y s t e m i s destabilized. T h i s i s w h y t h e h o s t a g e c a n n o t e v e n forgive his o w n p e o p l e for h a v i n g m a d e h i m i n t o a h e r o — an elevation w h i c h in fact it i m m e d i a t e l y retracts. We can neither get into the m i n d of the Ayatollah, n o r into the hearts of M u s l i m s , a n d t h e r e can b e n o q u e s t i o n o f e s p o u s i n g t h e i r passions o r beliefs. Ail w e can d o i s get away f r o m t h a t feeble, d o g m a t i c t h i n k i n g w h i c h i m p u t e s all this t o religious fanaticism, a n d g a r n e r at least a g l i m m e r of strategic u n d e r s t a n d i n g of w h a t is at stake in this s y m b o l i c c h a l l e n g e ; in this respect, t h e h o t c h p o t c h of p i o u s a n d p a t h e t i c r e a c t i o n s o n e reads is n e x t to useless a n d r e p r e s e n t s little b u t an a t t e m p t at exorcism.

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I fear we are i l l - e q u i p p e d to m e e t t h e c h a l l e n g e of this s y m b o l i c v i o l e n c e of Islam a t t h e v e r y m o m e n t w h e n w e are t r y i n g t o w i p e t h e T e r r o r f r o m o u r m e m o r y o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n for t h e sake o f a c o m m e m o r a t i o n w h i c h , like t h e c u r r e n t c o n s e n s u s , has all t h e features o f a n inflatable s t r u c t u r e . H o w are w e t o react t o this n e w v i o lence if we choose to blot o u t the violence of o u r o w n history? 14 March

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1989

The Defrosting of Eastern Europe and t h e End of H i s t o r y

T h e e v e n t o f t h e e n d o f t h e c e n t u r y i s u n d e r way. T h e idea t h a t history, stifled for a t i m e b y t h e g r i p o f t o t a l i t a r i a n i d e o l o g y , i s r e s u m i n g its c o u r s e w i t h r e n e w e d v i g o u r n o w t h a t t h e b l o c k a d e o f t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e has b e e n lifted, has p u t air b a c k i n e v e r y o n e ' s l u n g s . T h e field o f h i s t o r y i s a t last o p e n e d u p again t o t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e m o v e m e n t o f p e o p l e s a n d t h e i r thirst for f r e e d o m . I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e depressive m y t h o l o g y w h i c h g e n e r a l l y a c c o m p a n i e s t h e e n d s o f c e n t u r i e s , i t s e e m s this o n e i s t o u s h e r i n a n e w a n d illustrious r e s u r g e n c e o f t h e final process, to b r i n g fresh h o p e a n d a revival of all historical challenges. A w a y w i t h all t h o s e evil a u g u r i e s o f t h e e n d o f history. H o w c a n its reality a n d vitality b e d o u b t e d w h e n s u c h events are t a k i n g place b e f o r e o u r eyes? S e e n a t closer q u a r t e r s , t h e e v e n t i s a bit m o r e m y s t e r i o u s , a n d m i g h t w i t h m u c h greater accuracy be described as an unidentified 'historical' object. This t h a w i n g o f t h e E a s t e r n b l o c , this t h a w i n g o f l i b e r t y i s c e r t a i n l y a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y t u r n o f events. B u t w h a t b e c o m e s o f l i b e r t y w h e n i t i s defrosted? T h e o p e r a t i o n i s a p e r i l o u s o n e a n d its o u t c o m e u n c e r t a i n (even l e a v i n g aside t h e fact t h a t w h a t has b e e n defrosted c a n n o t b e d e e p - f r o z e n again). T h e U S S R a n d t h e E a s t e r n b l o c have

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n o t j u s t s e r v e d as a d e e p - f r e e z e for f r e e d o m ; t h e y h a v e also p r o v i d e d a t e s t i n g g r o u n d , a n e x p e r i m e n t a l e n v i r o n m e n t i n w h i c h i t was s e q u e s t e r e d a n d s u b j e c t e d t o v e r y h i g h pressures. T h e West, for its p a r t , is little m o r e t h a n a r e p o s i t o r y or, m o r e accurately, a d u m p i n g g r o u n d for f r e e d o m a n d h u m a n r i g h t s . I f u l t r a - f r e e z i n g was t h e distinctive — a n d n e g a t i v e - m a r k o f t h e E a s t e r n w o r l d , t h e ultra-fluidity o f o u r W e s t e r n w o r l d i s e v e n m o r e s h o c k i n g since, a s a c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n a n d liberalization o f m o r e s a n d o p i n i o n s , t h e p r o b l e m o f l i b e r t y q u i t e s i m p l y c a n n o t b e p o s e d h e r e a n y l o n g e r . It is resolved virtually. In t h e West, f r e e d o m — t h e I d e a of F r e e d o m - has d i e d a n a t u r a l d e a t h : this we h a v e s e e n in all t h e r e c e n t c o m m e m o r a t i o n s . I n t h e East i t was m u r d e r e d , b u t t h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g a s t h e perfect c r i m e . I t w i l l b e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g , f r o m a n e x p e r i m e n t a l p o i n t o f view, t o see w h a t f r e e d o m is like w h e n it resurfaces, w h e n it is resuscitated after all signs of it have b e e n b l o t t e d o u t . We shall see w h a t a process of r e a n i m a t i o n or post mortem r e h a b i l i t a t i o n l o o k s like. P e r h a p s defrosted l i b e r t y is n o t so attractive as all t h a t . A n d w h a t i f i t t u r n e d o u t t o b e i n t e n t o n j u s t o n e t h i n g : b a r t e r i n g itself off i n a b i n g e o f cars a n d electrical g o o d s , n o t t o m e n t i o n m i n d - b e n d i n g drugs a n d p o r n o g r a p h y ; t h a t is, i m m e d i a t e l y t r a d i n g itself off against W e s t e r n l i q u i d assets, s w i t c h i n g over f r o m a n e n d o f h i s t o r y b y d e e p - f r e e z i n g t o a n e n d o f h i s t o r y b y ultra-fluidity a n d circulation? T h e e n t h r a l l i n g t h i n g a b o u t t h e s e events i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e i s n o t t o see t h e m m e e k l y c o m i n g t o t h e aid o f a n ailing d e m o c r a c y b y b r i n g i n g i t fresh e n e r g y (and n e w m a r k e t s ) , b u t t o see t h e t e l e s c o p i n g o f t w o specific p a t t e r n s o f t h e e n d o f h i s tory: the o n e w h e r e it ends deep-frozen in the concentration camps and the other w h e r e , b y contrast, i t e n d s i n t h e total, centrifugal e x p a n s i o n o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . I n e a c h case, a final s o l u t i o n . A n d it m a y be t h a t t h e u n f r e e z i n g of h u m a n r i g h t s is t h e socialist e q u i v a l e n t o f t h e ' d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n o f t h e W e s t ' : a m e r e d i s c h a r g e i n t o t h e W e s t e r n v o i d o f t h e e n e r g i e s t r a p p e d for half a c e n t u r y i n t h e East.

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T h e fervour s u r r o u n d i n g events can b e deceptive: i f that o f t h e E a s t e r n b l o c c o u n tries is m e r e l y an ardent desire to be free of ideology, m e r e l y a fervent desire to imitate t h e f r e e - m a r k e t c o u n t r i e s , w h e r e all liberty has already b e e n e x c h a n g e d for t e c h n o logical ease of living, t h e n we shall see o n c e a n d for all w h a t f r e e d o m is w o r t h a n d k n o w that i t can perhaps never b e regained. H i s t o r y serves u p n o s e c o n d helpings. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d - a n d this is t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e p a r t for us, for t h e West (after all, w h e n t h e Evil E m p i r e collapses G o o d c a n n o t r e m a i n exactly as it was before!) - this defrosting of t h e East m a y be as h a r m f u l in t h e l o n g t e r m as t h e surfeit of c a r b o n gases in t h e u p p e r layers of t h e a t m o s p h e r e , c r e a t i n g a political g r e e n h o u s e effect a n d s u c h a w a r m i n g o f h u m a n relations o n t h e planet, w i t h t h e m e l t i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t i c e f l o e s , t h a t t h e shores o f t h e W e s t will b e f l o o d e d . Curiously, w h e r e a s w e d r e a d t h e climatic m e l t i n g of ice-floes a n d see it as r e p r e s e n t i n g a p o t e n t i a l catastrophe, we l o n g w i t h all o u r m i g h t as d e m o c r a t s for s u c h a t h a w on t h e political front. If, i n t h e o l d days, t h e U S S R h a d d u m p e d its s t o c k o f g o l d o n t h e w o r l d m a r k e t , t h a t m a r k e t w o u l d have b e e n c o m p l e t e l y destabilized. I f t h e E a s t e r n b l o c c o u n t r i e s w e r e t o p u t b a c k i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n t h e vast s t o c k o f f r e e d o m t h e y h a v e b e e n k e e p i n g o n ice, t h e y w o u l d similarly destabilize t h e v e r y fragile m e t a b o l i s m o f W e s t e r n values, w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h a t f r e e d o m no l o n g e r manifest itself as a c t i o n b u t as a v i r tual a n d consensual f o r m of interaction, n o t as drama, b u t as t h e universal p s y c h o d r a m a of liberalism. A s u d d e n i n j e c t i o n of f r e e d o m as a lived r e l a t i o n s h i p — as v i o l e n t a n d active t r a n s c e n d a n c e , as Idea — w o u l d be catastrophic in every w a y for o u r a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f values. Yet this i s w h a t w e are a s k i n g o f t h o s e i n t h e East: t h e idea o f f r e e d o m i n e x c h a n g e for t h e m a t e r i a l signs o f f r e e d o m . A perfectly diabolical pact, i n w h i c h o n e side i s i n d a n g e r o f l o s i n g its s o u l , t h e o t h e r its c o m f o r t . B u t i t i s p e r h a p s b e t t e r this way. O n b o t h sides. T h e m a s k e d societies ( t h e C o m m u n i s t societies) are n o w u n m a s k e d . W h a t face d o t h e y p r e s e n t ? I t i s a l o n g 41

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t i m e since w e s h e d o u r masks, a l o n g t i m e s i n c e w e h a d e i t h e r m a s k s o r faces. W e h a v e n o m e m o r y e i t h e r . W e have r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t o f s e e k i n g i n w a t e r a m e m o r y w i t h o u t traces, of h o p i n g (I crave Benveniste's i n d u l g e n c e here)"' t h a t s o m e t h i n g still r e m a i n s w h e n e v e n t h e m o l e c u l a r traces h a v e d i s a p p e a r e d . I t i s t h e s a m e w i t h o u r f r e e d o m : w e w o u l d b e h a r d - p r e s s e d t o p r o d u c e a n y sign o f i t a n d w e h a v e r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t of p o s t u l a t i n g its infinitesimal, i m p a l p a b l e , u n d e t e c t a b l e e x i s t e n c e in a m i l i e u o f s u c h h i g h ( p r o g r a m m a t i c , o p e r a t i o n a l ) d i l u t i o n t h a t o n l y its s p e c t r e still hovers in a m e m o r y w h i c h is n o w merely the m e m o r y of water. T h e w e l l s p r i n g o f f r e e d o m has r u n s o d r y i n t h e W e s t (as w i t n e s s t h e c o m m e m o r a t i o n o f t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n ) t h a t w e m u s t p l a c e all o u r h o p e s i n t h e East E u r o p e a n d e p o s i t s t h a t have a t last b e e n u n c o v e r e d a n d o p e n e d u p . B u t o n c e this s t o c k of l i b e r t y has b e e n released (the Idea of L i b e r t y h a v i n g b e c o m e as scarce as a n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e ) , w h a t c a n e n s u e b u t , a s o n any m a r k e t , a n i n t e n s e , superficial burst of t r a d i n g , f o l l o w e d by a rapid collapse of differential e n e r g i e s a n d asset values. W h a t i s t h e m e a n i n g o f glasnosi? T h e retrospective t r a n s p a r e n c y o f all t h e signs o f m o d e r n i t y , s p e e d e d u p a n d s e c o n d - h a n d (it i s a l m o s t a p o s t m o d e r n r e - m a k e o f o u r o r i g i n a l v e r s i o n o f m o d e r n i t y ) — o f all t h e positive a n d n e g a t i v e signs c o m b i n e d : t h a t is, n o t j u s t h u m a n r i g h t s , b u t c r i m e s , c a t a s t r o p h e s a n d a c c i d e n t s w h i c h are, i t s e e m s , all j o y o u s l y i n c r e a s i n g i n t h e f o r m e r U S S R since t h e l i b e r a l i z a t i o n o f t h e r e g i m e . A n d e v e n t h e r e d i s c o v e r y o f p o r n o g r a p h y a n d e x t r a - t e r r e s t r i a l s , all p r e v i o u s l y c e n s o r e d , b u t c e l e b r a t i n g t h e i r r e a p p e a r a n c e a l o n g w i t h e v e r y t h i n g else. T h i s i s t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l d i m e n s i o n o f this g e n e r a l defrosting: w e can n o w see t h a t c r i m e s a n d c a t a s t r o p h e s , b o t h n u c l e a r a n d n a t u r a l , a l o n g w i t h e v e r y t h i n g else t h a t

5. T h e ' m e m o r y of w a t e r affair' was t h e n a m e generally applied in t h e media to Jacques Benveniste's claim in 1984 that he had discovered reactions p r o d u c e d by solutions so highly diluted that they 'contained only water molecules'.

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has b e e n repressed, are p a r t o f o u r h u m a n r i g h t s (the r e l i g i o u s s p h e r e t o o , o f c o u r s e , a n d fashion; i n d e e d , n o t h i n g is d e b a r r e d ) - a n d this is a fine o b j e c t lesson i n d e m o c r a c y . F o r w e see r e - e m e r g i n g h e r e , i n a k i n d o f ideal h a l l u c i n a t i o n a n d r e t u r n o f t h e repressed, all t h a t w e are, all t h e allegedly universal e m b l e m s o f t h e h u m a n , i n c l u d i n g t h e w o r s t , dullest, c o r n i e s t t h i n g s i n W e s t e r n ' c u l t u r e ' — t h i n g s w h i c h w i l l h e n c e f o r t h k n o w n o b o u n d a r i e s . I t is, t h e n , a m o m e n t o f t r u t h for t h a t c u l t u r e , a s was t h e earlier c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h t h e p r i m i t i v e c u l t u r e s o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d , a c o n f r o n t a t i o n f r o m w h i c h o u r c u l t u r e c a n n o t really b e said t o h a v e e m e r g e d w i t h flying colours. T h e irony of the situation is such that it will perhaps b e w e w h o are o n e day forced t o r e s c u e t h e h i s t o r i c a l m e m o r y o f Stalinism, w h i l e t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e w i l l n o l o n g e r recall it. I t w i l l b e u p t o u s t o k e e p o n ice t h e m e m o r y o f this t y r a n t w h o , for his p a r t , k e p t t h e m o v e m e n t o f h i s t o r y frozen, since t h a t glacial age also f o r m s p a r t o f o u r universal h e r i t a g e . T h e s e events are r e m a r k a b l e f r o m a n o t h e r p o i n t o f v i e w t o o . T h e y force u s t o e n q u i r e i n t o t h e t u r n h i s t o r y i s n o w t a k i n g ; n o t s i m p l y p r o c e e d i n g t o w a r d s its e n d ( a n o t i o n t h a t was p a r t o f t h e l i n e a r p h a n t a s m o f h i s t o r y ) , b u t m o v i n g i n t o reverse a n d i n t o systematic o b l i t e r a t i o n . W e are i n t h e process o f w i p i n g o u t t h e e n t i r e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , effacing all t h e signs o f t h e C o l d W a r o n e b y o n e , p e r h a p s e v e n all trace o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r a n d o f all t h e political o r i d e o l o g i c a l r e v o l u t i o n s o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y . T h e r e u n i f i c a t i o n o f G e r m a n y i s i n e v i t a b l e , a s are m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s , n o t i n t h e sense o f a l e a p f o r w a r d i n h i s t o r y , b u t i n t h e s e n s e o f a r e - w r i t i n g i n reverse o f t h e w h o l e o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , a r e - w r i t i n g w h i c h i s g o i n g t o t a k e u p a large p a r t o f t h e last t e n years o f t h e c e n t u r y . A t t h e r a t e w e are g o i n g w e shall s o o n b e b a c k a t t h e H o l y R o m a n E m p i r e . A n d p e r h a p s this i s t h e i l l u m i n a t i o n this fin de siecle offers a n d t h e t r u e m e a n i n g of that controversial f o r m u l a , ' t h e e n d o f h i s t o r y ' . T h e fact i s that, i n a sort o f enthusiastic w o r k o f m o u r n i n g , w e are in t h e process of retracting all t h e significant events of this century, of whitewashing

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t h e c e n t u r y , a s i f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a d t a k e n p l a c e ( r e v o l u t i o n s , t h e division o f t h e w o r l d , e x t e r m i n a t i o n s , t h e v i o l e n t t r a n s n a t i o n a l i t y o f states, g o i n g t o t h e n u c l e a r b r i n k — in s h o r t , h i s t o r y in its m o d e r n phase) w e r e m e r e l y a hopeless i m b r o g l i o , a n d e v e r y o n e h a d set a b o u t u n m a s k i n g t h a t h i s t o r y w i t h t h e s a m e e n t h u s i a s m t h a t h a d g o n e i n t o m a k i n g it. R e s t o r a t i o n , r e g r e s s i o n , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , revival o f t h e o l d frontiers, o f t h e o l d differences, o f p a r t i c u l a r i t i e s , o f r e l i g i o n s , resipiscence, e v e n a t t h e level of m o r a l s . It s e e m s t h a t all t h e signs of l i b e r a t i o n s a c h i e v e d o v e r a c e n t u r y are f a d i n g a n d will, i n t h e e n d , p e r h a p s b e snuffed o u t o n e b y o n e : w e are i n t o a g i g a n t i c p r o c e s s of revisionism — n o t an i d e o l o g i c a l r e v i s i o n i s m b u t a r e v i s i o n i s m o f h i s t o r y itself, a n d w e s e e m i n a h u r r y t o get i t o v e r b e f o r e t h e e n d o f t h e c e n t u r y , secretly h o p i n g p e r h a p s t o b e able t o start again from scratch i n t h e n e w m i l l e n n i u m . I f o n l y w e c o u l d r e s t o r e e v e r y t h i n g t o its initial state. B u t w h i c h initial state? Before t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y ? B e f o r e t h e R e v o l u t i o n ? H o w far can this r e t r a c t i o n , this r e s t o r a t i o n go? T h e fact is t h a t it can m o v e very, v e r y q u i c k l y (as t h e events i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e s h o w ) , precisely b e c a u s e i t i s n o t a w o r k o f c o n s t r u c t i o n b u t a massive d e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f history, a n d o n e a s s u m i n g a l m o s t viral, e p i d e m i c f o r m . P e r h a p s e v e n , i n t h e e n d , t h e year 2 0 0 0 will n o t take p l a c e , q u i t e s i m p l y b e c a u s e t h e c u r v e o f h i s t o r y will h a v e b e n t s o far b a c k w a r d s t h a t i t will n e v e r cross that t i m e h o r i z o n . 15 December

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No Pity for S a r a j e v o

In t h e TV p r o g r a m m e Le Couloir pour la parole (broadcast on t h e ' A r t e ' c h a n n e l , 19 D e c e m b e r ) , w i t h its S t r a s b o u r g - S a r a j e v o v i d e o l i n k - u p , t h e striking feature was t h e absolute superiority, t h e e x c e p t i o n a l status c o n f e r r e d by m i s f o r t u n e , distress a n d total disillusionment - that very d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t w h i c h allowed t h e p e o p l e of Sarajevo to treat t h e ' E u r o p e a n s ' w i t h c o n t e m p t , or at least w i t h an air of sarcastic f r e e d o m , w h i c h contrasted with the hypocritical remorse and contrition of those at the o t h e r end of t h e v i d e o - l i n k . It was n o t they w h o n e e d e d c o m p a s s i o n ; t h e y h a d c o m p a s s i o n for our w r e t c h e d destinies. ' I spit o n E u r o p e ' , said o n e o f t h e m . N o t h i n g offers g r e a t e r freed o m , in fact, or greater sovereignty, t h a n justified c o n t e m p t — a n d n o t e v e n for t h e e n e m y , b u t for t h o s e s u n n i n g t h e i r g o o d c o n s c i e n c e s i n t h e w a r m g l o w o f solidarity. A n d t h e y have seen plenty o f these f i n e friends. R e c e n t l y , even Susan Sontag, w h o c a m e to stage Waiting for Godot in Sarajevo. W h y n o t Bouvard and Pecuchet in Somalia or Afghanistan? Yet t h e w o r s t part of this isn't t h e h i g h - f l o w n cultural s e n t i m e n t , b u t 6

6. Bouvard et Pecuchet was Flaubert's last, unfinished novel. It was published in serial form in the Nouvelle Revue, b e g i n n i n g on 15 D e c e m b e r 1880, s o m e seven m o n t h s after his death.

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the condescending attitude and the misconception regarding w h e r e strength and w e a k n e s s lie. They are t h e s t r o n g o n e s . It is we w h o are w e a k , g o i n g over t h e r e s e a r c h i n g for s o m e t h i n g t o c o m p e n s a t e for o u r w e a k n e s s a n d loss o f reality. O u r reality: t h a t i s t h e p r o b l e m . W e h a v e o n l y o n e reality, a n d i t has t o b e r e s c u e d . A n d r e s c u e d e v e n w i t h t h e w o r s t o f slogans: ' W e have t o d o s o m e t h i n g . W e can't j u s t d o n o t h i n g ' . B u t d o i n g s o m e t h i n g j u s t b e c a u s e y o u c a n n o t n o t d o i t has never a m o u n t e d to a principle of action or freedom. Merely a form of absolution f r o m y o u r o w n i m p o t e n c e a n d c o m p a s s i o n for y o u r o w n fate. T h e p e o p l e o f Sarajevo d o n o t have t o face this q u e s t i o n . W h e r e t h e y are, t h e r e i s a n a b s o l u t e n e e d t o d o w h a t t h e y d o , t o d o w h a t has t o b e d o n e . W i t h n o i l l u sions a s t o e n d s a n d n o c o m p a s s i o n for t h e m s e l v e s . T h a t i s w h a t b e i n g real m e a n s ; t h a t i s w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e i n t h e real. A n d this i s n o t i n a n y sense t h e ' o b j e c t i v e ' reality of t h e i r m i s f o r t u n e , t h a t reality w h i c h ought not to exist a n d for w h i c h we feel pity, b u t t h e reality w h i c h exists as it is — t h e reality of an a c t i o n a n d a destiny. T h i s i s w h y t h e y are alive a n d w e are t h e o n e s w h o are d e a d . T h i s i s w h y , f r o m o u r o w n p o i n t o f view, w e have, first, t o r e s c u e t h e reality o f t h e w a r a n d i m p o s e t h a t — c o m p a s s i o n a t e — reality o n t h o s e w h o are suffering f r o m it, b u t w h o , a t t h e v e r y h e a r t o f w a r a n d distress, d o n o t really believe i n it. I n h e r o p i n i o n p i e c e s , Susan S o n t a g confesses t h a t t h e B o s n i a n s d o n o t really b e l i e v e i n t h e distress all a r o u n d t h e m . I n t h e e n d , t h e y find t h e w h o l e s i t u a t i o n u n r e a l , senseless, u n i n t e l l i g i b l e . It is a hell, b u t an a l m o s t h y p e r r e a l hell, m a d e t h e m o r e h y p e r r e a l b y m e d i a a n d h u m a n i t a r i a n h a r a s s m e n t , since t h a t m a k e s t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d t o w a r d s t h e m e v e n m o r e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e . So, t h e y live in a k i n d of spectral w a r - a n d a g o o d t h i n g t o o or t h e y c o u l d n e v e r b e a r it. It is n o t I w h o say this; t h e y say it t h e m s e l v e s . B u t Susan S o n t a g , w h o i s f r o m N e w Y o r k , m u s t k n o w b e t t e r t h a n t h e y d o w h a t reality i s b e c a u s e she has c h o s e n t h e m t o e m b o d y it. O r p e r h a p s s i m p l y b e c a u s e i t

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is w h a t she — a n d t h e w h o l e of t h e W e s t — lacks m o s t . So it is n e c e s s a r y to go a n d r e b u i l d a reality for ourselves w h e r e t h e b l e e d i n g is. All t h e s e ' c o r r i d o r s ' w e o p e n u p t o s e n d o u r supplies a n d o u r ' c u l t u r e ' are, i n reality, c o r r i d o r s o f distress t h r o u g h w h i c h we i m p o r t their strength and the energy generated by their misfortune. O n c e again, a n u n e q u a l e x c h a n g e . A n d Susan S o n t a g c o m e s t o c o n v i n c e t h e m they w h o find a kind of additional strength in the t h o r o u g h stripping-away of the illusion o f t h e real ( i n c l u d i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e o f political r a t i o n a l i t y b y w h i c h w e are g o v e r n e d , a n d w h i c h i s p a r t o f t h e E u r o p e a n reality p r i n c i p l e ) - o f t h e 'reality' o f t h e i r suffering, by c u l t u r a l i z i n g it, of c o u r s e , by t h e a t r i c a l i z i n g it so t h a t it c a n serve as a p o i n t of r e f e r e n c e in t h e t h e a t r e of W e s t e r n values, o n e of w h i c h is solidarity. Yet Susan S o n t a g herself is n o t t h e issue. S h e is m e r e l y fashionably e m b l e m a t i c o f w h a t has n o w b e c o m e a w i d e s p r e a d s i t u a t i o n , i n w h i c h h a r m l e s s , p o w e r l e s s intellectuals trade t h e i r w o e s w i t h t h e w r e t c h e d , e a c h s u p p o r t i n g t h e o t h e r i n a k i n d of p e r v e r s e c o n t r a c t — exactly as t h e political class a n d civil s o c i e t y t r a d e t h e i r respective w o e s today, t h e o n e s e r v i n g u p its c o r r u p t i o n a n d scandals, t h e o t h e r its artificial c o n v u l s i o n s a n d i n e r t i a . N o t s o l o n g ago, w e saw B o u r d i e u a n d t h e A b b e P i e r r e offering t h e m s e l v e s u p i n televisual sacrifice, t r a d i n g off b e t w e e n t h e m t h e p a t h o s - l a d e n l a n g u a g e a n d t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l m e t a - l a n g u a g e o f m i s e r y . A n d so, also, 7

o u r e n t i r e s o c i e t y i s e m b a r k e d o n t h e p a t h o f c o m m i s e r a t i o n i n t h e literal sense, u n d e r c o v e r of e c u m e n i c a l p a t h o s . It is a l m o s t as t h o u g h , in a m o m e n t of i n t e n s e r e p e n t a n c e a m o n g intellectuals a n d p o l i t i c i a n s , a m o m e n t r e l a t e d t o t h e p a n i c c u r r e n t l y s u r r o u n d i n g h i s t o r y a n d t h e t w i l i g h t o f values, w e h a d t o r e p l e n i s h t h e s t o c k s o f values, t h e referential r e s e r v e s , b y a p p e a l i n g t o t h a t l o w e s t c o m m o n

7. T h e A b b e Pierre has been a p r o m i n e n t French figure since the 1950s, b e i n g particularly well k n o w n for his w o r k w i t h the homeless. Pierre B o u r d i e u was Professor of Sociology at t h e College de France and Director of Studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales.

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d e n o m i n a t o r t h a t i s h u m a n misery, r e s t o c k i n g t h e h u n t i n g g r o u n d s w i t h artificial g a m e , as it w e r e . 'It is c u r r e n t l y i m p o s s i b l e , in n e w s a n d d o c u m e n t a r i e s , to s h o w a n y o t h e r spectacle t h a n suffering' ( D a n i e l S c h n e i d e r m a n n ) . A v i c t i m society. I s u p p o s e all it is d o i n g is e x p r e s s i n g its o w n d i s a p p o i n t m e n t a n d r e m o r s e for an u n t h i n k a b l e v i o l e n c e against itself. T h e N e w I n t e l l e c t u a l O r d e r e v e r y w h e r e treads t h e p a t h s m a r k e d o u t b y t h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r . T h e m i s f o r t u n e , suffering a n d m i s e r y o f o t h e r s h a v e e v e r y w h e r e b e c o m e the raw material and the primal scene. V i c t i m h o o d , a c c o m p a n i e d b y h u m a n r i g h t s , a s t h e only, funereal, ideology. T h o s e w h o d o n o t e x p l o i t i t directly a n d i n t h e i r o w n n a m e d o s o b y proxy. A n d t h e r e i s n o lack o f m i d d l e m e n w h o take t h e i r financial o r s y m b o l i c c u t i n t h e process. Deficit a n d m i s f o r t u n e , like t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e b t , are t r a d e d a n d sold on in t h e futures m a r k e t — in this case t h e p o l i t i c o - i n t e l l e c t u a l m a r k e t , w h i c h i s q u i t e t h e e q u a l o f t h e late, u n l a m e n t e d military-industrial complex. N o w , all c o m m i s e r a t i o n is p a r t of t h e logic of m i s f o r t u n e . To refer to m i s f o r t u n e , if o n l y to c o m b a t it, is to give it a base for o b j e c t i v e r e p r o d u c t i o n in p e r p e t u i t y . W h e n f i g h t i n g against a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r , w e h a v e t o start o u t f r o m t h e evil t o b e c o m b a t e d , never from the misfortune p r o d u c e d . A n d t h e t h e a t r e o f t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f Evil i s t r u l y t h e r e — i n Sarajevo. T h e s u p pressed c a n k e r w h i c h c o r r u p t s all t h e rest, t h e v i r u s o f w h i c h E u r o p e ' s paralysis i s t h e s y m p t o m . E u r o p e ' s irons are b e i n g p u l l e d o u t o f t h e f i r e a t t h e G A T T talks, b u t t h i n g s are g o i n g up in s m o k e at Sarajevo. In a sense, this is a g o o d t h i n g . T h e s p e cious, sham Europe, the E u r o p e b o t c h e d together in the most hypocritical c o n v u l s i o n s , i s c o m i n g u n s t u c k a t Sarajevo. A n d i n this sense w e m i g h t a l m o s t see t h e S e r b s a s p r o v i d i n g t h e u n o f f i c i a l a c i d test, a s d e m y s t i f y i n g t h a t p h a n t o m E u r o p e — t h e E u r o p e o f t e c h n o c r a t i c politicians w h o are a s t r i u m p h a l i s t i n t h e i r s p e e c h e s a s t h e y are d e l i q u e s c e n t i n t h e i r a c t i o n s . F o r w e c a n see t h a t t h e m o r e talk

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t h e r e is of E u r o p e , t h e m o r e it decays (just as t h e m o r e talk t h e r e is of h u m a n rights, t h e less t h e y are r e s p e c t e d ) . B u t this i s n o t t h e real p o i n t h e r e . T h e real s t o r y i s t h a t t h e Serbs, a s t h e agents o f e t h n i c cleansing, are a t t h e forefront o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f E u r o p e . F o r i t i s b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d , t h e 'real' E u r o p e : a w h i t e E u r o p e , a w h i t e washed Europe, integrated and purified morally as m u c h as economically or ethnically. It is b e i n g v i c t o r i o u s l y c o n s t r u c t e d at Sarajevo a n d , in this sense, w h a t is h a p p e n i n g t h e r e i s n o t a n a c c i d e n t a t all, b u t a logical, a s c e n d a n t p h a s e i n t h e N e w E u r o p e a n O r d e r , t h a t subsidiary o f t h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r , e v e r y w h e r e c h a r a c t e r ized by ' w h i t e ' fundamentalism, protectionism, discrimination and control. I t i s said t h a t i f w e j u s t leave t h i n g s t o h a p p e n a t Sarajevo w e shall b e t h e n e x t t o ' g e t it'. B u t w e have already g o t it. All t h e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s are u n d e r g o i n g e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g . T h i s i s t h e real E u r o p e t a k i n g s h a p e i n t h e s h a d o w o f t h e P a r l i a m e n t s , a n d its s p e a r h e a d is Serbia. It is no use t a l k i n g a b o u t s o m e sort of p a s sivity or powerlessness to react, since w h a t we h a v e h e r e is a p r o g r a m m e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t , a p r o g r a m m e i n w h i c h B o s n i a i s m e r e l y t h e n e w frontier. W h y d o y o u t h i n k L e P e n has largely d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e political stage? B e c a u s e t h e s u b s t a n c e o f his ideas has e v e r y w h e r e filtered i n t o t h e political class i n t h e f o r m o f n a t i o n a l o p t - o u t s , c r o s s - p a r t y unity, E u r o - n a t i o n a l i s t instincts a n d p r o t e c t i o n i s m . T h e r e i s n o n e e d n o w for L e P e n , since h e has w o n , n o t politically, b u t virally - i n m e n t a l i t i e s . W h y s h o u l d this stop at Sarajevo, s i n c e w h a t is at stake is e x a c t l y t h e same? Solidarity will n o t m a k e a j o t of difference to all this. It will e n d m i r a c u l o u s l y t h e day t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n i s c o m p l e t e , t h e day t h e d e m a r c a t i o n l i n e o f ' w h i t e ' E u r o p e has b e e n d r a w n . I t i s a s t h o u g h E u r o p e , irrespective o f n a t i o n a l d i s t i n c t i o n s a n d political differences, h a d ' t a k e n o u t a c o n t r a c t ' w i t h t h e Serbs, w h o h a v e d o n e t h e d i r t y d e e d for it, a s t h e W e s t o n c e t o o k o u t a c o n t r a c t o n I r a n w i t h S a d d a m H u s s e i n . O n l y , w h e n t h e h i r e d g u n g o e s t o o far, h e t o o m a y have t o b e b u m p e d off. T h e o p e r a t i o n s against Iraq a n d S o m a l i a w e r e relative failures f r o m t h e p o i n t o f

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v i e w o f t h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r ; s o far a s t h e N e w E u r o p e a n O r d e r i s c o n c e r n e d , t h e B o s n i a n o p e r a t i o n s e e m s set t o s u c c e e d . T h e B o s n i a n s k n o w this. T h e y k n o w t h e y are c o n d e m n e d b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e m o c r a t i c o r d e r , n o t b y s o m e h a n g o v e r f r o m t h e past o r s o m e m o n s t r o u s e x c r e s c e n c e called fascism. T h e y k n o w t h e y are d o o m e d t o b e e x t e r m i n a t e d o r b a n i s h e d o r e x c l u d e d , like all h e t e r o g e n e o u s , refractory e l e m e n t s t h e w o r l d o v e r - i r r e v o c ably s o b e c a u s e , w h e t h e r t h e k i n d souls a n d b a d c o n s c i e n c e s o f t h e West like i t o r n o t , t h a t i s t h e i n e x o r a b l e p a t h o f progress. T h e p r i c e t o pay for m o d e r n E u r o p e will b e t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f M u s l i m s a n d Arabs, w h o are i n d e e d already b e i n g e r a d i c a t e d e v e r y w h e r e , e x c e p t w h e r e t h e y r e m a i n a s i m m i g r a n t slaves. A n d t h e m a j o r o b j e c t i o n t o t h e b a d - c o n s c i e n c e offensive, a s m o b i l i z e d i n m e d i a h a p p e n i n g s like the o n e at Strasbourg, is that, by p e r p e t u a t i n g the image of the alleged powerlessness o f E u r o p e a n policies a n d t h e i m a g e o f a W e s t e r n c o n s c i e n c e r a c k e d b y its o w n i m p o t e n c e , it p r o v i d e s a c o v e r for t h e real o p e r a t i o n by l e n d i n g it t h e spiritual benefit of the d o u b t . T h e p e o p l e o f Sarajevo s h o w n o n A r t e certainly l o o k e d a s i f t h e y h a d n o illusions a n d n o h o p e , b u t t h e y d i d n o t l o o k like p o t e n t i a l m a r t y r s . Far f r o m it. T h e y h a d t h e i r o b j e c t i v e m i s f o r t u n e , b u t t h e real w r e t c h e d n e s s , t h a t o f t h e false apostles a n d v o l u n t a r y m a r t y r s , was o n t h e o t h e r side. N o w , a s has v e r y r i g h t l y b e e n said, ' i n t h e hereafter n o h e e d will b e p a i d t o v o l u n t a r y m a r t y r d o m ' . 7 January

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Otherness

Surgery

W i t h m o d e r n i t y , w e e n t e r t h e age o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e O t h e r . T h e a i m i s n o l o n g e r t o kill t h e O t h e r , d e v o u r it, s e d u c e it, vie w i t h it, love i t o r h a t e it, b u t , i n t h e first i n s t a n c e , t o p r o d u c e it. T h e O t h e r i s n o l o n g e r a n o b j e c t o f passion, b u t a n o b j e c t o f p r o d u c t i o n . P e r h a p s , i n its radical o t h e r n e s s o r its i r r e d u c i b l e singularity, t h e O t h e r has b e c o m e d a n g e r o u s o r u n b e a r a b l e , a n d its s e d u c t i v e p o w e r has t o b e e x o r c i z e d ? O r p e r h a p s , q u i t e simply, o t h e r n e s s a n d t h e d u a l r e l a t i o n progressively disappear w i t h t h e rise o f i n d i v i d u a l values a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f s y m b o l i c ones? T h e fact r e m a i n s t h a t o t h e r n e s s d o e s c o m e to be in s h o r t s u p p l y a n d , if we are not to live otherness as destiny, the other has to be produced imperatively as difference. T h i s goes for t h e w o r l d as m u c h as for t h e b o d y , sex a n d social relations. It is to escape t h e w o r l d as destiny, t h e b o d y as destiny, sex ( a n d t h e o p p o s i t e sex) as destiny, t h a t t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e o t h e r a s difference w i l l b e i n v e n t e d . F o r e x a m p l e , sexual differe n c e : e a c h sex w i t h its a n a t o m i c a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l characteristics, w i t h its o w n desire a n d all t h e irresolvable c o n s e q u e n c e s t h a t ensue, i n c l u d i n g t h e i d e o l o g y of sex a n d t h e Utopia o f a difference b a s e d b o t h i n r i g h t a n d i n n a t u r e . N o n e o f this has any m e a n i n g in s e d u c t i o n , w h e r e it is a q u e s t i o n n o t of desire b u t of a g a m e w i t h

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desire, a n d w h e r e i t i s a q u e s t i o n n o t o f t h e e q u a l i t y o f t h e sexes o r t h e a l i e n a t i o n o f t h e o n e b y t h e o t h e r , since g a m e - p l a y i n g involves a perfect r e c i p r o c i t y o f p a r t n e r s ( n o t difference a n d a l i e n a t i o n , b u t o t h e r n e s s a n d c o m p l i c i t y ) . S e d u c t i o n i s a s far f r o m hysteria a s c a n b e . N e i t h e r o f t h e sexes projects its sexuality o n t o t h e o t h e r ; t h e distances are g i v e n ; o t h e r n e s s is i n t a c t - it is t h e v e r y c o n d i t i o n of t h a t h i g h e r illusion t h a t is play w i t h desire. H o w e v e r , w i t h t h e c o m i n g o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y a n d R o m a n t i c i s m , a masculine hysteria c o m e s i n t o play a n d w i t h it a c h a n g e in t h e s e x u a l p a r a d i g m , w h i c h w e m u s t o n c e again situate w i t h i n t h e m o r e g e n e r a l , universal f r a m e w o r k o f t h e change in the paradigm of otherness. I n this hysterical phase, i t was, s o t o speak, t h e f e m i n i n i t y o f m a n w h i c h p r o j e c t e d itself o n t o w o m a n a n d s h a p e d h e r a s a n ideal figure i n his i m a g e . I n R o m a n t i c love, t h e a i m was n o t n o w t o c o n q u e r t h e w o m a n , t o s e d u c e h e r , b u t t o create h e r f r o m t h e inside, to i n v e n t h e r , in s o m e cases as a c h i e v e d Utopian v i s i o n , as i d e a l i z e d w o m a n , in o t h e r s as jemme jatale, as star - a n o t h e r hysterical, s u p e r n a t ural m e t a p h o r . T h e R o m a n t i c E r o s can b e c r e d i t e d w i t h h a v i n g i n v e n t e d this ideal o f h a r m o n y , o f l o v i n g fusion, this ideal o f a n a l m o s t i n c e s t u o u s f o r m o f t w i n b e i n g s — t h e w o m a n a s projective r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e same, w h o assumes h e r s u p e r natural f o r m o n l y as ideal of t h e same, an artefact d o o m e d h e n c e f o r t h to Vamour ox, in o t h e r w o r d s , to a p a t h o s of t h e ideal r e s e m b l a n c e of b e i n g s a n d sexes - a p a t h e t i c c o n f u s i o n w h i c h s u b s t i t u t e s for t h e d u a l o t h e r n e s s o f s e d u c t i o n . T h e w h o l e m e c h a n i c s o f t h e erotic c h a n g e s m e a n i n g , for t h e erotic a t t r a c t i o n w h i c h p r e v i o u s l y arose o u t o f o t h e r n e s s , o u t o f t h e strangeness o f t h e O t h e r , n o w finds its s t i m u l u s in s a m e n e s s - in similarity a n d r e s e m b l a n c e . A u t o - e r o t i c i s m , incest? N o . R a t h e r a hypostasis o f t h e S a m e . O f t h e s a m e e y e i n g u p t h e o t h e r , i n v e s t i n g itself i n t h e o t h e r , a l i e n a t i n g itself i n t h e o t h e r - b u t t h e o t h e r i s o n l y e v e r t h e e p h e m e r a l f o r m o f a difference w h i c h b r i n g s m e closer t o m e . T h i s i n d e e d i s w h y , w i t h R o m a n t i c

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love a n d all its c u r r e n t spin-offs, sexuality b e c o m e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h d e a t h : it is b e c a u s e i t b e c o m e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h incest a n d its d e s t i n y - e v e n i n b a n a l i z e d f o r m (for w e are n o l o n g e r s p e a k i n g o f m y t h i c , tragic incest h e r e ; w i t h m o d e r n e r o t i c i s m w e are d e a l i n g w i t h a s e c o n d a r y i n c e s t u o u s f o r m - o f t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e s a m e i n t h e i m a g e o f t h e o t h e r - w h i c h a m o u n t s t o a c o n f u s i o n a n d c o r r u p t i o n o f all images). We have h e r e t h e n , in the end, t h e i n v e n t i o n of a femininity w h i c h renders w o m a n s u p e r f l u o u s . T h e i n v e n t i o n o f a difference w h i c h i s m e r e l y a r o u n d a b o u t c o p u l a t i o n w i t h its d o u b l e . A n d w h i c h , a t b o t t o m , r e n d e r s a n y e n c o u n t e r w i t h o t h e r n e s s i m p o s s i b l e (it w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o k n o w w h e t h e r t h e r e w a s n o t a n y h y s t e r i c a l q u i d p r o q u o f r o m t h e f e m i n i n e i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a virile, phallic mythology; feminism being o n e such example of the hystericization of t h e m a s culine in w o m a n , of t h e hysterical projection of h e r masculinity in t h e exact i m a g e o f t h e h y s t e r i c a l p r o j e c t i o n b y m a n o f his f e m i n i n i t y i n t o a m y t h i c a l i m a g e of woman). H o w e v e r , t h e r e still r e m a i n s a d i s s y m m e t r y in this e n f o r c e d a s s i g n m e n t to difference. T h i s is w h y I h a v e c o n t e n d e d , paradoxically, t h a t m a n is m o r e different f r o m w o m a n t h a n w o m a n i s f r o m m a n . I m e a n t h a t , w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f s e x u a l difference, m a n i s m e r e l y different, w h e r e a s i n w o m a n t h e r e r e m a i n s s o m e t h i n g o f t h e radical o t h e r n e s s w h i c h p r e c e d e s t h e d e b a s e d status o f difference. I n s h o r t , i n this process o f e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f t h e S a m e i n t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e O t h e r , o f hysterical i n v e n t i o n o f t h e sexual o t h e r a s t w i n sister o r b r o t h e r (if t h e t w i n t h e m e i s s o p r o m i n e n t today, t h a t i s b e c a u s e i t reflects this m o d e o f libidinal c l o n i n g ) , t h e sexes b e c o m e progressively assimilated t o e a c h o t h e r . T h i s d e v e l o p s from difference t o lesser difference t h r o u g h t o t h e p o i n t o f role-reversal a n d t h e v i r tual n o n - d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n o f t h e sexes. A n d i t e n d s u p m a k i n g sexuality a useless

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f u n c t i o n . I n c l o n i n g , for e x a m p l e , pointlessly s e x e d b e i n g s are g o i n g t o b e r e p r o d u c e d , s i n c e sexuality i s n o l o n g e r n e e d e d for t h e i r r e p r o d u c t i o n . I f t h e real w o m a n s e e m s t o d i s a p p e a r i n this hysterical i n v e n t i o n o f t h e f e m i n i n e ( t h o u g h she has o t h e r m e a n s o f resisting this), i n this i n v e n t i o n o f sexual difference, in w h i c h the masculine occupies the privileged pole from the outset, and in w h i c h all t h e feminist struggles will m e r e l y reassert t h a t i n s o l u b l e p r i v i l e g e or difference, w e m u s t r e c o g n i z e t o o t h a t m a s c u l i n e desire also b e c o m e s e n t i r e l y p r o b l e m a t i c a l since it is able o n l y to p r o j e c t itself i n t o a n o t h e r in its i m a g e a n d , in this way, r e n d e r itself p u r e l y speculative. S o all t h e n o n s e n s e a b o u t t h e phallus a n d m a l e sexual p r i v ilege, etc. n e e d s revising. T h e r e i s a k i n d o f t r a n s c e n d e n t j u s t i c e w h i c h m e a n s t h a t , i n this process o f sexual differentiation w h i c h c u l m i n a t e s i n e x o r a b l y i n n o n d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , t h e t w o sexes e a c h lose a s m u c h o f t h e i r s i n g u l a r i t y a n d t h e i r o t h e r n e s s . T h i s i s t h e era o f t h e T r a n s s e x u a l , i n w h i c h all t h e conflicts c o n n e c t e d w i t h this sexual difference c a r r y o n l o n g after a n y real sexuality, a n y real alterity o f t h e sexes, has d i s a p p e a r e d . E a c h i n d i v i d u a l repeats o n his o r h e r o w n b o d y this (successful?) t a k e o v e r o f t h e f e m i n i n e b y m a s c u l i n e p r o j e c t i o n hysteria. T h e b o d y i s identified a n d a p p r o p r i a t e d as a s e l f - p r o j e c t i o n , a n d no l o n g e r as o t h e r n e s s a n d destiny. In t h e facial features, in sex, i n sickness a n d d e a t h , i d e n t i t y i s c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g altered. Y o u c a n d o n o t h i n g a b o u t t h a t . It is destiny. B u t this is precisely w h a t has to be w a r d e d off at all costs in the identification of the body, the individual appropriation of the body, of y o u r desire, y o u r a p p e a r a n c e , y o u r i m a g e : plastic s u r g e r y o n all fronts. F o r i f t h e b o d y i s no l o n g e r a site of o t h e r n e s s , of a d u a l r e l a t i o n , if it is a site of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , t h e n y o u h a v e u r g e n t l y t o r e c o n c i l e y o u r s e l f w i t h it, t o repair it, perfect it, t u r n i t i n t o a n ideal o b j e c t . E v e r y o n e treats h i s / h e r b o d y a s m a n treats w o m a n i n t h e projective i d e n t i f i c a t i o n we h a v e d e s c r i b e d : he invests it as a fetish in a d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t at self-identification. T h e b o d y b e c o m e s a n o b j e c t o f autistic w o r s h i p , o f a n a l m o s t

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i n c e s t u o u s m a n i p u l a t i o n . A n d i t i s t h e b o d y ' s r e s e m b l a n c e t o its m o d e l w h i c h b e c o m e s a s o u r c e of e r o t i c i s m a n d u n c o n s u m m a t e d self-seduction, insofar as it v i r tually e x c l u d e s t h e O t h e r a n d i s t h e best m e a n s o f e x c l u d i n g a n y s e d u c t i o n from elsewhere. M a n y o t h e r things relate also to this p r o d u c t i o n of t h e O t h e r - a hysterical, s p e c ulative p r o d u c t i o n . R a c i s m i s o n e e x a m p l e , i n its d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e m o d e r n era a n d its c u r r e n t r e c r u d e s c e n c e . Logically, i t o u g h t t o have d e c l i n e d w i t h progress a n d t h e spread o f E n l i g h t e n m e n t . B u t t h e m o r e w e l e a r n h o w u n f o u n d e d t h e g e n e t i c t h e o r y o f race is, t h e m o r e r a c i s m intensifies. T h i s i s b e c a u s e w e are dealing w i t h a n artificial c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e O t h e r , o n t h e basis o f a n e r o s i o n o f t h e singularity o f c u l t u r e s (of t h e i r o t h e r n e s s o n e t o a n o t h e r ) a n d e n t r y i n t o t h e fetishistic s y s t e m of difference. So l o n g as t h e r e is o t h e r n e s s , alienness a n d a (possibly v i o l e n t ) dual r e l a t i o n , t h e r e is no r a c i s m p r o p e r l y so called. T h a t is to say, r o u g h l y , u p t o t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y , a s a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l a c c o u n t s attest. O n c e this ' n a t u r a l ' relation i s lost, w e e n t e r u p o n a n e x p o n e n t i a l r e l a t i o n w i t h a n artificial O t h e r . A n d t h e r e i s n o t h i n g i n o u r c u l t u r e w i t h w h i c h w e can s t a m p o u t r a c i s m , s i n c e t h e entire m o v e m e n t of t h a t c u l t u r e is t o w a r d s a fanatical differential c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e Other, and a perpetual extrapolation of the Same through the O t h e r . Autistic cult u r e p o s i n g as a l t r u i s m . We talk of alienation. B u t t h e w o r s t alienation is n o t b e i n g dispossessed by t h e other, b u t b e i n g dispossessed of t h e o t h e r : it is h a v i n g to p r o d u c e t h e o t h e r in t h e absence o f t h e o t h e r , a n d s o c o n t i n u a l l y t o b e t h r o w n b a c k o n oneself a n d one's o w n i m a g e . If, today, w e are c o n d e m n e d t o o u r i m a g e (to cultivate o u r b o d i e s , o u r 'looks', o u r identities, o u r desires), this is n o t because of alienation, b u t because of the e n d of alienation a n d t h e virtual disappearance of t h e o t h e r , w h i c h is a m u c h w o r s e fate. In fact, t h e definition of alienation is to take oneself as one's focus, as one's object o f care, desire, suffering a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n . T h i s definitive s h o r t - c i r c u i t i n g o f t h e

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o t h e r ushers i n t h e era o f transparency. Plastic s u r g e r y b e c o m e s universal. A n d t h e s u r g e r y p e r f o r m e d o n t h e face a n d t h e b o d y i s m e r e l y t h e s y m p t o m o f a m o r e r a d ical surgery: that p e r f o r m e d on o t h e r n e s s a n d destiny. W h a t i s t h e s o l u t i o n ? T h e r e i s n o s o l u t i o n t o this e r o t i c t r e n d w i t h i n a n e n t i r e c u l t u r e ; to this fascination, this w h i r l of d e n i a l of o t h e r n e s s , of all t h a t is alien a n d n e g a t i v e ; t o this foreclosing o f evil a n d this r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a r o u n d t h e S a m e a n d its m u l t i p l e figures: incest, autism, t w i n s h i p , c l o n i n g . All we can do is r e m i n d ourselves t h a t s e d u c t i o n lies i n n o n - r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e o t h e r , i n p r e s e r v i n g t h e alien status o f t h e O t h e r . O n e m u s t n o t b e r e c o n c i l e d w i t h o n e s e l f o r w i t h one's b o d y . O n e must not be reconciled with the other, one must not be reconciled with n a t u r e , o n e m u s t n o t b e r e c o n c i l e d w i t h t h e f e m i n i n e (that g o e s for w o m e n t o o ) . T h e r e i n lies t h e secret of a s t r a n g e a t t r a c t i o n . 5 July

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The Powerlessness of the Virtual

A r e c e n t e p i s o d e : s t u d e n t s d e m o n s t r a t e a n d h o l d u p t h e T G V i n A n g o u l e m e stat i o n . T h e y p o u r d o w n b o t h sides o f t h e train, past t h e passengers sitting m o t i o n l e s s b e h i n d t h e i r t i n t e d w i n d o w s . A s h o u t h e r e a n d a slogan t h e r e . A n o c c a s i o n a l o u t b u r s t of rage — b u t against w h o m ? It is as t h o u g h t h e y w e r e b a r k i n g at an artificial satellite. F o r t h e T G V is v i r t u a l reality crossing F r a n c e in vitro - an e m b o d i m e n t of speed, m o n e y a n d all t h o s e things w h i c h circulate — c o n f r o n t e d h e r e w i t h their v e r y real w o r l d o f p o t e n t i a l u n e m p l o y m e n t . A surrealistic c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n time's a r r o w a n d a y o u t h already s p e n t . All t h e y will w r e s t f r o m t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f t h e r i c h i s this t e n m i n u t e s o f i m m o b i l i t y , this t e n - m i n u t e freezing o f t h e T V s p e c t a cle o f w h i c h t h e y are t h e v i c t i m s . A s c a l e d - d o w n v e r s i o n o f t h e clash b e t w e e n t h e real a n d t h e v i r t u a l a n d its fantastic c o n s e q u e n c e s a t t h e p l a n e t a r y level: t h e dissociation b e t w e e n a v e r y h i g h f r e q u e n c y v i r t u a l space a n d a z e r o - f r e q u e n c y real space. T h e t w o n o l o n g e r have a n y t h i n g i n c o m m o n , n o r i s t h e r e any c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m : t h e u n c o n d i t i o n a l e x t e n s i o n o f t h e virtual ( w h i c h i n c l u d e s n o t j u s t t h e n e w i m a g e s o r r e m o t e s i m u l a t i o n , b u t t h e w h o l e c y b e r s p a c e o f g e o - f i n a n c e , t h e space o f m u l t i m e d i a a n d

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the information superhighways) brings w i t h it an u n p r e c e d e n t e d desertification o f real s p a c e a n d o f all t h a t s u r r o u n d s u s . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y s w i l l h a v e t h e s a m e effect a s o u r p r e s e n t s u p e r h i g h w a y s o r m o t o r w a y s . T h e y w i l l c a n c e l o u t t h e l a n d s c a p e , lay w a s t e t o t h e t e r r i t o r y a n d a b o l i s h real d i s t a n c e s . W h a t i s m e r e l y p h y s i c a l a n d g e o g r a p h i c a l i n t h e case o f o u r m o t o r w a y s w i l l a s s u m e its full d i m e n s i o n s i n t h e e l e c t r o n i c field w i t h t h e a b o l i t i o n o f m e n t a l d i s tances a n d t h e a b s o l u t e s h r i n k a g e o f t i m e . All s h o r t circuits ( a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f this p l a n e t a r y h y p e r s p a c e i s t a n t a m o u n t t o o n e i m m e n s e s h o r t circuit) p r o d u c e e l e c t r i c s h o c k s . W h a t w e see e m e r g i n g h e r e i s n o l o n g e r m e r e l y t e r r i t o r i a l d e s e r t , b u t social d e s e r t , e m p l o y m e n t d e s e r t , t h e b o d y itself b e i n g laid w a s t e b y t h e v e r y concentration of information. A kind of Big C r u n c h , c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s with the B i g B a n g o f t h e financial m a r k e t s a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n n e t w o r k s . W e are m e r e l y a t t h e d a w n i n g o f t h e p r o c e s s , b u t t h e w a s t e a n d t h e w a s t e l a n d s are a l r e a d y g r o w i n g m u c h faster t h a n t h e c o m p u t e r i z a t i o n p r o c e s s itself. T h e t w o w o r l d s , t h o u g h literally c u t off f r o m e a c h o t h e r , are e q u a l l y e x p o n e n t i a l . B u t t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e m d o e s n o t c r e a t e a n y n e w p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n o r g e n u i n e crisis, for m e m o r y fades a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s d o e s t h e real. T h e d i s c r e p a n c y i s o n l y v i r t u a l l y catastrophic. A n o t h e r catastrophic prospect, of w h i c h n o n e of the c h a m p i o n s of t h e virtual of w h a t e v e r s t a m p h a v e any i n k l i n g ( w h e t h e r w e are t a l k i n g o f t h e o c c u l t m a s t e r s o f w o r l d finance o r t h e p r o p o n e n t s o f a universal d e m o c r a c y o f i n f o r m a t i o n ) , i s t h e p h e n o m e n o n of critical mass. We k n o w h o w this o p e r a t e s at t h e c o s m o l o g i c a l level: i f t h e mass o f t h e u n i v e r s e i s b e l o w a c e r t a i n t h r e s h o l d , t h e u n i v e r s e g o e s o n e x p a n d i n g a n d t h e B i g B a n g goes on to infinity. If it is above this t h r e s h o l d , t h e u n i verse i m p l o d e s a n d contracts i n a B i g C r u n c h . N o w , w i t h o u t w i s h i n g t o exaggerate, t h e s p h e r e o f i n f o r m a t i o n ( u n d e r s t a n d i n g b y this, o n c e again, t h e orbital c i r c u l a t i o n i n real t i m e b o t h o f m o n e y a n d i m a g e s o r messages) i s i n d a n g e r , g i v e n t h e p r o s p e c t

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o f infinite d e v e l o p m e n t - t h e universal c o n n e c t i o n o f all t h e n e t w o r k s w e are promised — of experiencing a brutal reversion of the same kind. W i t h the inform a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y s , i t w o u l d s e e m w e are d o i n g all w e c a n t o get b e y o n d this critical t h r e s h o l d . W h e r e its d e w y - e y e d a d v o c a t e s see o n l y a m a r v e l l o u s c e n t r i f u gal e x p a n s i o n , are w e n o t m o v i n g t o w a r d s s u c h a d e g r e e o f s a t u r a t i o n a n d d e n s i t y that a deflation a n d a u t o m a t i c collapse will ensue? A n d this e v e n t u a l i t y is no l o n g e r t h e p r o d u c t o f a d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n a n ultra-sophisticated, u l t r a - c o n n e c t e d s p h e r e a n d t h e w a s t e l a n d o f t h e rest o f t h e w o r l d (the i n f o r m a t i o n F o u r t h W o r l d ) , b u t a catastrophe internal to the virtual h i g h - t e c h world - an implosion by exceeding of t h e critical mass. W e m a y i n d e e d ask o u r s e l v e s w h e t h e r w e h a v e n o t a l r e a d y p a s s e d this t h r e s h o l d a n d w h e t h e r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n c a t a s t r o p h e has n o t already o c c u r r e d , i n s o f a r a s t h e m u l t i m e d i a p r o f u s i o n o f d a t a c a n c e l s itself o u t a n d t h e b a l a n c e s h e e t i n t e r m s of s u b s t a n c e of i n f o r m a t i o n is a l r e a d y a n e g a t i v e o n e . T h e r e is a p r e c e d e n t h e r e i n t h e f o r m o f t h e ' s o c i a l ' : w e are a l r e a d y w e l l b e y o n d t h e t h r e s h o l d o f t h e c r i t i c a l social mass w i t h t h e p r o f u s i o n o f p o p u l a t i o n s , c o n t r o l n e t w o r k s , s o c i a l ization, c o m m u n i c a t i o n , interactivity a n d w i t h t h e extrapolation of t h e 'social' as a c a t c h - a l l c a t e g o r y — a m o v e w h i c h i s e v e n n o w c a u s i n g t h e real s p h e r e o f t h e social a n d its c o n c e p t t o i m p l o d e . W h e n e v e r y t h i n g i s social, s u d d e n l y n o t h i n g is. B u t p e r h a p s b e n e a t h this c r a z e d t e c h n o l o g i c a l o p t i m i s m , this m e s s i a n i c i n c a n t a t i o n o f t h e virtual, o u r d r e a m i s o f j u s t this critical t h r e s h o l d , a n d this phase-reversal o f t h e s p h e r e o f i n f o r m a t i o n . N o t h a v i n g e x p e r i e n c e d this m o m e n t o u s e v e n t , this g e n e r a l i m p l o s i o n a t t h e w o r l d level, w e m i g h t b e said t o b e e n j o y i n g i t e x p e r i mentally, at t h e level of a m i c r o - m o d e l . G i v e n t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n of t h e p r o c e s s , it m a y n o t b e far f r o m actually o c c u r r i n g . W e s h o u l d , t h e n , h e a r t i l y e n c o u r a g e this massive m e l t d o w n o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n .

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At a n y rate, t h e r e is still an a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s . T h i s is t h a t t h e p i c t u r e we are g i v e n o f t h e p o w e r o f v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s - from t h e irresistible p r o m o t i o n o f v i r tual reality t o t h e u n c o n t r o l l a b l e p o w e r o f t h o s e n e w m a s t e r s o f t h e u n i v e r s e , t h e lords of M i c r o s o f t a n d t e l e - c a p i t a l i s m (Le Monde diplomatique, M a y 1995) - largely r e p r e s e n t s m e d i a h y p e reflecting t h e s e l f - h y p i n g o f t h o s e m i l i e u s t h e m s e l v e s (the w h o l e process is a s e l f - d r i v i n g l o o p ) . O n e o f t w o t h i n g s m u s t b e t h e case. E i t h e r t h e w h o l e w o r l d i s i n thrall t o t h e s e t e c h n o l o g i c a l b a r o n s , w h o m i g h t b e said t o b e c o n c e n t r a t i n g e v e r y k i n d o f real power in t h e i r o w n h a n d s ; in this case, all we c a n do is d i s a p p e a r , s i n c e in this s c e n a r i o w e are already virtually w i p e d off t h e m a p - a n d t h e t e r r i t o r y . O r this i s n o t t h e w a y t h i n g s are a t all a n d this w h o l e s t o r y i s v i r t u a l t o o . T h e p o w e r o f t h e v i r t u a l is m e r e l y v i r t u a l . T h i s is w h y it c a n intensify in s u c h a m i n d - b o g g l i n g w a y a n d , m o v i n g e v e r f u r t h e r f r o m t h e s o - c a l l e d ' r e a l ' w o r l d , itself lose h o l d o f a n y reality p r i n c i p l e . F o r t h e s e t e c h n i c a l forces t o e x t e n d t h e i r g r i p o v e r t h e w o r l d , t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o h a v e a p u r p o s e — p o w e r m u s t b e p o w e r t o s o m e end - b u t t h e y d o n o t . All t h e y c a n d o i s t r a n s c r i b e t h e m s e l v e s i n d e f i n i t e l y i n t o t h e i r o w n n e t w o r k s , t h e i r o w n c o d e s . E v e n s p e c u l a t i v e capital rarely c o m e s o u t o f its o r b i t : i t i s a m a s s e d a n d lost i n its o w n s p e c u l a t i v e v a c u u m . A s for t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f this m e d i a p o w e r i n t o p o l i t i c a l p o w e r , w e h a v e s e e n , i n t h e case o f B e r l u s c o n i , t h a t it failed at t h e first h u r d l e , c o n t r a r y to t h e thesis of t h e m e d i a coup d'etat (according to which, once you had gained control of the e c o n o m y and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , i t was m e r e l y a f o r m a l i t y t o seize p o l i t i c a l p o w e r ) . W e w e r e f r i g h t e n e d 8

b y a n o v e r - e s t i m a t i o n o f m e d i a p o w e r , w h i l s t t h e m e d i a i n fact sap t h e reality o f all p o w e r , for b e t t e r o r for w o r s e . I t i s a n i n e v i t a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f v i r t u a l i t y :

8. Berlusconi's g o v e r n m e n t lasted for seven m o n t h s , falling w h e n U m b e r t o Bossi's Lega N o r d pulled o u t of the coalition.

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t h e r e can b e n o strategy o f t h e virtual, s i n c e t h e o n l y strategies n o w are t h e m s e l v e s virtual ones. S o t h e r e are n o ' m a s t e r s o f t h e u n i v e r s e ' . T h e r e are o n l y m a s t e r s o f transparency, a n d j u s t b e c a u s e t h e i r m o n e y , p r o d u c t s a n d ideas cross t h e b o r d e r s o f a g l o b a l i z e d m a r k e t u n h i n d e r e d , t h a t i s n o reason t o b e n d t h e k n e e t o this s u p r e m a c y o f t h e v i r tual i n w h a t w o u l d m e r e l y b e a n e w f o r m o f v o l u n t a r y s e r v i t u d e . 6June

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Western

Subserbience

It has t a k e n a s u p e r h u m a n effort a n d t h r e e years of s p o r a d i c massacres, a n d , m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , i t has n e e d e d t h e forces o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y t o b e h u m i l i a t e d , b u t it s e e m s t h a t — g r u d g i n g l y a n d w i t h e v e r y possible r e s e r v a t i o n W e s t e r n o p i n i o n has finally r e c o g n i z e d t h e Serbs as t h e aggressors. T h i s r e c o g n i t i o n s e e m s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e u l t i m a t e i n f i r m n e s s a n d lucidity. T h e fact i s t h a t w e have, a t last, g o t t o t h e s t a r t i n g line i n this war. E v e n t h o s e w h o reject t h e official d o c t r i n e o f t h e ' b e l l i g e r e n t s ' a n d are l o n g - s t a n d i n g critics o f S e r b aggression are c e l e b r a t i n g this t u r n a b o u t a s a victory, naively h o p i n g t h a t t h e W e s t e r n p o w e r s n o w h a v e n o a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t o p u t a n e n d t o t h e a g g r e s s i o n . Clearly, n o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d will o c c u r . T h i s entirely p l a t o n i c r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e v i c t i m i z e r s a s v i c t i m i z e r s i n n o w a y entails r e c o g n i z i n g t h e v i c t i m s a s v i c t i m s . T o b e f o o l e d i n t o t h i n k i n g t h a t i t d o e s , o n e has t o share t h e evangelical idealism o f t h o s e w h o believe t h a t t h e ' d e p t h s o f r i d i c u l e a n d d i s h o n o u r ' have b e e n p l u m b e d a n d t h a t t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o w e r s a n d a 'suicidal' E u r o p e c a n be called on to r e c o v e r t h e m s e l v e s , w i t h o u t realizing for a m o m e n t t h e futility o f s u c h efforts. T h i s , i n d e e d , i s e v e r y b i t a m a t c h for t h e p o l i t i c i a n s ' endless hypocrisy. R e c r i m i n a t i o n g o e s h a n d i n glove w i t h t h e c r i m e ,

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a n d t h e t w o proliferate i n a n i n t e r m i n a b l e o r c h e s t r a t i o n o f t h e e v e n t . S i n c e t h e W e s t e r n c o n s c i e n c e takes i t u p o n itself t o m o u r n t h e situation, since i t m o n o p o l i z e s b o t h the hypocrisy and g o o d intentions, it is understandable that the murderer s h o u l d r e t a i n his m o n o p o l y b o t h o f a r r o g a n c e a n d c r i m e . I n fact, n e i t h e r t h e g r o t e s q u e g e s t i c u l a t i o n s o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l forces n o r t h e d i s g u s t e d l a m e n t a t i o n s o f t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f g o o d causes can h a v e a n y real effect, b e c a u s e we h a v e n o t t a k e n t h e decisive step — t h e final step — in t h e analysis o f t h e situation. N o o n e dares, o r w a n t s , t o take t h a t step, w h i c h i s t o r e c o g n i z e , n o t simply t h a t t h e Serbs are t h e aggressors ( w h i c h is to state t h e o b v i o u s ) , b u t that t h e y are o u r o b j e c t i v e allies in a cleansing o p e r a t i o n for a future E u r o p e w h e r e t h e r e are n o a w k w a r d m i n o r i t i e s a n d for a N e w W o r l d O r d e r w h e r e t h e r e i s n o radical o p p o s i t i o n t o its o w n values — t h e values o f t h e d e m o c r a t i c d i c t a t o r s h i p o f h u m a n rights a n d t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f m a r k e t s . In all this, it is t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e evil w h i c h is at issue. H a v i n g d e n o u n c e d t h e Serbs a s ' d a n g e r o u s p s y c h o p a t h s ' , w e c o n g r a t u l a t e ourselves o n h a v i n g p i n p o i n t e d t h e evil w i t h o u t d o u b t i n g for a s e c o n d t h e p u r i t y o f o u r d e m o c r a t i c i n t e n t i o n s . W e b e l i e v e w e h a v e d o n e all t h a t i s n e e d f u l b y p o i n t i n g t o t h e Serbs a s b a d - b u t n o t a s t h e e n e m y . A n d w i t h g o o d r e a s o n , since, o n t h e w o r l d front, w e W e s t e r n e r s a n d E u r o p e a n s are f i g h t i n g exactly t h e s a m e e n e m y a s t h e y are: Islam, t h e M u s l i m s . W e are f i g h t i n g t h e m e v e r y w h e r e : i n C h e c h n y a w i t h t h e R u s s i a n s ( w h e r e t h e W e s t displays t h e s a m e s h a m e f u l t o l e r a n c e ) ; i n A l g e r i a , w h e r e w e d e n o u n c e t h e m i l i t a r y g o v e r n m e n t w h i l e p r o v i d i n g a l l - o u t logistical s u p p o r t ( t h e r e , a s i f b y c h a n c e , t h e f i n e souls w h o s t i g m a t i z e t h e official d o c t r i n e o f t h e ' b e l l i g e r e n t s ' i n B o s n i a u s e precisely t h e s a m e l a n g u a g e : state t e r r o r i s m against f u n d a m e n t a l i s t t e r r o r i s m — t h e o n e side a s b a d a s t h e o t h e r . A n d w e , t h e i m p o t e n t o n l o o k e r s a m i d this b a r b a r i s m — as t h o u g h state t e r r o r i s m w e r e n o t p r e c i s e l y o u r t e r r o r i s m — already use i t i n o u r o w n c o u n t r i e s i n h o m e o p a t h i c doses). I n s h o r t , w e m a y w e l l -

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b o m b a r d a f e w S e r b p o s i t i o n s w i t h s m o k e b o m b s , b u t w e will n o t really i n t e r v e n e against t h e m s i n c e t h e y are d o i n g basically t h e s a m e w o r k a s w e are. W e w o u l d m o r e readily b r e a k t h e backs o f t h e v i c t i m s i f w e h a d to, t o settle t h e conflict. T h e v i c t i m s , w h e n t h e y p u t u p s o m e t o k e n d e f e n c e , are m u c h m o r e a w k w a r d t h a n t h e i r p e r s e c u t o r s a n d y o u will see t h a t i t w i l l b e t h e B o s n i a n M u s l i m s t h e R a p i d I n t e r v e n t i o n F o r c e are s o o n forced to l i q u i d a t e a n d n e u t r a l i z e . If a sizeable M u s l i m offensive w e r e m o u n t e d , t h e n y o u w o u l d see t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l force b e c o m i n g really effective. T h i s i s t h e real r e a s o n w h y this w a r i s i n t e r m i n a b l e . I f w e t h i n k a b o u t it, w i t h o u t this d e e p - l e v e l c o l l u s i o n , d e s p i t e all a p p e a r a n c e s (but t h e a p p e a r a n c e s , in t h e i r a m b i g u i t y , tell t h e i r o w n s t o r y ) , w i t h o u t this o b j e c t i v e alliance ( w i t h o u t i t b e i n g i n t e n t i o n a l o r d e l i b e r a t e ) , t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n w h y t h e w a r s h o u l d n o t already b e over. I t i s e x a c t l y t h e s a m e s c e n a r i o a s w i t h S a d d a m H u s s e i n . W e f o u g h t h i m w i t h t h e full p a n o p l y o f m e d i a a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l d e p l o y m e n t . B u t h e was n o n e t h e l e s s — a n d r e m a i n s still - o u r objective ally. H e has b e e n reviled, d e n o u n c e d a n d s t i g m a t i z e d i n t h e n a m e o f h u m a n r i g h t s , b u t h e i s n o n e t h e l e s s o u r o b j e c t i v e ally against Iran, against t h e K u r d s , against t h e S h i ' i t e s . A n d t h a t i s o n e o f t h e reasons w h y t h a t w a r (the G u l f War) did n o t really take place: S a d d a m n e v e r was o u r real e n e m y . A n d i t i s t h e s a m e w i t h t h e Serbs, for w h o m i n a w a y w e p r o v i d e cover, d e n o u n c i n g t h e m a s b e y o n d t h e pale, w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g t o let t h e m d o t h e i r w o r k . T h e w h o l e p r o b l e m i s t o c o n v i n c e t h e B o s n i a n s t h e y are r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e i r o w n p r e d i c a m e n t . I f w e c a n n o t d o this b y d i p l o m a c y , a s w e have b e e n t r y i n g t o d o for t w o years, w e shall have t o d o s o b y force. W e s h o u l d , all t h e s a m e , a t t e m p t t o see w h a t i s g o i n g o n b e h i n d t h e e n o r m o u s s m o k e s c r e e n , b e h i n d t h e s t e r e o t y p e d h u m a n i t a r i a n , m i l i t a r y a n d d i p l o m a t i c l a n g u a g e . I n any conflict, y o u h a v e t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n w h a t is b e i n g f o u g h t against - t h e specifically political level of t h e w a r - a n d w h a t is b e i n g sacrificed — w h a t , in particular, is b e i n g l i q u i d a t e d a n d

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s w e p t away: this r e m a i n s t h e t h i n g m o s t d e e p l y a t issue, t h e final o b j e c t i v e . I n t h e A l g e r i a n war, for e x a m p l e , w e f o u g h t against t h e A l g e r i a n army, b u t w h a t was really sacrificed i n t h e conflict was t h e A l g e r i a n r e v o l u t i o n - a n d this w e d i d w o r k i n g a l o n g s i d e t h e A l g e r i a n a r m y (and w e c o n t i n u e t o d o so). I n B o s n i a w e are f i g h t i n g t h e Serbs ( w i t h o u t o v e r d o i n g it) i n t h e n a m e o f a m u l t i c u l t u r a l E u r o p e , b u t w h a t i s actually b e i n g sacrificed i s precisely t h e o t h e r c u l t u r e , t h e c u l t u r e w h i c h stands o p p o s e d a t t h e level o f values t o a n u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w o r l d o r d e r w i t h n o values. A n d this w e are d o i n g a t t h e S e r b s ' side. I m p e r i a l i s m has c h a n g e d . W h a t t h e W e s t n o w w i s h e s t o foist o n t h e w h o l e w o r l d , in t h e guise of universality, is n o t its — c o m p l e t e l y u n h i n g e d - values, b u t its a b s e n c e o f values. W h e r e v e r s o m e singularity, m i n o r i t y o r specific i d i o m survives a n d persists; w h e r e v e r t h e r e i s s o m e i r r e d u c i b l e b e l i e f o r passion; a b o v e all, w h e r e there is s o m e antagonistic view of the world, we have to impose an in-different o r d e r u p o n i t - a n o r d e r a s indifferent a s w e are t o o u r o w n values. W e g e n e r o u s l y d i s t r i b u t e t h e r i g h t t o difference, b u t secretly, a n d o n this occasion unyieldingly, w e are w o r k i n g t o p r o d u c e a bloodless, u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w o r l d . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r t e r r o r i s m is n o t f u n d a m e n t a l i s t . I n d e e d , it is t h e t e r r o r i s m of a c u l t u r e w i t h o u t f u n d a m e n t s . I t i s t h e i n t e g r i s m o f e m p t i n e s s . W h a t i s a t stake h e r e i s b e y o n d political f o r m s a n d events. W e are n o l o n g e r s p e a k i n g o f a political front or r e l a t i o n of forces, b u t of a transpolitical fault line, a n d that fault line t o d a y passes m a i n l y t h r o u g h Islam. B u t it also r u n s t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t of every so-called civilized, d e m o c r a t i c c o u n t r y — a n d i t c e r t a i n l y r u n s t h r o u g h e v e r y o n e o f us. 3 July

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1995

When the West Takes the Dead Man's Place 9

W e s t e r n m i l i t a r y i m p o t e n c e i n t h e face o f S e r b i a n aggression e q u a t e s directly w i t h t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y of r i s k i n g t h e life of a single W e s t e r n soldier. In this sense, t h e s e soldiers are hostages l o n g b e f o r e t h e Serbs actually c a p t u r e t h e m : t h e i r lives h a v e t o be p r e s e r v e d a b o v e all else. Z e r o d e a t h : this is t h e l e i t m o t i f of clean warfare. It is t h e p e r f e c t i o n of war, b u t also w a r r e d u c e d to a m o c k e r y — w a r as faultless s p o r t i n g p e r f o r m a n c e , a s 'clear r o u n d ' . W e h a v e already s e e n this w i t h t h e G u l f War, w h e r e t h e o n l y W e s t e r n d e a t h s o c c u r r e d b y a c c i d e n t . A t least t h a t w a r e n d e d i n a t e c h n o l o g ical d e m o n s t r a t i o n w h i c h p r o v i d e d t h e illusion o f p o w e r (of v i r t u a l o m n i p o t e n c e ) . W h e r e a s B o s n i a offers a n e x a m p l e o f t o t a l p o w e r l e s s n e s s . A n d t h o u g h this p o w e r lessness, w h i c h gives t h e Serbs a free r e i n , in fact fits in w i t h t h e u n d i s c l o s e d objective of the war, it a m o u n t s , nonetheless, to a symbolic castration of the

9.

Quand VOccident prend la place du mort. T h e t e r m 'la place du m o r t ' owes its currency to the

fact that it is used, in everyday parlance, to refer to the front passenger seat in a car. It is also occasionally e m p l o y e d as an image to represent t h e position of t h e analyst in t h e psychoanalytic relationship. H e r e , however, Baudrillard is using the t e r m rather m o r e literally.

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W e s t e r n w a r m a c h i n e . T h e p o o r old West! I f o n l y i t c o u l d joyfully a n d v i c t o r i o u s l y fulfil its m i s s i o n of establishing w o r l d O r d e r (by l i q u i d a t i n g all t h e p o c k e t s of resist a n c e ) , b u t i t still has t o l o o k o n i m p o t e n t l y , from t h e d e p t h s o f its r i v e n c o n s c i e n c e , w h i l e t h a t d i r t y little j o b i s c a r r i e d o u t a t t h e g l o b a l level b y m e r c e n a r i e s . T o l o o k o n i m p o t e n t l y w h i l e i t i s itself h u m i l i a t e d a n d sidelined. T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , n o t h i n g s u r p r i s i n g a b o u t this m i l i t a r y paralysis. I t i s l i n k e d t o t h e m e n t a l paralysis o f t h e civilized w o r l d . W e m i g h t t h i n k t h a t t h e fact t h e W e s t can n o l o n g e r risk t h e life o f a single o n e o f its soldiers r e p r e s e n t s s o m e h i g h e r stage o f civilization, i n w h i c h e v e n t h e m i l i t a r y has b e c o m e c o m m i t t e d t o h u m a n i t a r i a n i s m a n d r e s p e c t for t h e sacred r i g h t s o f h u m a n life. I n fact, q u i t e t h e o p p o s i t e i s t h e case. T h e d e s t i n y o f this v i r t u a l s o l d i e r - this s o l d i e r w h o n o l o n g e r i s a s o l d i e r - reflects t h e d e s t i n y o f civilized m a n . T h e t h i n g s h e f o u g h t for a n d his collective values have largely d i s a p p e a r e d ; his e x i s t e n c e c a n n o t be sacrificed for a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r . O n l y a t h i n g w h i c h has s o m e v a l u e i n itself c a n b e p u t 'at stake'. T h e i n d i v i d u a l w e h a v e p r o d u c e d , t h e a b s o l u t e l y self-regarding i n d i v i d u a l w e glorify, t h e i n d i v i d u a l w e p r o t e c t i n his i m p o t e n c e w i t h t h e w h o l e legal p a n o p l y o f h u m a n r i g h t s i s t h e 'last m a n ' N i e t z s c h e speaks of. H e i s t h e e n d - u s e r o f his o w n self a n d his o w n life, t h e t e r m i n a l i n d i v i d u a l , w i t h n o real h o p e e i t h e r o f d e s cendants or transcendence. He is the end-of-the-line man, d o o m e d to hereditary sterility a n d t h e c o u n t d o w n . T h i s i n d i v i d u a l i s t h e e n d o f t h e cycle a n d o f t h e species. All t h a t r e m a i n s for h i m i s t o a t t e m p t d e s p e r a t e l y t o o u t l i v e h i m s e l f b y b e i n g spectralized, fractalized, pluralized, b y b e c o m i n g his o w n c r e a t i o n a n d his o w n c l o n e . T h i s last m a n c a n n o t , t h e n , b e sacrificed, precisely b e c a u s e h e i s t h e last. O n c e life i s r e d u c e d t o its u s e - v a l u e , t o its survival i n real t i m e , t h e n n o o n e has t h e r i g h t to risk his life for a n y t h i n g . T h i s is t h e destiny — or, rather, t h e a b s e n c e of d e s tiny - of t h e last m a n . T h i s is t h e w a y his i m p o t e n c e has d e v e l o p e d , reflecting t h e

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d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e civilized n a t i o n s , i n c a p a b l e e v e n o f t a k i n g t h e risk o f facing u p to t h e i r e n e m i e s - or saving face. A t a d e e p level t h e t w o t h i n g s are c o n n e c t e d : t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f a n y foreign c u l t u r e , a n y singular m i n o r i t y i n t h e n a m e o f e t h n i c cleansing, a n d t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f d e a t h itself as singularity, as i r r e d u c i b l e fact - t h e m o s t singular of singularities — in t h e n a m e o f p r o t e c t i o n a n d survival a t all costs. O u r lives are also b e i n g cleansed o r p u r i f i e d in a sense. T h e y are increasingly b e i n g played o u t inside a v i r t u a l c a r a p a c e p r o t e c t i n g t h e m from d e a t h , i n m u c h t h e s a m e w a y a s t h e virtual soldier o f t h e U N g o e s a r o u n d i n his t e c h n i c a l c a r a p a c e . E v e n w h e n h e i s t a k e n h o s t a g e , t h a t d o e s n ' t m a k e h i m any m o r e real. H e m e r e l y b e c o m e s a t r a d i n g i t e m i n t h e p o t l a t c h o f illus o r y d i v e r g e n c e s a n d collusions b e t w e e n t h e W e s t a n d t h e Serbs, i n t h e i m p r o b a b l e c h a i n of collusion a n d c o w a r d i c e that is this military m a s q u e r a d e , in w h i c h t h e place o f t h e u n k n o w n soldier i s t a k e n b y t h e v i r t u a l soldier - t h e o n e w h o d o e s n o t die, b u t w h o , paralysed a n d i m m o b i l i z e d , takes t h e d e a d m a n ' s place. S o w e are s e e i n g a r e d e p l o y m e n t o f d e a t h i n all t h e s e f o r m s w h e r e w e n o l o n g e r e x p e c t e d t o find it. Take U N P R O F O R and the R a p i d R e a c t i o n Force: they t o o immediately t o o k t h e d e a d m a n ' s p l a c e ( w h i c h t h e y d e f e n d t o o t h a n d nail!) i n t h e B o s n i a n conflict. W e ourselves, all o f u s b e h i n d o u r T V screens, are s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y t a k i n g t h e p l a c e o f t h e d e a d . T h e Serbs, t h e m u r d e r e r s , are alive i n t h e i r o w n way. T h e p e o p l e o f Sarajevo, t h e v i c t i m s , are in a p l a c e of real d e a t h . B u t we are in a s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n : n e i t h e r d e a d , n o r alive, b u t s t a n d i n g i n for t h e d e a d . A n d i n this sense t h e B o s n i a n conflict is a global test; e v e r y w h e r e in t h e p r e s e n t w o r l d , t h e W e s t has t a k e n t h e place of the dead. A n d yet this is n o t for w a n t of t r y i n g to avert this s i t u a t i o n by all available m e a n s . W e a l m o s t p u l l e d off t h e old t r i c k o f t h e Swiss w h o , for years, s u p p l i e d t h e w h o l e o f E u r o p e w i t h m e r c e n a r i e s a n d t h e r e b y m a n a g e d t o k e e p free o f w a r s . T h i s i s w h a t all t h e r i c h c o u n t r i e s d o t o d a y - p r o v i d i n g w e a p o n s for t h e w h o l e w o r l d

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a n d s u c c e e d i n g i n t h a t w a y i n exiling, i f n o t v i o l e n c e , t h e n a t least war, f r o m t h e i r territories. B u t there is n o t h i n g to be d o n e ; just w h e r e we h o p e to drive out d e a t h , i t surfaces again t h r o u g h all t h e p r o t e c t i v e screens, e x t e n d i n g t o t h e furthest reaches of o u r culture. O u r h u m a n i t a r i a n a n d e c o l o g i c a l i d e o l o g i e s all s p e a k t o u s o f n o t h i n g b u t t h e h u m a n species a n d its survival. We can see h e r e t h e great difference t h e r e is b e t w e e n h u m a n i t a r i a n i s m a n d h u m a n i s m . H u m a n i s m was a system o f s t r o n g values l i n k e d t o t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e h u m a n race, w i t h its p h i l o s o p h y a n d morality. I t was c h a r a c t e r istic of a h i s t o r y t h a t was b e i n g m a d e . W h e r e a s h u m a n i t a r i a n i s m is a system of w e a k values, l i n k e d t o t h e safeguarding o f t h e t h r e a t e n e d h u m a n species a n d c h a r a c t e r istic o f a h i s t o r y t h a t i s b e i n g u n m a d e , t h a t i s c o m i n g a p a r t ; a n d t h e r e i s n o perspective here other than the negative o n e of an optimal m a n a g e m e n t of waste — waste w h i c h we k n o w to be, by definition, n o n - d e g r a d a b l e . Seen in t e r m s of survival or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , o f life s u p e r s t i t i o u s l y p r o l o n g e d a n d p r o t e c t e d f r o m d e a t h , life itself b e c o m e s a w a s t e - p r o d u c t w e c a n n o l o n g e r r i d o u r s e l v e s of, d o o m e d , as it is, to i n d e f i n i t e r e p r o d u c t i o n . N o w , it is j u s t s u c h indefinite r e p r o d u c t i o n we see in Bosnia, j u s t s u c h a m a c a b r e p a r o d y a n d t h e sinister c o n f u s i o n of a h i s t o r y c o m i n g apart — a farce in w h i c h t h e m i l i t a r y a n d t h e h u m a n i t a r i a n are m e r g e d . H i s t o r y r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s Farce. Farce r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s H i s t o r y 17 July

69

1995

The Great Laundering

W h i t e w a s h i n g is t h e m a i n activity of this century's e n d . W i t h t h e first t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f t h e c e n t u r y largely g i v e n o v e r t o a n a c c u m u l a t i o n o f evils, v i o l e n c e , c o r r u p t i o n a n d guilt, w e h a v e a colossal r u b b i s h h e a p b e f o r e us. W e are e n g a g e d i n a n indefi n i t e w o r k o f m o u r n i n g for all t h e i d e o l o g i e s , v i o l e n c e a n d i n c i d e n t s w h i c h h a v e m a r k e d t h e c e n t u r y . R e p e n t a n c e o f t h e past, h i s t o r y b e i n g sold off a t k n o c k - d o w n p r i c e s o r g i v e n a face-lift. T h e w h i t e w a s h i n g o f a d i r t y history, o f d i r t y m o n e y , o f corrupt consciences, of the polluted planet. T h e cleansing of m e m o r y ; the cleansing of the e n v i r o n m e n t ; the ethnic and racial c l e a n s i n g o f p o p u l a t i o n s . I n particular, t h e political class has e n t e r e d t h e v i c t i m a l era o f r e p e n t a n c e . E v e r y p o l i t i c i a n , e v e r y o n e i n a p o s i t i o n o f p o w e r , i s p o t e n t i a l l y liable t o p r o s e c u t i o n a n d has t o b e l a u n d e r e d like d i r t y m o n e y . T h e y have to s u b m i t , if n o t to a b r a i n w a s h i n g , t h e n at least to a r e p u t a t i o n - w a s h i n g , before b e i n g p u t back into circulation, the way b l o o d is washed before it is reinj e c t e d i n t o t h e b o d y ' s c i r c u l a t i o n (this w a s n o t , i n fact, d o n e i n t h e case o f A I D S a n d it has g i v e n t h e political class its b i g g e s t scandal for years — t h e c o n t a m i n a t e d

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b l o o d virus circulating even faster t h r o u g h t h e political system t h a n t h r o u g h t h e systems of the patients)."

1

O n e has, w h e r e possible, t o s h o w off o n e ' s vices t o restore o n e ' s v i r t u e . T h i s has e v e n b e c o m e a k i n d of fashionable political tactic: p r o t e s t i n g one's errors, one's c o r r u p t i o n , o n e ' s i m m o r a l i t y ; a t t e m p t i n g at all costs to be f o u n d guilty. It is a k i n d of simulated expiation, a way of whitewashing oneself w h i c h the public conscience eagerly swallows a t little cost t o itself. N o t e v e r y o n e c a n w h i t e w a s h t h e m s e l v e s b y c o m m i t t i n g suicide, a s P i e r r e B e r e g o v o y d i d .

11

B y that very act, h e w h i t e w a s h e d t h e

w h o l e of t h e political class (by m a k i n g politics a n o b l e calling, since y o u c a n die by it), b u t this was also s o m e t h i n g of a p o i s o n e d chalice, as he s i m u l t a n e o u s l y s h o w e d u p t h e w r e t c h e d n e s s a n d c o w a r d i c e o f all t h o s e w h o , t h o u g h suffering t h e s a m e powerlessness a n d d i s h o n o u r - i.e. h a v i n g t h e s a m e reasons t o d o away w i t h t h e m selves — t o o k c o n s i d e r a b l e pains n o t to do so. T h i s s a m e p e r s p e c t i v e o f t h e w h i t e w a s h i n g a n d face-lifting o f t h e political class casts light also o n t h e j u d i c i a r y ' s a n t i - c o r r u p t i o n offensive. T h a t s o - c a l l e d ' C l e a n H a n d s ' offensive m a k e s t h e h e a d l i n e s daily, r a n k i n g a l o n g s i d e t h e lives o f t h e stars. T h e s i t u a t i o n is as follows: t h e political class was fretting away in its i m m u n i t y a n d i m p u n i t y . It was d y i n g — w e i g h t l e s s a n d far r e m o v e d from t h e social b o d y — on t h e far side o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , i n t h e t e l e - a b s e n c e o f t h e masses, i n a n i m m u n i t y w h i c h h a d b e c o m e lethal, w h i l e t h e t e l e - c i t i z e n , w h o h a d h i m s e l f b e c o m e a u t o - i m m u n e ,

10. In spite of a circular of 1983 pointing o u t the risk, France c o n t i n u e d to use b l o o d from potentially c o n t a m i n a t e d sources in the 1980s, w i t h the result that seven people contracted A I D S . T h r e e ministers stood trial on manslaughter charges, b u t only o n e , E d m o n d H e r v e , was convicted, t h o u g h no sentence was passed on h i m . 1 1. Pierre Beregovoy, the third p r i m e minister of Mitterand's presidency, c o m m i t t e d suicide on 1 May 1993, apparently because of damage d o n e to his reputation by a scandal over an interest-free loan.

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l o o k e d o n . T h e m e d i a class h a d t h e s a m e p r o b l e m . I t t o o was d y i n g o n t h e far side o f t h e s c r e e n , i n its t e l e - i m m u n i t y . H e n c e t h e n e e d for a h u g e 'reality s h o w ' , a n i n t e r a c t i v e p e r f u s i o n , w h i c h c o u l d give t h e masses a role as fully-fledged extras. In t h e political f i e l d , t h e a b s o l u t e i m p e r a t i v e was also t o r e m o v e this i m p u n i t y b y a n y means whatever - including being accused of w r o n g d o i n g , being exposed by scandal — so as to give t h e p o l i t i c i a n s t h e c h a n c e to o v e r c o m e t h e i r i s o l a t i o n a n d reattach the umbilical cord. F o r t h e political class, this was a m a t t e r of life a n d d e a t h . N o w , t h a t class is n o t capable of g i v i n g up its o w n privileges: it is capable only, as we have seen, of g r a n t i n g itself a general amnesty. In a sense, t h e n , t h e politicians delegate this w o r k to t h e j u d g e s . T h e y use t h e j u d i c i a r y t o absolve t h e m o f t h e i r s u p p o s e d i m m u n i t y a n d isolation a n d o v e r c o m e t h e p u b l i c disaffection afflicting t h e m . A n d t h e y d o this b y a p p e a r i n g v u l n e r a b l e a n d fragile, a n d h e n c e o p e n a n d accessible. It is a great illusion to believe that, in o u r system, t h e politicians a n d t h e j u d i c i a r y can really c o m e i n t o conflict. W h a t is g o i n g on is m e r e l y a division of l a b o u r w i t h i n a caste c a r r y i n g o u t a s i m u l a t e d p u r g e on i t s e l f - destabilizing itself in h o m e o p a t h i c doses t h e b e t t e r to re-stabilize itself. T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , n o t h i n g to i n d i c a t e that this stability has any l o n g - t e r m p r o s p e c t s . T h e r e is n o t h i n g to say t h e i n v o i c e for this l a u n d e r i n g (after t h e l a u n d e r i n g o f t h e ' i n v o i c e s ' )

12

- t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e bill for t h e

collective b r a i n w a s h i n g w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e s i t — will n o t o n e day l a n d o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s d o o r s t e p . T h e m e d i a a n d t h e political class will pay dearly. T h e y are already p a y i n g for t h e l o a n t h e y h a v e t a k e n o u t against o u r i m a g i n a r y a d v a n c e , b y forfeiting all c r e d e n c e a n d credibility.

12. A series of scandals involving false invoices rocked France t h r o u g h o u t the eighties and nineties, from the U r b a affair, in which monies were laundered through a consultancy company into Socialist Party coffers, to the affaires associated w i t h the names of Alain C a r i g n o n and Michel Noir.

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T h e r e has r e c e n t l y b e e n a w i d e l y o r c h e s t r a t e d c a m p a i g n against t h e p r e s i d e n t i a l amnesty on g r o u n d s of public morality.

13

I t is, i n fact, t h e first t i m e m o t o r i s t s have

h a d s u c h a s e c o n d a r y g a i n f r o m e l e c t i o n s t o l o o k f o r w a r d to. B u t p e r h a p s this ' i m m o r a l ' b e h a v i o u r was c o m p e n s a t i o n for t h e a b s e n c e o f any political stakes in t h e s e elections? At least in this w a y t h e citizens r e - i n j e c t e d s o m e real issues i n t o t h e m . A t any rate, t h e y expressed t h e t r u t h o f t h e elections t h e m selves, w h i c h are no l o n g e r so m u c h a political act of r e p r e s e n t a t i o n as a collective act — u n d e r w r i t t e n by a b l a n k c h e q u e f r o m t h e p e o p l e - of t h e o b l i t e r a t i o n a n d a b s o l u t i o n of all c o r r u p t i o n , all p r e v i o u s political w r e t c h e d n e s s . Scandals, failures, e m b e z z l e m e n t a n d simple mistakes are all w h i t e w a s h e d a n d a m n e s t i e d for a m o m e n t . T h e R i g h t has w o n , t h e Left is r e b o r n f r o m its ashes — e v e r y t h i n g starts off again from scratch. T h i s i s t h e m a r v e l l o u s illusionism o f t h e electoral system! S o w e ' r e n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t a n a m n e s t y for p e t t y l a w b r e a k i n g h e r e , b u t a g e n e r a l a m n e s t y o f t h e political s y s t e m as a w h o l e (the a n y t h i n g b u t p e t t y larceny of t h e financial system h a v i n g largely served to finance t h e s e s a m e elections). E l e c t i o n s are like t h e black b o x o f t h e political system. I n p u t : dirty m o n e y , m u r k y c o n s c i e n c e s , c o m p r o m i s e s , o p p o r t u n i s m ; o u t p u t : a squeaky clean political situation. A n d the m o t o r i s t s ' i m m o r a l i t y is as n o t h i n g c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e cynical w a y t h e politicians, t h e insiders, t h e financial experts a n d t h e m a n i p u l a t o r s o f all k i n d s have cynically j u m p e d t h e g u n o n t h e g r e a t electoral p a r d o n . T h e c r i m i n a l s , fraudsters a n d o t h e r political a n d financial speculators have also unreservedly, u n s c r u p u l o u s l y p r e - e m p t e d this s y m b o l i c amnesty, this l i q u i d a t i o n of all civic c r i m i n a l i t y w h i c h t h e trompe-l'oeil d e m o c r a t i c o p e r a t i o n o f t h e e l e c t i o n s represents. D e m o c r a c y , h a v i n g t r e a t e d its h a e m o r r h a g e s , its m e n s t r u a l flow, w i t h r e p e a t e d scandals, r e g e n e r a t e s in electoral coitus.

13. T h e tradition of i n c o m i n g presidents granting amnesties on driving offences has been widely criticized for leading to increased n u m b e r s of road deaths.

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Yet civic v i r t u e still has t h e last w o r d : w h e r e t h e r e are m o r e t h a n t h r e e p o i n t s o n t h e l i c e n c e , t h e r e will b e n o a m n e s t y for m o t o r i s t s . A h a p p y idea, since t h e p o i n t s b a s e d l i c e n c e is an e x c e l l e n t f o r m u l a . It is m e r e l y s c a n d a l o u s t h a t it applies o n l y to m o t o r i n g . W e s h o u l d e x p a n d t h e s y s t e m a n d c r e a t e a p o i n t s - b a s e d existential l i c e n c e . F o r e v e r y offence, m i s d e e d o r act o f i m m o r a l b e h a v i o u r y o u w o u l d h a v e existence points docked from your licence. W h e n the points ran out, it w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n altogether. I n this way, t h e roadways o f existence w o u l d b e less c r o w d e d , w i t h t h e r e m o v a l o f all t h o s e w h o c a n n o t b e h a v e properly. Y o u m i g h t b e sent for r e m e d i a l t r e a t m e n t u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e experts, b u t o t h e r w i s e t h e b a n o n living w o u l d b e i m m e d i a t e l y enforceable. T h e p o i n t s l i c e n c e w o u l d j u s t have t o b e i n s e r t e d a s a p r o g r a m m e d i m p l a n t a n d t h e offender w o u l d b e ' t e r m i n a t e d ' b y automatic heart-failure. This w o u l d be the full-blown application of h u m a n rights. A n d t h e n w e w o u l d have a clearer v i e w o f t h e j u s t , u n y i e l d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n o f democracy. 7 August

74

1995

Weep, Citizens!

D e m o c r a c y i s n o e x c e p t i o n t o t h e r u l e t h a t systems n e v e r f u n c t i o n b e t t e r t h a n w h e n r u n n i n g c o u n t e r t o t h e i r o w n rules a n d o p e r a t i n g i n spite o f t h e i r o w n p r i n ciples. T h i s i s t h e i r f u n d a m e n t a l v i c e a n d s y s t e m s , like i n d i v i d u a l s , d r a w t h e i r s t r e n g t h f r o m t h e i r vices. T o c q u e v i l l e s h o u l d always b e t e m p e r e d w i t h M a n d e v i l l e ; Democracy in America w i t h t h e Fable of the Bees. It is this j o y f u l perversity, this p e r petual subversion of principles w h i c h is the most exhilarating thing about the political s p h e r e . All t h e g r e a t p o l i t i c a l o p e r a t i o n s h a v e d r a w n t h e i r i n s p i r a t i o n from this. I t i s t h e e n d o f cynical r e a s o n w e s h o u l d b e m o a n , a n d t h e a d v e n t o f s e n t i m e n t a l r e a s o n . T h e d e c l i n e o f t h e p o l i t i c a l s p h e r e can b e m e a s u r e d b y t h e d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t t o identify w i t h its o w n p r i n c i p l e s , a n d t h e r e p e n t a n c e w h i c h always e n s u e s f r o m this i n t h e exercise o f p o w e r . T h e p a r a d o x o f t h e a c t o r also applies t o t h e p o l i t i c a l s p h e r e : i f t h a t s p h e r e identifies w i t h its o w n p r i n c i p l e s , a s t h e a c t o r identifies w i t h his o w n c h a r a c t e r , t h e v e r y illusion o f t h e political — o r o f t h e t h e a t r e - is lost. N o w , t h e political s p h e r e a s w e k n o w i t has sacrificed its o w n stage. B y i n c o r p o r a t i n g the entire p o p u l a t i o n as extras in a great sentimental, d e m a g o g i c

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g r o u n d s w e l l o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n , i t has a b o l i s h e d t h a t distance w h i c h i s t h e basic r u l e o f t h e political g a m e . T h e l a w o f t h e g r e a t e r n u m b e r has b e e n s u b s t i t u t e d for t h e rules o f t h e g a m e . T h e e n d o f t h e t h e a t r e , t h e e n d o f t h e political s c e n e . W e e a c h o f u s o p e r a t e o n a n e n t i r e l y i m m o r a l basis, a c t i n g , i n spite o f o u r o w n p r i n c i p l e s , b y a set o f rules w e c o n f o r m t o s p o n t a n e o u s l y . O n l y i n c i d e n t a l l y d o t h o s e rules c o i n c i d e w i t h t h e m o r a l law; t h e y take t h e f o r m , r a t h e r , o f subtle r i t u als w h i c h are e n t i r e l y o u r o w n affair. All i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d political systems d o t h e s a m e . I t i s w i t h a full sense o f t h e w r o n g w e d o t h a t w e sacrifice m o r a l v a l u e h e r e . Sadly, this strategy n o l o n g e r applies today, w h e n y o u have t o b e politically c o r r e c t . B u t t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n w i t h t h e actual o p e r a t i o n o f t h e system w h i c h ensues i s s o f l a grant as to be t h o r o u g h l y amusing. W h a t is a s t o u n d i n g is t h e total lack of u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h a t actual o p e r a t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f e n l i g h t e n e d souls; t h e w a y t h e d e m o c r a t i c c o n s c i o u s n e s s d e n i e s itself a n d its o w n p r i n c i p l e s - for e x a m p l e , b l i n d l y a n d u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y p r o s c r i b i n g L e P e n i n j u s t t h e w a y h e treats i m m i g r a n t s ; d e n o u n c i n g violence and intolerance w h a t e v e r their source, b u t at the same time p r i d i n g itself o n its ' g o o d ' i n t o l e r a n c e a n d o p e n l y m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e electoral system, a s i n A l g e r i a o r D e n m a r k t o e n s u r e t h e r i g h t cause w i n s . T o w h i c h w e m i g h t a d d t h e daily litany o f political a n d m e d i a d i s c o u r s e , w h o l l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h t h e j u s tification o f this d e n i a l o f its o w n p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e s h a m e f u l p r a c t i c e s o f a n unavowed integrism. Such is the victory by contamination, by contagion, of the F r o n t N a t i o n a l . Honi soil qui mal y pense . . . I s i t n o t t h e role o f politicians t o focus t h e c h r o n i c sickness o f t h e social s p h e r e o n t h e m s e l v e s — t h e a c c u r s e d share o f t h e social s p h e r e , w h i c h i s t h e essence o f p o w e r — a n d find a political use for it? T h e p r i n c e ' s p r i v i l e g e d role derives f r o m t h e fact t h a t h e c o n d e n s e s i n h i m s e l f all t h e a r b i t r a r y p o w e r s c a t t e r e d a n d s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t society, s o t h a t s o c i e t y c a n b e r i d o f it. I f arbitrary p o w e r i s n o t c o n c e n t r a t e d at t h e t o p , t h e n it is e v e r y w h e r e in s o c i e t y - this is h o w it is in t h e

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d e m o c r a t i c state, w h e r e s u c h p o w e r i s diffuse a n d e n d e m i c , w i t h t h e s a m e p e r v e r s e effects as g e n e r a t e d by c r u m b l i n g e m p i r e s . Similarly, i s i t n o t t h e role o f t h e ' i n t e l l e c t u a l ' t o c o n c e n t r a t e i n h i m s e l f t h e a c c u r s e d share o f t h o u g h t a n d p u r g e t h e w h o l e o f s o c i e t y o f i t - s o c i e t y t h e r e b y b e c o m i n g freer to b a l a n c e up g o o d a n d evil for itself? Is it n o t his role to focus t h e sickness of t h o u g h t on h i m s e l f a n d find a baleful use for it? N e i t h e r intellectuals n o r politicians i n any w a y play this role any m o r e ; i n n o w a y do t h e y take up t h a t cynical r e a s o n Sloterdijk speaks of.

14

T h e y see it as t h e i r role

m e r e l y t o express o p i n i o n s , t o g u i d e , t o e n l i g h t e n a n d t o rationalize. T h e y are all for o p e n n e s s a n d t r a n s p a r e n c y (the t r a n s p a r e n c y o f t h e g o o d , o b v i o u s l y ) ; t h e y d e c k t h e m s e l v e s o u t w i t h m o r a l c o n s c i e n c e s , w i t h suffering, w i t n e s s , p r o s e l y t i s m a n d c r u e l l y u n r e m i t t i n g zeal i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f sick values (they are, o f c o u r s e , t h e m selves p a r t o f t h e sickness). T h e y n o l o n g e r c l a i m t o b e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; t h e i r s i s a self-effacing role, a l l o w i n g e v e r y o n e to express t h e m s e l v e s . A senile m a l a d y this, t h e p i o u s desire t o s h e d p o w e r - i n c l u d i n g t h e p o w e r o f s p e e c h - a n d h a n d i t o n t o e v e r y o n e else ( w h i c h , i n t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n , a c t u a l l y adds t o t h e b u r d e n o f l i b e r t y ) . Of c o u r s e this h y p o c r i t i c a l auto-da-fe is no s o l u t i o n , a n d e v e r y o n e — p o l i t i cians a n d intellectuals alike — still dies in t h e e n d , b u t n o w t h e y die playing s o m e o n e else's role. A s for s o c i e t y a n d t h o u g h t , t h e y are e x p o s e d i n this w a y t o i n t e r n a l c o n fusion a n d v i r u l e n c e — literally: t o t h e t r a n s p a r e n c e o f evil, w h i c h , n o l o n g e r f i n d i n g a n y w h e r e to manifest itself, filters e v e r y w h e r e i n t o r e p e n t a n c e , indifference and hatred. T h e exercise o f p o w e r always i n v o l v e d t h e risk o f d e a t h . T h a t i s t h e p r i c e t o b e p a i d for h a v i n g p u b l i c life b e c o m e a m a t t e r of total indifference. B u t , ultimately, w h y c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e c u r r e n t d e l i q u e s c e n c e a n d senility o f t h e political class? A s 14. Peter Sloterdijk, Critique of Cynical Reason (London: Verso, 1988).

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t h o u g h w e still b e l i e v e d i n t e l l i g e n c e w e r e i n p o w e r , w h e n w e have b l i n d i n g l y clear e v i d e n c e o f t h e o p p o s i t e ! W e s h o u l d , rather, p r i d e ourselves o n this e n d t o t h e political s p h e r e a n d t h e c o l l u s i o n of t h e political class itself in t h a t e n d ! It is t h a t class, w i t h o u t d i s t i n c t i o n o f p a r t y o r faction, w h i c h i s n o w c a r r y i n g o u t t h e fatwa w e h a v e issued against it, t h e d e c r e e t h a t i t shall dissolve itself a n d disappear. W e n o l o n g e r n e e d t o attack it. I t i s u n d e r g o i n g s p o n t a n e o u s s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n . All w e have to do is steadfastly refuse to assist it in its h o u r of n e e d . I t is, h o w e v e r , a shameful e n d . S o w e are t o r n b e t w e e n t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f this s h a m e f u l state of affairs - a s h a m e in w h i c h we inevitably feel i m p l i c a t e d — a n d secret j u b i l a t i o n a t this d e a t h f o r e t o l d . W e m i g h t e v e n suggest t h a t t h e task o f politicians t o d a y i s t o swallow t h e c o r p s e o f t h e political s p h e r e , a n d w e m i g h t t h e n t h a n k t h e m for p r o t e c t i n g us, like l i v i n g s a r c o p h a g i , from its decay, w h i c h w o u l d o t h e r w i s e i n v a d e t h e w h o l e o f society. All calamities p r o t e c t u s f r o m s o m e t h i n g w o r s e . S o t h e s t u p i d i t y a n d blindness o f politicians m u s t have a h i g h e r f u n c t i o n — t h e f u n c t i o n of p r o t e c t i n g us, by t h e t h i c k layer o f d i r t a n d d i s c o u r s e t h e y secrete, f r o m t h e secret v i o l e n c e o f t h e j u d g e m e n t w h i c h , w e r e i t n o t for t h e m , w e w o u l d b e forced t o exercise a n d t u r n against o u r selves. A b o v e all, w e s h o u l d n o t t r y t o c o r r e c t t h e i r illusory c o n c e p t i o n s . T h a t w o u l d leave u s e x p o s e d w i t h o u t p r o t e c t i o n t o a n u n e q u a l e n c o u n t e r w i t h s t u p i d i t y a n d with the burden of our freedom. 21

78

August

1995

Helots and Elites

W e live i n a t h o r o u g h l y split political reality. O n t h e o n e h a n d , w e have t h e p o l i t ical class, a parallel m i c r o - s o c i e t y w h i c h has secretly b e e n m a d e r e d u n d a n t , g o i n g a b o u t its business w i t h i m p u n i t y , a n d a p p a r e n t l y d o o m e d t o p e r f o r m t h e single task of r e p r o d u c i n g itself in an e n d o g a m o u s c o n f u s i o n of all p e r s u a s i o n s - t h e i n c e s t u o u s alliance o f R i g h t a n d Left p r o d u c i n g a n e n t i r e p a t h o l o g y a n d d e g e n e r a c y characteristic o f i n b r e e d i n g . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e h a v e a 'real' s o c i e t y w h i c h i s increasingly d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m t h e political s p h e r e . B o t h o f these, m o v i n g a p a r t from e a c h o t h e r a t c o n s i d e r a b l e s p e e d , s e e m d e s t i n e d m o r e o r less t o w i t h e r away o r t o b r e a k u p e a c h i n t h e i r o w n little c o r n e r - d r i p - f e d a s t h e y are solely t h r o u g h t h e u m b i l i c a l o f t h e m e d i a a n d t h e o p i n i o n polls. V i r t u a l i t y - i n t h e sense t h a t t h e political will n o w o p e r a t e s o n l y o n t h e m e n t a l screens o f T V sets a n d t h r o u g h o p i n i o n polls - has t u r n e d t h e political f u n c t i o n a n d t h e political scene i n t o m o r e o r less useless vestigial r e m a i n s . N o dialectic, n o t e v e n a dialectic o f conflict, keeps t h e t w o opposing poles interacting. We find the same situation in the e c o n o m y . On the o n e hand, the battered r e m n a n t s o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e real e c o n o m y ; o n t h e o t h e r , t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f 79

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g i g a n t i c a m o u n t s o f v i r t u a l capital. B u t t h e t w o are s o d i s c o n n e c t e d t h a t t h e m i s f o r t u n e s w h i c h b e s e t t h a t c a p i t a l - s t o c k m a r k e t crashes a n d o t h e r f i n a n c i a l d e b a c l e s — d o n o t b r i n g a b o u t t h e c o l l a p s e o f real e c o n o m i e s a n y m o r e . I t i s t h e same in t h e political sphere: scandals, c o r r u p t i o n and t h e general decline in s t a n d a r d s h a v e n o decisive effects i n a split society, w h e r e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ( t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e t w o p a r t i e s m a y respond to each other) is no l o n g e r p a r t of t h e game. T h i s p a r a d o x i c a l s i t u a t i o n is in a sense beneficial: it p r o t e c t s civil s o c i e t y ( w h a t r e m a i n s o f it) f r o m t h e vicissitudes o f t h e political sphere, j u s t a s i t p r o t e c t s t h e e c o n o m y ( w h a t r e m a i n s o f it) f r o m t h e r a n d o m fluctuations o f t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l finance. T h e i m m u n i t y o f t h e o n e creates a r e c i p r o c a l i m m u n i t y in t h e o t h e r — a m i r r o r indifference. B e t t e r : real society is l o s i n g i n t e r e s t in t h e political class, w h i l e n o n e t h e l e s s availing itself o f t h e spectacle. A t last, t h e n , t h e m e d i a h a v e s o m e use, a n d t h e ' s o c i e t y o f t h e s p e c t a c l e ' assumes its full m e a n i n g i n this fierce i r o n y : t h e masses availing t h e m s e l v e s o f t h e spectacle o f t h e d y s f u n c t i o n i n g s o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e r a n d o m twists i n t h e s t o r y o f t h e political class's c o r r u p t i o n . All t h a t r e m a i n s n o w t o t h e politicians i s t h e o b l i g a t i o n t o s a c r i fice t h e m s e l v e s t o p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i s i t e spectacle for t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t o f t h e p e o p l e . F o r if, i n t h e past, t h e p r i n c i p l e o f p o w e r i n v o l v e d l a y i n g y o u r life o n t h e line, t h e zero d e g r e e o f p o w e r m e r e l y involves a n artificial auto-da-fe. O n c e again w e h a v e cause t o t h a n k t h e politicians, w h o free u s f r o m t h e t i r e s o m e o b l i g a t i o n o f h a v i n g t o m a n a g e t h a t e m p t y p l a c e p o w e r has b e c o m e - m u c h a s i t falls t o o t h e r s t o m a n a g e m o n e y , business, leisure, m o r a l s a n d c u l t u r e . All s u p e r f l u o u s tasks h a p p i l y left t o

the

charlatans,

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to

m e n t i o n the

waxen-lipped philosophers. T h e socialist e p i s o d e will have b e e n t h e finest illustration o f this l e u k a e m i a o f t h e political s p h e r e . W i t h political will h a v i n g g o n e i n t o a b e y a n c e a n d w i t h t h e p o l e 80

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p o s i t i o n o f p o w e r virtually v a c a n t (since 1 9 6 8 perhaps?), t h e Left d a s h e d i n t o take i t a n d i m m e d i a t e l y c r u m b l e d i n t o t h e v o i d . (In t h e s a m e way, w i t h t h e m a s c u l i n e p o l e p o s i t i o n virtually u n o c c u p i e d - m a l e p r i v i l e g e h a v i n g d i s a p p e a r e d - f e m i n i s m r u s h e d i n t o a s s u m e i t a n d , naturally, fell i n t o t h e trap t h a t i s t h e p o w e r v a c u u m itself.) W e s h o u l d , i n fact, c o n g r a t u l a t e M i t t e r a n d o n d o i n g a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e w o r k : on ensuring, by a kind of p o s t h u m o u s sweep, the deep corruption of the w h o l e political system, on mystifying a n d s w e e p i n g away the w h o l e of t h e divine Left!

15

If t h e Left c o l l a p s e d in this way, far b e y o n d t h e a c t u a l p o i n t of its t r u e d e c l i n e w i t h i t g o i n g all d r e a m s o f p u t t i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n i n p o w e r - this was n o t b e c a u s e i t l a c k e d a n y gift for e x e r c i s i n g p o w e r o r h a d c o m m i t t e d a n y fatal e r r o r s ( u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t m e r e l y a c c u m u l a t e d b a n a l o n e s ) , b u t b e c a u s e , i n spite o f t h e a d v a n c e d b r i t t l e n e s s o f its h i s t o r i c a l b o n e s , i t p r o v e d i n c a p a b l e o f s p e a k i n g for t h e i n d i f f e r e n c e a n d i n e r t i a of t h e social b o d y . In a sense, it is a l m o s t to its c r e d i t t h a t i t was n o t able t o s h a k e off its ideals t o t a l l y - e v e n t h o u g h i t h a d g i v e n u p p u r suing t h e m . T h e R i g h t , for its part, identifies s p o n t a n e o u s l y w i t h this i n e r t g h o s t o f t h e social b o d y a n d its d e e p r e s e n t m e n t o f t h e political sphere. I t is, i n this sense, n o t s o m u c h political as transpolitical — t h a t is to say, a l i g n e d w i t h t h e l o w e s t c o m m o n d e n o m i n a t o r of a politically disaffected society. It is t h e R i g h t w h i c h reaps t h e fruits of this disaffection. B u t , s i n c e i t also has n o political p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e failings o f R i g h t a n d Left c o m b i n e h a r m o n i o u s l y . W h o s p o k e o f p u t t i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n i n p o w e r ? T h e r e n e v e r i s any i m a g i n a t i o n in power. 15. See Jean Baudrillard, La Gauche divine (Paris:'Grasset, 1985).

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As for t h e t y p e of events this split s o c i e t y p r o d u c e s , E u r o p e is a fine e x a m p l e . It is the archetype of the c o n t e m p o r a r y event, the v a c u u m - p a c k e d event, the v a c u u m - p a c k e d p h a n t a s m a g o r i a . E u r o p e (at least t h e c u r r e n t E u r o p e a n project) will n o t have h a p p e n e d in the heads, dreams or natural inspiration of anyone w h a t s o ever. If it has h a p p e n e d , it has b e e n in t h e s o m n a m b u l i s t i c space of t h e political will, o f t h e dossiers a n d s p e e c h e s , t h e p r o g r a m m e s a n d calculations - a n d i n t h a t artificial synthesis of o p i n i o n that is universal suffrage, a process strictly g u i d e d a n d controlled by the c u n n i n g idealism of politicians a n d experts. E u r o p e , as it is e m e r g i n g , is, in a way, a s i m u l a t i o n m o d e l p r o j e c t e d i n t o a s c e n e of social d e s e r t i fication - an o b l i g a t o r y v i r t u a l reality, to be slipped i n t o like a data suit (the G u l f W a r was already h a n d e d to us as a v a c u u m - p a c k e d w a r - also for us to slip i n t o like v i r t u a l reality). W e shall n o m o r e b e s p a r e d E u r o p e t h a n w e shall t h e I n t e r n e t , t h e single c u r r e n c y o r t h e c h a i n s selling d e e p - f r o z e n f o o d s . T h e s e t h i n g s h a p p e n c o m e w h a t may. T h e y f o l l o w o u t t h e i r c o u r s e i n s p i t e o f a n y o p i n i o n s t o t h e c o n t r a r y . D e c i s i o n s w i l l g o o n b e i n g m a d e , c i r c u l a t i n g a m o n g t h e elites, e x p e r t s a n d s t r a t egists, h e e d l e s s o f a n y c o l l e c t i v e o p i n i o n . W e are t o t a l l y p o w e r l e s s i n spite o f — o r a s a c o n s e q u e n c e o f - t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n w h i c h w e are s t e e p e d . W e saw this i n R w a n d a . All t h e m e d i a said c l e a r l y w h e r e t h e k i l l e r s w e r e — t h e i n s t i g a t o r s ( w h i c h i n c l u d e d us) — a n d yet t h e w h o l e b u s i n e s s w e n t o n h a p p e n i n g . W e h a v e t o t a l i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t i t has n o effect. T h e c o n s e n s u s , t h e c o l l e c t i v e c o w a r d i c e find a n alibi i n this g e n e r a l i z e d n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . I n f o r m a t i o n plays t h e role o f a scalpel, forever s e p a r a t i n g t h e j u n t a s i n p o w e r i n all t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d from any collective will, and cicatrizing, as if w i t h h o t irons, t h e contradictions which may ensue. I n this f r a c t u r e b e t w e e n h e l o t s a n d elites, i t i s silly a n d senseless t o w r a p o n e self i n t h e flag o f t h e d i v i n e Left a n d its d e m o c r a t i c a r r o g a n c e a n d d e p l o r e t h e

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s t u p i d i t y o f t h e masses, d u p e d b y t h e m e d i a a n d t h e e l e c t o r a l s y s t e m — a p o s i t i o n w e h a v e r e c e n t l y s e e n a d o p t e d t o w a r d s B e r l u s c o n i i n Italy o r L e P e n ' s a d v a n c e s i n t h e F r e n c h local e l e c t i o n s . T h a t i s m e r e l y a s h o r t - s i g h t e d , c o n v e n t i o n a l a n a l y sis o f p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n . I n t h e e n d , t h e ' b l i n d ' masses s e e m t o see t h i n g s m o r e s u b t l y t h a n t h e ' e n l i g h t e n e d ' i n t e l l e c t u a l s : t h e y see t h a t t h e seats o f p o w e r are e m p t y , c o r r u p t p l a c e s o f despair, a n d h e n c e l o g i c a l l y o n e s h o u l d p u t c h a r a c t e r s o f p r e c i s e l y this t y p e i n t h e m : e m p t y i n d i v i d u a l s , b u f f o o n s , h a m a c t o r s a n d c h a r l a t a n s — t h e ideal p e o p l e for t h e s i t u a t i o n . T a k e B e r l u s c o n i for e x a m p l e . T h e p o l i t i c a l w o r l d , as it is, r e p r e s e n t s t h e o n l y p o s s i b l e ' r e a l ' — e v e n if it is n o t r a t i o n a l . I f y o u w a n t t o c h a n g e s o m e t h i n g , t h e n y o u h a v e t o set a b o u t r e a l i t y itself, w h i c h i s q u i t e a n o t h e r m a t t e r . B e r l u s c o n i a n d L e P e n are w h a t t h e y are, a n d all r e c r i m i n a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e ' i r r a t i o n a l ' m a s s e s are m e r e l y t h e p r o d u c t o f a n a i v e illuminism (both c u n n i n g and politically correct). H o w e v e r , it is equally u n d e n i a b l e t h a t w e find this state o f affairs u n b e a r a b l e — w h e t h e r i t b e B e r l u s c o n i , L e P e n o r t h e c u r r e n t d e l i q u e s c e n t state o f p o l i t i c s . W e h a v e , t h e n , t o c o m e t o terms w i t h a c o n t r a d i c t o r y situation in that we b o t h have the system we deserve a n d — e q u a l l y n o n - n e g l i g i b l y — w e c a n n o t b e a r it. T h i s i s a f o r m o f i n s o l u b l e d i l e m m a . Y o u c a n h a v e a visceral a n t i - m a s s , a n t i - y o b , a n t i - r e d n e c k r e a c t i o n . B u t an equally visceral anti-elite, anti-caste, a n t i - c u l t u r e , anti-nomenklatura reaction. S h o u l d y o u b e o n t h e side o f t h e m i n d l e s s masses o r o f a r r o g a n t p r i v i l e g e ( a r r o g a n t p a r t i c u l a r l y i n c l a i m i n g a n affinity w i t h t h e masses)? T h e r e i s n o s o l u t i o n . W e are c a u g h t b e t w e e n t w o i n t e g r i s m s : t h e o n e p o p u l i s t (or I s l a m i c a n d f u n d a m e n t a l i s t ) , t h e o t h e r liberal a n d elitist, t h e i n t e g r i s m o f e n f o r c e d d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e u n i v e r s a l . F o r this l a t t e r a n E n l i g h t e n m e n t f a n a t i c i s m w h i c h n o l o n g e r k n o w s w h a t values to subscribe to, t h e o t h e r f o r m — t h e populist, Islamic type — p r o v i d e s a p r o v i d e n t i a l t a r g e t . B u t it is itself a f a n a t i c i s m , w h i c h I s l a m i c f u n d a mentalism, w i t h equal intolerance, does n o t recognize as having a moral and

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p o l i t i c a l r i g h t t o exist. A n d t h e t w o o p e r a t e against t h e s a m e b a c k d r o p o f a n i n d i f f e r e n t N e w W o r l d O r d e r . I s t h e r e still a p l a c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o for a p r o fane p r a c t i c e o f f r e e d o m ? 4

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Information at the Meteorological

Stage

Information long ago broke through the truth barrier and moved into the hyperspace w h e r e t h i n g s are n e i t h e r t r u e n o r false, since e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e r e a l m o f i n f o r m a t i o n d e p e n d s o n i n s t a n t a n e o u s credibility. O r , t o p u t i t m o r e accurately, i n f o r m a t i o n is t r u e r t h a n t r u e since it is true in real time — this is w h y it is f u n d a m e n t a l l y u n c e r t a i n . O r again, t o d r a w o n M a n d e l b r o t ' s r e c e n t t h e o r y w e c a n say t h a t t h i n g s i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n space o r t h e h i s t o r i c a l space, like t h o s e i n fractal space, are n o l o n g e r o n e - , t w o - o r t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l : t h e y float i n s o m e i n t e r m e d i a t e d i m e n s i o n . W e n o l o n g e r have a n y standards o f t r u t h o r objectivity, b u t a scale of probability. Y o u p u t o u t a n i t e m o f i n f o r m a t i o n . S o l o n g a s i t has n o t b e e n d e n i e d , i t i s plausible. A n d , b a r r i n g s o m e h a p p y a c c i d e n t , i t will n e v e r b e d e n i e d i n real t i m e a n d s o will always r e m a i n c r e d i b l e . E v e n i f d e n i e d , i t will n o l o n g e r e v e r b e a b s o l u t e l y false, since i t has o n c e b e e n c r e d i b l e . U n l i k e t r u t h , credibility has n o limits; it c a n n o t be refuted, b e c a u s e it is v i r t u a l . We are in a k i n d of fractal truth: j u s t a s a fractal o b j e c t n o l o n g e r has o n e , t w o o r t h r e e d i m e n s i o n s (in w h o l e n u m b e r s ) , b u t 1.2 or 2 . 3 d i m e n s i o n s , so an e v e n t is no l o n g e r necessarily t r u e or false, b u t

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h o v e r s b e t w e e n 1.2 o r 2 . 3 octaves o f t r u t h . T h e space b e t w e e n t h e t r u e a n d t h e false is no l o n g e r a relational space, b u t a space of r a n d o m d i s t r i b u t i o n . W e c o u l d , o f c o u r s e , say t h e s a m e o f t h e space b e t w e e n g o o d a n d evil, b e a u t y a n d ugliness, cause a n d effect. E v e n sexuality t o d a y m o v e s i n a c u r i o u s i n t e r m e d i ate d i m e n s i o n - n e i t h e r m a s c u l i n e n o r f e m i n i n e — b u t at 1.5 or 1.7 s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n t h e t w o ( h e n c e t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f o p e r a t i n g w i t h t h e c o n c e p t o f sexual difference, from lack o f d e f i n i t i o n ) . T h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p l e d o e s n o t b e l o n g t o physics a l o n e ; it is at t h e h e a r t of all o u r a c t i o n s , at t h e h e a r t o f ' r e a l i t y ' . T h i s e r r a t i c s i t u a t i o n , this lack o f m o o r i n g s a n d g e n e r a l i z e d u n c e r t a i n t y , i s shifti n g all facts, events a n d t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i n t o a p h a s e o r stage w e m i g h t t e r m meteorological. Yet this is no l o n g e r t h e stage of t h e n a t u r a l u n p r e d i c t a b i l i t y of t h e e l e m e n t s , o f w i n d a n d w e a t h e r , b u t o f a s e c o n d a r y u n d e c i d a b i l i t y , a r i s i n g from t h e v e r y p e r f e c t i o n o f calculations a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . T a k e t h e T V w e a t h e r forecast. T h e p r e s e n t e r s h a v e t u r n e d this i n t o a g a m e s h o w . F r o m t h e satellite data, w h i c h s e r v e as a scientific alibi, t h e y s e e k t h e ideal f o r m u l a : t h e w o r d s w h i c h w i l l satisfy t h e p u b l i c w i t h o u t b e i n g t o o w i d e o f t h e a c t u a l e v e n t s . T h e y are c a u g h t b e t w e e n t h e instability o f a t m o s p h e r i c flows a n d t h e i n s t a b i l i t y o f c o l l e c t i v e e x p e c t a t i o n s , w h i c h m a k e s t h e forecast v i r t u a l l y a p o l i t i c a l m a t t e r . T h e y t r y m o r e o r less c o n s c i o u s l y , o n a daily basis, t o c o b b l e t h e t w o t h i n g s t o g e t h e r i n t o e p h e m e r a l s i m u l a t i o n m o d e l s . So, n e w s o f t h e w e a t h e r can r u n p r e c i s e l y c o u n t e r t o w h a t y o u see o u t o f y o u r w i n d o w , b u t i t i s t r u e i n simulation, s i n c e it is d e d u c e d f r o m t h e v a r i o u s data of a m o d e l s c e n a r i o . W h i c h involves m a n y o t h e r factors b e s i d e s m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . T h e p r e s e n t e r will t a k e a c c o u n t o f t h e e r r o r s i n t h e p r e v i o u s day's forecast, o f t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n that the w e a t h e r c a n n o t b e bad three w e e k e n d s r u n n i n g (the p o p u l a t i o n w o u l d n o t stand for it) a n d naturally also t h e o b j e c t i v e fact of t h e a p p r o a c h of a depression o r a n t i - c y c l o n e - b u t this fact, w h i c h s o o f t e n t u r n s o u t t o b e w r o n g , c a n n o t b e

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d e t e r m i n a n t i n t h e forecast. I t follows t h a t t h e d e g r e e o f p e r t i n e n c e o f t h e w e a t h e r forecast is, t a k e n overall, less t h a n t h a t o f n o r m a l i n t u i t i o n . A s a result, t o t h e p o e t i c u n c e r t a i n t y o f t h e skies w e m u s t daily a d d t h e a r b i t r a r y u n c e r t a i n t y o f meteorological discourse. Yet w e are t o l d t h a t i t i s g o i n g t o b e possible, u s i n g u l t r a - s o p h i s t i c a t e d c o m p u t e r t e c h n i q u e s , t o m a k e a n a c c u r a t e forecast o f t h e w e a t h e r over t h e n e x t t w o days. B u t t h e c o m p u t e r s will take four days t o d o it. S o i n four days' t i m e w e shall k n o w p r e cisely w h a t t h e w e a t h e r was o n t h e p r e c e d i n g t w o days. T h e t r u t h o f t h e forecast has no c o n c e r n w i t h truly b e i n g a forecast. A n d t h e facts simply have to fall i n t o line. If necessary, t r u t h will c o r r e c t t h e m retrospectively. It will h a v e b e e n fine e v e n if it r a i n e d . F o r facts are facts a n d t r u t h is t r u t h . It always arrives t o o late, b u t w h e n it d o e s a r r i v e i t i s t r u t h w h i c h c o m m a n d s belief. It is no a c c i d e n t that in all t h e m e d i a t h e w e a t h e r bulletin always directly p r e c e d e s o r follows t h e s t o c k m a r k e t r e p o r t . T h e i n c o h e r e n c e o f s t o c k e x c h a n g e m o v e m e n t s i s a fitting c o u n t e r p a r t t o t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s o f w e a t h e r c o m p u t a t i o n s . T o w h i c h w e can a d d t h e m a n y o p i n i o n polls, w h i c h o b e y t h e s a m e l o g i c a t t h e level o f p u b l i c opinion. If we m a y h y p o t h e s i z e a reality of e c o n o m i c activity, a reality of w e a t h e r a n d a reality o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n , w h a t e v e r i t m a y b e , t h e n t h e v e r s i o n g i v e n t o u s t h r o u g h t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e , t h e w e a t h e r forecasts a n d t h e o p i n i o n polls i s a p u r e l y s p e c u lative o n e , w h i c h o n l y distantly reflects t h e realities c o n c e r n e d . T h e r e i s d o u b t l e s s s o m e k i n d o f strategy b e h i n d this t r a n s c r i p t i o n i n s i m u l a t e d f o r m , b u t , a s w i t h fashi o n , n o o n e c a n tell w h o gains b y it. N o o n e can claim t o e x p l o i t t h e o p i n i o n polls - n o t e v e n t h o s e w h o b e l i e v e t h e y m a n i p u l a t e t h e m . A s for t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e , t h e y are u n i n t e l l i g i b l e . Y o u get t h e w o r r y i n g feeling t h a t this u n d e c i d a b i l i t y , this floating o f rates, p r i c e s a n d e x c h a n g e rates m u s t h a v e a m e a n i n g a n d a p u r p o s e , b u t for w h o m a n d for w h a t ? I n o u r p e r v e r s e s y s t e m o f

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g o v e r n m e n t , it is, at any rate, a p o w e r f u l w e l l s p r i n g of collective u n c e r t a i n t y a n d d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t . It is a transpolitical f o r m of destabilization of t h e social b o d y . F o r if m e t e o r o l o g y is b e c o m i n g , in a way, political, politics is b e c o m i n g m e t e o r o l o g i c a l . As m u c h play is m a d e of figures, co-efficients, rates a n d i n d i c e s as of t h e r a n d o m m o v e m e n t s o f t h e heavens; a n d p e r i o d s o f depression a n d h i g h pressure a l t e r n a t e i n t h e field o f events a n d o p i n i o n w i t h t h e s a m e r e g u l a r i t y a s i n t h e stratosphere. I t e v e n s e e m s t h a t , b y a s u p r e m e irony, reality i s n o w b e g i n n i n g t o c o n f o r m t o t h e s e (misplaced) s p e c u l a t i o n s . O p i n i o n i s b e g i n n i n g t o m e r g e w i t h t h e polls; o r a t a n y rate t h e r e i s virtually n o o t h e r m i r r o r o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n b u t t h e polls (there i s a g o o d r e a s o n for this: namely, that, as B o u r d i e u says, p u b l i c o p i n i o n d o e s n o t exist). T h e real e c o n o m y i s n o w c o m i n g t o m e r g e w i t h t h e m i r r o r o f t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e , w h e r e it assumes its u l t i m a t e face as i n s t a n t a n e o u s flow, as a limitless o p e r a t i o n w i t h n o precise g o a l , a collective spectacle. Little b y little, t h e k i n d o f f l u c t u a t i o n s w h i c h o c c u r o n t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e — o f b u y i n g a n d selling, transfere n c e a n d d u m p i n g , l o s s - m a k i n g s p e c u l a t i o n a n d f o r w a r d - t r a d i n g - has i n v a d e d t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t sectors o f t h e real e c o n o m y . I t s e e m s t h a t e v e r y t h i n g - e v e n t h e w e a t h e r — has w e a r i l y c o m e r o u n d t o c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e m o d e l s , a n d has m e e k l y b e c o m e a s i n c o h e r e n t a s t h e w e a t h e r forecast. It is as t h o u g h t h e forecasts h a d finally u n s e t t l e d t h e w e a t h e r , in m u c h t h e s a m e w a y a s financial s p e c u l a t i o n e n d s u p m o d i f y i n g e c o n o m i c p r o c e s s e s a n d polls e n d u p o b s e s s i n g a n d o b s c u r i n g p u b l i c o p i n i o n . T h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t t h a t reality i s d r i v e n i n t o t u r m o i l o n c o n t a c t w i t h m o d e l s , o r e n d s u p i r o n i c a l l y c o n f o r m i n g t o t h e m , like t h e d r e a m s a n d u n c o n s c i o u s o f p r i m i t i v e p e o p l e s o n c o n t a c t w i t h p s y c h o - a n t h r o p o l o g i s t s . O n e t h i n g i s c e r t a i n : m e t e o r o l o g y has b e c o m e a reference scenario. So l o n g as the w i n d was b l o w i n g in the direction of the rational a n d t h e p r e d i c t a b l e across all disciplines, f r o m t h e h u m a n t o t h e e x a c t s c i e n c e s ,

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meteorology remained the emblem of the unpredictable, the uncontrollable e l e m e n t of o u r daily lives, a n d , as a result, t h e subject of p e r p e t u a l c o m m e n t (secret marvelling at the weather). B u t n o w that t h e s a m e disciplines - from physics t o e c o n o m i c s , from c o s m o g o n y t o sociology, f r o m b i o l o g y t o h i s t o r y - are g o i n g over, i f n o t t o t h e i r r a t i o n a l , t h e n a t least t o t h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p l e , t o c a l c u l a t i o n s o f p r o b a b i l i t y , t o flexible h y p o t h e s e s , floating verification a n d t h e reversibility o f p r o p o s i t i o n s , t h e m e t e o r o logical r e a l m i s b e c o m i n g t h e m i r r o r o f t h e i r u n c e r t a i n t y , t h e p a r a d i g m for t h e i r a b s e n c e o f m o o r i n g s . W h a t was o n c e p l e a s a n t c l i m a t i c fantasy has d e v e l o p e d i n t o a p r o p h e t i c a p p r o x i m a t i o n o f t h e n e w k i n d o f events b y w h i c h w e are b e s e t . T h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e r a n d o m , t h e a c c i d e n t a l a n d t h e insignificant i n analysis — s u c h a s t h e p r o m o t i o n of t h e fait divers in s o c i o l o g y or t h e slip in p s y c h o l o g y - is n o t n e w . T h e a n o m a l y is b e c o m i n g a s o u r c e of u n d e r s t a n d i n g , as is e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h is an e x c e p t i o n t o t h e r u l e . W h y s h o u l d this n o t also a p p l y t o w e a t h e r events? I s i t n o t marvellous that o u r m o s t sophisticated calculations t u r n out to be as uncertain as t h e u n p r e d i c t a b i l i t y of t h e w e a t h e r ? Is it n o t t h e m o s t attractive feature of politicians that t h e i r strategies t u r n o u t i n t h e e n d t o b e t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f s t r a t o s p h e r i c events? T h i s restores to all fields - politics a m o n g t h e m - a suspense w h i c h d i s a p p e a r e d l o n g ago. T h e o n l y events t o d a y r u n counter t o statistics (similarly, o n l y w h a t r u n s counter to politics a n d counter to h i s t o r y c o n s t i t u t e s an e v e n t t o d a y ) . F o r p e o p l e w h o no longer have any o p i n i o n , and w h o do n o t in any event have any c h a n c e of m a k i n g i t c o u n t - h e m m e d i n a s t h e y are b y d i s c o u r s e s e v e n b e f o r e t h e y are h e m m e d i n b y figures - t h e stakes are shifting f r o m t h e i d e o l o g i c a l t e r r a i n t o t h e statistical. A n d t h e o n l y pleasure, t h e o n l y h o p e - s o m e t i m e s fulfilled — is to p r o v e t h e pollsters w r o n g , t o have o n e ' s c h o i c e s a n d acts p r o d u c e s o m e o t h e r o u t c o m e t h a n t h e o n e a n t i c i p a t e d . A collective evil g e n i u s is at w o r k h e r e . In a g a m e as t i r e s o m e as politics, t h e o n l y i n t e r e s t i n g e v e n t is t h e statistical reversal of t h e s i t u a t i o n

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(as, for e x a m p l e , i n 1 9 9 2 w i t h t h e F r e n c h r e f e r e n d u m o n E u r o p e ) . T h e fickleness o f t h e statistical masses, n o t u n l i k e t h e c a p r i c i o u s m o v e m e n t o f c l o u d s , r e d u c e d t h e o p i n i o n polls to a k i n d of l o t t e r y a n d , t h r o u g h that lottery, b r o u g h t d e m o c r a c y itself d o w n to a k i n d of r a n d o m g a m e , elevating t h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p l e - as in B a b y l o n o r w i t h t h e h o r s e races i n B y z a n t i u m - t o t h e status o f a r u l e . 18

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Disembodied Violence: Hate

1

H a t e : instead o f d e p l o r i n g t h e r e s u r g e n c e o f a n atavistic v i o l e n c e , w e s h o u l d see that i t i s o u r m o d e r n i t y itself, o u r h y p e r m o d e r n i t y w h i c h p r o d u c e s this t y p e o f v i o l e n c e , a n d t h e s e special effects. I n d e e d , t e r r o r i s m is p a r t of this t o o . T r a d i t i o n a l v i o l e n c e is m u c h m o r e enthusiastic a n d sacrificial. O u r s is a s i m u l a t e d v i o l e n c e in t h e sense t h a t i t wells u p , n o t s o m u c h f r o m passion a n d instinct, b u t f r o m t h e s c r e e n . I t is, i n a sense, p o t e n t i a l l y p r e s e n t i n t h e s c r e e n a n d t h e m e d i a , w h i c h p r e t e n d t o r e c o r d i t a n d b r o a d c a s t it, b u t w h i c h i n reality p r e c e d e i t a n d p r o m p t it. A s e v e r y w h e r e else, t h e m e d i a h e r e p r e c e d e this v i o l e n c e , a s t h e y d o t e r r o r i s t acts. T h i s i s w h a t m a k e s it a specifically m o d e r n f o r m ; a n d this t o o is w h y it is i m p o s s i b l e to assign real (political, s o c i o l o g i c a l o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l ) causes t o it. O n e senses t h a t all e x p l a n a t i o n s o f t h a t t y p e are deficient. Similarly, i t m a k e s little sense t o b e r a t e t h e m e d i a for p r o p a g a t i n g v i o l e n c e b y s h o w i n g i t o r telling v i o l e n t stories. F o r t h e screen, a v i r t u a l surface, p r o t e c t s us r a t h e r w e l l , w h a t e v e r is said a b o u t it, f r o m t h e real c o n t e n t s o f t h e i m a g e . B e c a u s e o f t h e w a y t h e s c r e e n breaks t h e cycle, v i o l e n c e

16. M a t h i e u Kassovitz's film La Maine (Hate) was released in France in M a r c h 1995.

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i n films a n d T V d o e s n o t lead o n t o b e h a v i o u r a l v i o l e n c e . I t i s t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e m e d i u m itself w h i c h leaves u s defenceless - t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e v i r t u a l a n d its n o n s p e c t a c u l a r p r o l i f e r a t i o n . W h a t i s t o b e feared i s n o t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l spread o f v i o l e n c e , b u t its t e c h n o l o g i c a l e x t e n s i o n — t h e e x t e n s i o n of a t r a n s p a r e n t v i o l e n c e , t h e k i n d w h i c h leads t o t h e d i s e m b o d i m e n t o f all reality a n d referentiality: t h e degree Xerox of violence. I t i s b e c a u s e o u r society n o l o n g e r allows space for real v i o l e n c e , h i s t o r i c a l o r class v i o l e n c e , t h a t it g e n e r a t e s a v i r t u a l , reactive v i o l e n c e . A p h a n t o m v i o l e n c e as i t w e r e , t h e w a y w e speak o f a p h a n t o m p r e g n a n c y , a v i o l e n c e w h i c h , like t h a t p h a n t o m c o n d i t i o n , gives b i r t h t o n o t h i n g w h a t e v e r , n e i t h e r f o u n d s n o r g e n e r a t e s a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r . ' H a t e ' i s like this. O n e m i g h t regard i t a s a n a r c h a i c i m p u l s e , b u t , paradoxically, b e c a u s e it is d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m its o b j e c t a n d its e n d s , it is c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w i t h t h e h y p e r r e a l i t y o f t h e g r e a t m e t r o p o l i s e s . W e m a y distinguish a basic f o r m o f v i o l e n c e , t h e v i o l e n c e o f aggression, o p p r e s s i o n , r a p e , d o m i n a t i o n , h u m i l i a t i o n a n d s p o l i a t i o n - t h e u n i l a t e r a l v i o l e n c e o f t h e s t r o n g e s t . A n d this m i g h t find a reply in a c o n t r a d i c t o r y v i o l e n c e — historical v i o l e n c e , critical v i o l e n c e , t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e negative. R u p t u r a l , transgressive v i o l e n c e (to w h i c h w e m a y a d d t h e v i o l e n c e o f analysis, t h e v i o l e n c e o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ) . T h e s e are f o r m s o f d e t e r m i n a t e v i o l e n c e , w i t h a n o r i g i n a n d a n e n d , a n d t h e i r causes a n d effects c a n b e identified. T h e y c o r r e s p o n d t o a t r a n s c e n d e n c e , w h e t h e r i t b e t h e t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f power, history or meaning. A g a i n s t this t h e r e stands o p p o s e d a p r o p e r l y c o n t e m p o r a r y f o r m o f v i o l e n c e . M o r e subtle t h a n t h e v i o l e n c e o f aggression: a v i o l e n c e o f d e t e r r e n c e , pacification, n e u t r a l i z a t i o n , c o n t r o l - a v i o l e n c e of q u i e t e x t e r m i n a t i o n , a g e n e t i c , c o m m u n i c a t i o n a l v i o l e n c e - t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e c o n s e n s u s a n d conviviality w h i c h t e n d s t o abolish — t h r o u g h d r u g s , disease p r e v e n t i o n , psychical a n d m e d i a r e g u l a t i o n — t h e v e r y r o o t s o f evil a n d h e n c e o f all radicality. T h e v i o l e n c e o f a s y s t e m w h i c h r o o t s

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o u t any f o r m of negativity and singularity (including the ultimate f o r m of singularity - d e a t h itself). T h e v i o l e n c e of a s o c i e t y in w h i c h n e g a t i v i t y is virtually p r o h i b i t e d , conflict is p r o h i b i t e d , d e a t h is p r o h i b i t e d . A v i o l e n c e w h i c h , in a way, p u t s a n e n d t o v i o l e n c e itself. A v i o l e n c e w h i c h can b e m e t b y n o e q u a l a n d opposite violence. O n l y hate. B o r n o f indifference - p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e indifference r a d i a t e d b y t h e m e d i a - h a t e is a c o o l , d i s c o n t i n u o u s f o r m , w h i c h can s w i t c h instantly to any o b j e c t . It is n o t h e a t e d a n d it lacks c o n v i c t i o n ; it is c o n s u m e d in t h e process of its a c t i n g - o u t - a n d often in its i m a g e a n d t h e i m m e d i a t e r e p e r c u s s i o n s - as can be seen f r o m t h e c u r r e n t o u t b u r s t s o f d e l i n q u e n c y o n t h e b i g city estates. I f traditional v i o l e n c e reflected t h e level o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d conflict, h a t e reflects t h e level o f c o n s e n s u s a n d c o n viviality. O u r e c l e c t i c c u l t u r e i s t h e c u l t u r e o f t h e m i n g l i n g o f o p p o s i t e s , t h e c o - e x i s t e n c e of all differences w i t h i n a g r e a t c u l t u r a l m e l t i n g p o t . B u t let us n o t have a n y illusions a b o u t this: it is precisely this m u l t i c u l t u r a l i s m , this t o l e r a n c e , this synergy, w h i c h stir u p t h e t e m p t a t i o n o f a g e n e r a l a b r e a c t i o n , a g u t r e j e c t i o n . S y n e r g y p r o d u c e s allergy. O v e r - p r o t e c t i o n leads to a loss of defences a n d i m m u n i t y : t h e r e d u n d a n t a n t i - b o d i e s t u r n a r o u n d against t h e o r g a n i s m itself. H a t e i s o f this o r d e r : like m a n y m o d e r n diseases, i t has s o m e t h i n g o f self-aggression a n d a u t o i m m u n e p a t h o l o g y a b o u t it. W e are n o t yet r e a d y t o c o p e w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n o f artificial i m m u n i t y w h i c h o u r b i g cities p r o v i d e for us. W e are like a species w h o s e natural predators have b e e n r e m o v e d — d o o m e d either very quickly to disappear or to d e s t r o y itself. In a sense, we use h a t e to p r o t e c t ourselves from this lack of t h e o t h e r , t h e e n e m y o r o p p o s i t i o n - w i t h h a t e m o b i l i z i n g a k i n d o f artificial, o b j e c t less o p p o s i t i o n a l i t y . In this way, h a t e is a k i n d of 'fatal s t r a t e g y ' a g a i n s t t h e pacification of e x i s t e n c e . In its v e r y a m b i g u i t y , it is a d e s p e r a t e p r o t e s t against t h e indifference o f o u r w o r l d a n d doubtless, for t h a t reason, a m u c h m o r e i n t e n s e m o d e o f r e l a t i o n t h a n c o n s e n s u s o r conviviality.

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T h e c o n t e m p o r a r y t r a n s i t i o n f r o m v i o l e n c e t o h a t e i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e shift from a n o b j e c t p a s s i o n t o a n objectless passion. A p u r e a n d u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d v i o l e n c e , a v i o l e n c e of a t h i r d t y p e , as it w e r e , c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w i t h t h e e x p o n e n t i a l v i o l e n c e o f t h e t e r r o r i s t a n d w i t h all t h e viral, e p i d e m i c f o r m s o f c o n t a g i o n a n d c h a i n r e a c t i o n . H a t e i s m o r e u n r e a l , m o r e elusive i n its m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t h a n straight v i o l e n c e . Y o u c a n see this clearly i n r a c i s m a n d d e l i n q u e n c y . T h i s i s w h y i t i s s o difficult t o c o u n t e r it, e i t h e r b y p r e v e n t i o n o r p o l i c e c r a c k d o w n s . Y o u c a n n o t d e - m o t i v a t e it, since i t has n o e x p l i c i t m o t i v a t i o n . Y o u can't d e m o b i l i z e it, since i t has n o clear m o b i l i z i n g factor. A n d i t i s n o n e t o o easy t o p u n i s h it, s i n c e m o s t o f t h e t i m e it takes itself as t h e target: it is, p r e - e m i n e n t l y , a passion at o d d s w i t h itself. W e s e e m d o o m e d t o r e p r o d u c e t h e S a m e i n a n endless i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , i n a u n i versal c u l t u r e o f identity, a n d this gives rise t o a n e n o r m o u s r e s e n t m e n t : self-hatred. N o t h a t r e d o f t h e o t h e r , a s a superficial i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f r a c i s m w o u l d h a v e it, b u t t h e loss o f t h e o t h e r a n d r e s e n t m e n t o f t h a t loss. T h e usual c o n t e n t i o n i s t h a t h a t e is a h a t r e d of t h e o t h e r - h e n c e t h e illusion o n e is o p p o s i n g it by p r e a c h i n g t o l e r a n c e a n d r e s p e c t for difference - b u t in fact h a t e (racism, etc.) is n o t so m u c h a r e j e c t i o n of t h e o t h e r as a fanatical desire for otherness. It seeks d e s p a i r i n g l y to c o m p e n s a t e for t h e loss o f t h e o t h e r b y t h e e x o r c i z i n g o f a n artificial o t h e r , w h i c h may, as a result, be a n y o n e w h a t e v e r . In a l o b o t o m i z e d w o r l d , w h e r e conflicts are i m m e diately c o n t a i n e d , it seeks to resuscitate o t h e r n e s s — if o n l y to destroy it. It seeks to escape t h a t fateful identification, t h a t autistic c o n f i n e m e n t t o w h i c h t h e v e r y m o v e m e n t o f o u r c u l t u r e c o n d e m n s us. T h i s i s a c u l t u r e o f Ressentiment, t h e n , b u t o n e i n w h i c h , b e h i n d t h e r e s e n t m e n t o f t h e o t h e r , o n e c a n n o t b u t sense a r e s e n t m e n t of self, of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e self a n d t h e selfsame, w h i c h m a y e x t e n d as far as self-destruction. So we m u s t see ' h a t e ' , in all its a m b i g u i t y , as a c r e p u s c u l a r passion — s i m u l t a n e o u s l y s y m p t o m a n d o p e r a t o r o f this s u d d e n loss o f t h e social, o f o t h e r n e s s , o f

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conflict a n d , lastly, of t h e s y s t e m itself, t h r e a t e n e d w i t h g r a v i t a t i o n a l collapse. A s y m p t o m o f t h e e n d o r t h e failure o f m o d e r n i t y — i f n o t t h e e n d o f history, for p a r a doxically t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a n y e n d o f history, since t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a r e s o l u t i o n of all t h e p r o b l e m s it has p o s e d . T h e r e is, rather, a passing b e y o n d t h e e n d , w i t h o u t a n y t h i n g h a v i n g b e e n resolved. A n d i n t h e c u r r e n t ' h a t e ' , t h e r e i s p r e cisely a r e s e n t m e n t o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t has n o t t a k e n place. A n d , w i t h this, t h e u r g e n t desire t o h u r r y things o n s o a s t o b e d o n e w i t h t h e s y s t e m , t o b r i n g s o m e t h i n g else i n t o b e i n g , t o c o n j u r e u p t h e o t h e r , t h e e v e n t from elsewhere. I n this c o o l fanaticism, o n e c a n g l i m p s e a m i l l e n a r i a n f o r m o f p r o v o c a t i o n . W e ' v e all ' g o t h a t e ' . I t i s m o r e t h a n w e c o u l d m a n a g e n o t to. W e are all a m b i g u ously n o s t a l g i c for t h e e n d o f t h e w o r l d , t h a t i s t o say, w a n t i n g t o give i t a n e n d , s o m e e n d - g o a l , a t a n y p r i c e — i f o n l y t h r o u g h r e s e n t m e n t a n d total r e j e c t i o n o f t h e w o r l d as it is. 2

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October 1995

Psychedelic Violence: Drugs

D r u g s i n g e n e r a l n o l o n g e r play a p a r t i n t h e s y m b o l i c rituals o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l i z e d societies. T h e s e societies are g i v e n over to d e f e r r e d goals w h i c h assume a calculated sacrifice o f t i m e a n d energy, w h e r e a s d r u g - u s e always p r e s u p p o s e s t h e i m m e d i a c y of a m e n t a l process a n d a k i n d of a c h i e v e d Utopia. T h r o u g h o u t t h e ages, all t h i n k ing which

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c o n d e m n e d as h e r e t i c a l . I n t h e v i e w w e take o f m o d e r n d r u g s , s o m e t h i n g o f this ancestral c o n d e m n a t i o n remains, together w i t h something of the occult p o w e r drugs derive from their a n c i e n t v i r t u e s . W e m a y say, t h e n , t h a t t h e y fascinate a s m u c h a s t h e y r e p e l , a n d t h a t , f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f W e s t e r n r e a s o n , t h e y are definitively a m b i v a l e n t . T h e y h a v e a n a r c o t i c effect o n t h e b o d y a n d t h e b r a i n — a n d also o n t h e w a y w e j u d g e them. I n o u r p r e s e n t - d a y analysis, i t has l o n g b e e n c u s t o m a r y t o see d r u g s a s r e l a t i n g t o ' a n o m i e ' i n D u r k h e i m ' s sense. I n t h i s , t h e y are a k i n t o a c e r t a i n t y p e o f s u i c i d e w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e s t h e social b o d i e s o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o u n t r i e s . T h e s e are residual, m a r g i n a l , transgressive f o r m s , f o r m s w h i c h lie o u t s i d e t h e law,

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b e y o n d t h e g e n e r a l social o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d s y s t e m o f o r g a n i c values o f t h e g r o u p . It is a matter of margins, but of margins w h i c h do not challenge the principle of the law and of value and can potentially be integrated into the cycle of the law and values. T h e c u r r e n t status o f d r u g s is, i n fact, q u i t e different. I n c o m m o n w i t h c e r t a i n o t h e r specifically c o n t e m p o r a r y p h e n o m e n a , i t i s n o t a n o m i c , b u t anomalous. T h e a n o m a l o u s is n o t w h a t is m a r g i n a l , u n b a l a n c e d or organically in deficit; it is t h e p r o d u c t of an excess of o r g a n i z a t i o n , r e g u l a t i o n a n d rationalization w i t h i n a system. I t i s t h a t w h i c h for n o a p p a r e n t r e a s o n c o m e s , s e e m i n g l y f r o m o u t s i d e , t o d i s r u p t t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e system. I t i s t h a t w h i c h c o m e s from t h e v e r y l o g i c , t h e excess of l o g i c a n d rationality, of a system w h i c h , o n c e it has r e a c h e d a c e r t a i n s a t u r a t i o n t h r e s h o l d , secretes its a n t i b o d i e s , its i n t e r n a l p a t h o l o g i e s , its strange dysfunctions, its u n f o r e s e e a b l e , i n c u r a b l e a c c i d e n t s , its anomalies. T h i s is no l o n g e r t h e effect of a society's inability to i n t e g r a t e its m a r g i n s , b u t r a t h e r of an o v e r - c a p a c i t y for i n t e g r a t i o n a n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n . It is at this p o i n t t h a t societies w h i c h are a p p a r e n t l y o m n i p o t e n t are destabilized f r o m w i t h i n - a n d this involves s e r i o u s c o n s e q u e n c e s , for t h e m o r e t h e s y s t e m a t t e m p t s t o resolve its a n o m a l i e s , t h e m o r e i t will e n t e r t h e l o g i c o f o v e r - o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e m o r e i t will fuel t h e i r e c c e n t r i c g r o w t h . W e h a v e t o leave rationalist c o n c e p t i o n s b e h i n d h e r e . I n t h e past, t h e a n o m i c m a r g i n s p r o v i d e d a n o c c a s i o n for i n c r e a s e d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e s y s t e m . T o d a y i t i s t h e o v e r - r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e system w h i c h causes a n o m a l o u s a c c i d e n t s a n d aggravates t h e m . W e h a v e t o t a k e this ' p e r v e r s e ' l o g i c i n t o a c c o u n t a n d distinguish b e t w e e n a d r u g - u s e l i n k e d t o i n a d e q u a t e social a n d e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t ( w h i c h i s still often f o u n d i n t h e d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s o r a m o n g t h e u n d e r p r i v i l e g e d ) a n d a f o r m o f use l i n k e d , rather, t o t h e s a t u r a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d o f c o n s u m p t i o n - a s b o t h

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a p o g e e a n d p a r o d y of t h a t s a m e c o n s u m p t i o n , as a c o n t e s t a t o r y a n o m a l y of a w o r l d o n e has to escape from b e c a u s e it is too abundant, n o t b e c a u s e it c o u l d be said to lack something. W e are t h u s d e a l i n g h e r e w i t h w h a t m i g h t b e d e s c r i b e d a s a d r u g - u s e o f a ' s e c o n d t y p e ' . A n d w e s h o u l d see this i n t e r m s o f all t h o s e p r o c e s s e s o f a ' s e c o n d t y p e ' c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w i t h i t — p r o c e s s e s w h i c h o b e y this s a m e a n o m a l o u s l o g i c . I n p a r t i c u l a r , f o r m s o f v i o l e n c e o f t h e ' s e c o n d t y p e ' - f o r m s w h i c h are n o t of the o r d e r of p r i m a r y offending b e h a v i o u r or aggression, b u t b o r n of a reaction to t h e industrialized societies' excessive tolerance, t h e o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n of t h e social b o d y . T e r r o r i s m is of this o r d e r . It is a r e s p o n s e to t h e o m n i p o t e n c e of m o d e r n states, w h i c h s e c r e t e i t n o t a s h i s t o r i c v i o l e n c e , b u t a s a n o m a l o u s v i o lence, w h i c h they cannot stamp out, other than by turning themselves into even m o r e c o n t r o l l e d , m o r e d e t e r s i v e , m o r e p o w e r f u l states, a n d s o c o n t i n u i n g t h e u p w a r d spiral. S u c h p a t h o l o g i e s o f t h e ' s e c o n d t y p e ' a s A I D S a n d c a n c e r are also o f this o r d e r . T h e s e are n o l o n g e r t r a d i t i o n a l illnesses c a u s e d b y t h e o r g a n i c d e f i c i e n c y o f b o d i e s e x p o s e d t o e x t e r n a l a t t a c k ; t h e y result r a t h e r f r o m a d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f o v e r - p r o t e c t e d b o d i e s (all t h e h y g i e n i c , c h e m i c a l , m e d i c a l , social a n d p s y c h o l o g ical p r o s t h e t i c s ) w h i c h , as a result, lose t h e i r i m m u n i t y a n d fall p r e y to a n y o l d virus. A n d just as there is apparently no 'political' solution to the p r o b l e m of terr o r i s m , t h e r e d o e s n o t for t h e m o m e n t s e e m t o b e a n y b i o m e d i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f A I D S a n d c a n c e r - a n d for t h e s a m e r e a s o n . T h e fact i s t h a t t h e s e are a n o m a l o u s processes, w h i c h p r e c i s e l y r u n c o u n t e r — w i t h a savage, r e a c t i o n a l v i o l e n c e - t o t h e p o l i t i c a l o r b i o l o g i c a l o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e social b o d y o r t h e physical o n e . T h e use a n d abuse o f d r u g s i s p a r t o f this s a m e s y m p t o m a t o l o g y . W e m a y c o n d e m n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f this c u r s e a n d t h e b e h a v i o u r w h i c h g o e s w i t h it, b u t w h a t

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w e c a n b e sure o f i s t h a t t h e society w h i c h seeks t o r o o t i t o u t a n d e x p u n g e i t o n c e a n d for all f r o m t h e social b o d y i s r u n n i n g a v e r y great risk. N o w , t h e desire t o d o this exists; i t i s e v e n p a r t o f t h e rationalist p a r a n o i a o f o u r social systems. W e h a v e t o w e i g h u p t h e s e r i o u s deficit w e i n c u r b e c a u s e o f d r u g s , b u t w e m u s t also w e i g h u p t h e s e r i o u s deficit o r d e f i c i e n c y t h a t w o u l d result f r o m t h e i r e l i m i n a t i o n . T h i s i s h o w w e g e n e r a t e c a n c e r s o r viruses w h i c h are m u c h m o r e c u n n i n g , a n d w h i c h do n o t even have the mitigating c h a r m of accursedness. T h e p o i n t w h e r e collective loss o f i m m u n e defences o r i n d i v i d u a l loss o f s y m b o l i c d e f e n c e s o c c u r s i s t h e p o i n t w h e r e s o m e societies b e c o m e v u l n e r a b l e t o t e r r o r i s m , d r u g s o r v i o l e n c e (but also t o d e p r e s s i o n a n d fascism). A n d w e c a n easily see t h a t t h e o n l y s o l u t i o n lies i n r e s t o r i n g t h e s e i m m u n i t i e s o r s y m b o l i c defences. B u t we k n o w that o u r system tends, in the very n a m e of science and progress, to destroy all n a t u r a l i m m u n i t i e s a n d substitute artificial i m m u n e systems prosthetics - for t h e m . W h a t h o p e is t h e r e that s u c h a system will do a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n c o n t i n u e i n this same d i r e c t i o n ? W i t h this, w e can s u d d e n l y see d r u g - u s e f r o m a q u i t e different angle, w h i c h is d i r e c t l y c o n t r a r y to w h a t has so far b e e n a r g u e d : w h i l e b e i n g p a r t o f t h e s y n d r o m e o f i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y , d r u g s are t h e m s e l v e s a defence. T h e r e are doubtless b e t t e r defences, b u t it is n o t i n c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t this use a n d abuse r e p r e s e n t a vital, s y m b o l i c r e a c t i o n — t h o u g h an a p p a r e n t l y d e s p e r a t e a n d suicidal o n e — t o s o m e t h i n g e v e n w o r s e . W i t h o u t s u b s c r i b i n g t o t h e ' f e e l - g o o d ' i d e o l o g y o f t h e sixties a n d seventies o n t h e ' m i n d - e x p a n d i n g p o w e r s o f d r u g s ' , w e m a y still t a k e t h e — r a t h e r m o r e p r o saic — v i e w t h a t t h e r e i s h e r e s o m e t h i n g o f a n e s c a p e f r o m t h e o b j e c t i v e d r u d g e r y o f life i n s o m e s o c i e t i e s , a c o m m u n a l reflex o f m i s b e h a v i o u r i n t h e face o f u n i versal n o r m a l i z a t i o n , r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n a n d p r o g r a m m i n g , w h i c h are u n d o u b t e d l y a n e v e n g r a v e r d a n g e r t o s o c i e t y a n d t h e species i n t h e l o n g t e r m . W e k n o w t h a t h u m a n b e i n g s g a i n effective p r o t e c t i o n f r o m m a d n e s s b y r e s o r t i n g t o n e u r o s i s .

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Similarly, i t i s n o t b y g o o d , b u t b y relative evil t h a t o n e c a n p r o t e c t o n e s e l f f r o m a b s o l u t e evil. T h e C h u r c h has u n d e r s t o o d h o w t o m a n a g e its heresies i n this s a m e w a y — as n e c e s s a r y (from its p o i n t of v i e w ) a b e r r a t i o n s , as p e r n i c i o u s g e r m s of s o m e t h i n g ( b u t g e r m s all t h e s a m e ) . A C h u r c h w h i c h n o l o n g e r gives rise t o h e r e s i e s , o r w h i c h has e l i m i n a t e d t h e m all, e v e n t u a l l y w i t h e r s away, j u s t a s a b o d y w h i c h s t o p s p r o d u c i n g g e r m s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e w o r k i n g t o d e s t r o y it, i s a d e a d body. H a v i n g said this, d r u g - u s e i s n o l o n g e r i n its intensive p h a s e , t h e p h a s e i n w h i c h it was s u p p o r t e d by a e u p h o r i c or h e r o i c , subversive or suicidal d i s c o u r s e . It is in its extensive phase. A n d if it is s p r e a d i n g further, it is, as a result, losing s o m e of its v i o lence. D r u g - u s e is no l o n g e r a subversive a n o m i e , b u t an a n o m a l y b e c o m i n g institutionalized. S o s h o u l d w e crack d o w n o n i t m o r e t h a n ever? A n e w h a r d a n t i - d r u g line m a y s e e m p r o b l e m a t i c ( w h e n t h e r e i s n o p r o - d r u g discourse). I n t h e fragile state o f e q u i l i b r i u m o r d i s e q u i l i b r i u m i n w h i c h t h e i m m u n e system o f t h e social o r i n d i v i d u a l b o d y finds itself, t h a t h a r d line w o u l d i n t r o d u c e a r i g i d m o r a l i z i n g e l e m e n t , a legal r i g i d i t y w h i c h i s n o l o n g e r a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h e delicate m a n a g e m e n t o f a n o m a l i e s (and this is all t h e m o r e a m b i g u o u s in t h a t it often p r o v i d e s a c o v e r for political strategies for w h i c h d r u g s , like any o t h e r f o r m o f o f f e n d i n g b e h a v i o u r , p r o v i d e a n easy alibi). T h e p r o b l e m o f d r u g - u s e m u s t b e t r e a t e d delicately, a n d (since i t i s a n a m b i g u o u s p r o b l e m ) w i t h s t r a t e g i e s w h i c h a r e t h e m s e l v e s a m b i g u o u s . A b o v e all, u n i l a t e r a l strategies o f d e n u n c i a t i o n , w h i c h s i m p l y b o l s t e r t h e h y p o c r i s y o f a c e r t a i n t y p e o f society, are t o b e a v o i d e d , a s are s t r a t e g i e s o f d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g b e t w e e n u s e a n d a b u s e , s i n c e n o o n e c o u l d specify t h e shifting l i m i t s b e t w e e n t h e t w o . D r u g s — all d r u g s - are f o r m s of e x o r c i s t i c b e h a v i o u r : t h e y e x o r c i z e reality, t h e social o r d e r , t h e i n d i f f e r e n c e o f t h i n g s . B u t t h r o u g h d r u g s , i t i s s o c i e t y itself

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w h i c h exorcizes certain forgotten p o w e r s , drives and internal contradictions. It i s s o c i e t y w h i c h p r o d u c e s this p e r v e r s e effect a n d s o c i e t y w h i c h c o n d e m n s it. I f i t i s n o t g o i n g t o s t o p p r o d u c i n g t h e effect, t h e n i t s h o u l d a t least s t o p c u r s i n g it. UNESCO

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The Dark Continent of Childhood

T h e r e i s n o w w i t h i n t h e social a n d political o r d e r a specific p r o b l e m o f c h i l d h o o d . A p r o b l e m i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m t h o s e of sexuality, d r u g s , v i o l e n c e , h a t r e d a n d all t h e i n s o l u b l e p r o b l e m s p o s e d b y social e x c l u s i o n . Like s o m a n y o t h e r areas, c h i l d h o o d a n d a d o l e s c e n c e are t o d a y b e c o m i n g spaces d o o m e d b y a b a n d o n m e n t t o m a r g i n ality a n d d e l i n q u e n c y . T h e n e w s offers a daily c h r o n i c l e o f this v i o l e n c e : a d o l e s c e n t s m u r d e r i n g t h e i r p a r e n t s , v i o l e n c e o f c h i l d r e n against o t h e r c h i l d r e n , v i o l e n c e a m o n g i n n e r city y o u t h , this latter still t a k i n g a relatively socialized f o r m in gangs. B u t t h e r e are also cases o f p u r e l y i n d i v i d u a l ' a c t i n g o u t ' ( w i t h t h e y o u n g s t e r f r o m C u e r s , a c h i l d has for t h e first t i m e e n t e r e d t h e annals o f mass killers). All t h e s e e p i s o d e s are i n e x plicable i n s i m p l e p s y c h o l o g i c a l , social o r m o r a l t e r m s . T h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g else g o i n g o n h e r e , w h i c h arises o u t o f t h e v e r y b r e a k d o w n o f t h e b i o l o g i c a l a n d s y m bolic orders. T o b e g i n w i t h , t h e status o f b i r t h has b e e n t u r n e d u p s i d e d o w n (after t h e status o f d e a t h , w h i c h i s u n r e c o g n i z a b l e t o d a y i n p r o p e r l y h u m a n t e r m s ) . Artificial i n s e m i n a t i o n i n all its f o r m s , g e n e t i c c o n t r o l a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n : e v e r y w h e r e b i r t h seems

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i n d a n g e r o f b e i n g deflected f r o m its n a t u r a l d e s t i n y i n t o a n artificial o n e . T h e l i q u i d a t i o n in t h e l o n g t e r m of a familial, sexual genesis, of a psychical a n d b i o l o g i c a l begetting. It is the e n d of the child as bearer n o t only of the duality of a m a n and a w o m a n , b u t t h e d u a l i t y of a past a n d a future, w h i c h a l o n e creates a m e m o r y . As a result, t h e child b e c o m e s a t e c h n i c a l p e r f o r m a n c e , a m i n i - e x t e n s i o n of t h e p a r ents, rather than a g e n u i n e 'other'. A sort of b y - p r o d u c t of an incestuous d o u b l i n g - u l t i m a t e l y n o t u n l i k e t h e scissiparity or schizogenesis of p r o t o z o a — c o n c e i v e d a s a n ideal o u t g r o w t h i n y o u r i m a g e : t h e c l o n e - c h i l d , w h o s e p r o d u c t i o n from t h e D N A o f a single o n e o f y o u r cells i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g p l a n n e d . A s a t e c h nical o p e r a t i o n this is as yet s o m e w a y off, b u t it is already p r e s e n t in t h e scientific a n d collective i m a g i n a r y - a n d e v e n i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n p a r e n t s a n d t h e i r children. In fact, t h e child is no l o n g e r a child. C h i l d r e n are s u b s t i t u t e b e i n g s , w h o are l o s i n g t h e i r n a t u r a l o t h e r n e s s a n d e n t e r i n g u p o n a satellite e x i s t e n c e o n t h e artificial o r b i t o f s a m e n e s s . T h e y will find i t i n c r e a s i n g l y difficult t o d e t a c h t h e m s e l v e s ; t o find, n o t t h e i r i d e n t i t y a n d t h e i r a u t o n o m y — a s t h e y are c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g t o l d t h e y m u s t — b u t t h e i r distance a n d t h e i r s t r a n g e n e s s . T h e m o r e g e n e t i c h e r e d i t y i s f o r e g r o u n d e d , t h e m o r e t h e s y m b o l i c h e r i t a g e disappears. E v e n t h e O e d i p a l d r a m a i s n o t played o u t a n y l o n g e r . T h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y r e s o l u t i o n o f c h i l d h o o d , since the psychical and symbolic

conditions

of childhood no

longer even

exist.

C h i l d h o o d is l o s i n g e v e n t h e c h a n c e of s u r p a s s i n g a n d d e n y i n g itself as s u c h . It is d i s a p p e a r i n g as a p h a s e in t h e m e t a m o r p h o s i s of t h e h u m a n b e i n g . At t h e s a m e t i m e as it is losing this distinctive spirit of its o w n a n d its singularity, it is b e c o m i n g a sort of dark continent. F o r o t h e r n e s s i n e v i t a b l y r e - e m e r g e s , b u t differently, i n t h e f o r m o f a vast, s h a d y c o m p l i c i t y on t h e p a r t of a g e n e r a t i o n w h i c h is at last free f r o m a d u l t a t t e n t i o n , b u t i s n o l o n g e r m i n d e d t o g r o w u p . A n endless, p u r p o s e l e s s a d o l e s c e n c e , w h i c h i s 103

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a c q u i r i n g a u t o n o m y w i t h n o r e f e r e n c e t o t h e O t h e r , a c q u i r i n g i t for itself — a n d t u r n i n g , i n s o m e cases violently, against t h e O t h e r , against t h e adult w i t h w h o m i t n o w has n o sense e i t h e r o f d e s c e n d a n c e o r solidarity. T h i s i s n o l o n g e r a s y m b o l i c b r e a k , b u t a p u r e a n d s i m p l e r e j e c t i o n , w h i c h m a y f i n d e x p r e s s i o n i n a lethal ' a c t i n g o u t ' . A n d i t i s n o t e v e n ' a c t i n g o u t ' , since t h a t still p r e s u p p o s e s t h e i r r u p t i o n o f t h e p h a n t a s m i n t o a real w o r l d , w h e r e a s h e r e w e are d e a l i n g w i t h a n infantile, q u a s i - h a l l u c i n a t o r y state w h i c h r e a c h e s b a c k b e f o r e t h e reality p r i n c i p l e . M o r e o v e r , this p r e - r e a l i t y - p r i n c i p l e , infantile state c o i n c i d e s s t r a n g e l y w i t h t h e w o r l d o f v i r t u a l reality, o u r a d u l t m e d i a w o r l d , t h e p o s t - r e a l i t y - p r i n c i p l e w o r l d , i n w h i c h t h e real a n d t h e v i r t u a l m e r g e . T h i s e x p l a i n s t h e s p o n t a n e o u s affinity o f t h e e n t i r e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n w i t h t h e n e w v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s . T h e c h i l d has a special r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e i n s t a n t a n e o u s . M u s i c , electronics, d r u g s - all t h e s e things are i m m e d i a t e l y familiar to h i m . P s y c h e d e l i c isolation d o e s n o t f r i g h t e n h i m . W h e r e real t i m e i s c o n c e r n e d , h e i s w a y a h e a d o f t h e a d u l t , w h o c a n n o t b u t s e e m a retard t o h i m , j u s t a s i n t h e f i e l d o f m o r a l values, h e c a n n o t b u t s e e m a fossil. S o t h e c h i l d e n t e r s a state o f a n o m i e , o f o r g a n i c d e s o c i a l i z a t i o n . B u t e v e n w h e n ' n a t u r a l l y ' p r o d u c e d , h e has b e c o m e a n a n o m a l y . H e i s o u t o f t i m e . T h e c u r r e n t t e m p o , based o n i m m e d i a c y , a c c e l e r a t i o n , 'real t i m e ' , r u n s precisely c o u n t e r t o g e n e r a t i o n , g e s t a t i o n , t h e t i m e o f b e a r i n g a n d raising, t h e l o n g h a u l i n g e n e r a l , w h i c h i s t h e d u r a t i o n o f h u m a n c h i l d h o o d . T h e child is, t h e n , logically c o n d e m n e d t o d i s appear. O t h e r m e t h o d s o u g h t t o m a k e i t possible for u s t o d o w i t h o u t this n a t u r a l m a t u r a t i o n of the h u m a n being, a process w h i c h is so l o n g and the source of so m a n y n e u r o s e s , o f conflicts w h i c h few m o d e r n c o u p l e s c a n w i t h s t a n d , a n d w h i c h was d e s i g n e d for a situation o f g e n e r a t i o n a l c o n t i n u i t y , w h e r e t h e r e w e r e l o n g - t e r m t r a n s g e n e r a t i o n a l rituals i n place. Today, t h e g e n e r a l q u i c k e n i n g o f t h e p a c e o f life c o n d e m n s childhood to accelerated obsolescence.

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Let u s take s o m e c o m f o r t , h o w e v e r , f r o m t h e fact t h a t t h e r e will always b e c h i l dren, t h o u g h as objects of curiosity or sexual perversion, or compassion, or p e d a g o g i c a l m a n i p u l a t i o n a n d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n , or q u i t e s i m p l y as vestiges of a g e n e a l o g y of living beings - j u s t as t h e r e will always be t h o r o u g h b r e d horses or pets, o r w o r k s o f art, a s p r o t e c t e d species o r reserves, e v e n w h e n t h e n a t u r a l species l o n g since d i e d o u t . T h e y will b e p r e s e r v e d i n t h e s a m e w a y a s animals, w h i c h will s o o n have n o o t h e r p u r p o s e t h a n t o b e p r e s e r v e d a n d k e p t i n m u s e u m s a s traces o f t h e genesis o f m a n ( m a n h i m s e l f b e i n g d e s t i n e d for t h e status o f future r e m n a n t i n a w o r l d o f c l o n e s ) . S o t h e child, t h e c h i l d c o n c e p t , will b e fetishized. I t already is: idealized a n d fetishized as a vestige of a species w h o s e r e p r o d u c t i o n — b e c o m e p r o gressively a t e c h n i c a l o p e r a t i o n — no l o n g e r in a n y sense involves a s e x e d destiny, n o r t h e m a r v e l l o u s l y a c c i d e n t a l p r o d u c t o f t h a t destiny, t h e child. You only have to look at the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child, a d o p t e d b y t h e U N , t o k n o w t h a t c h i l d h o o d i s already a n e n d a n g e r e d species: ' I can say n o . . . I h a v e t h e r i g h t t o k n o w w h o I a m . . . I h a v e t h e r i g h t t o suitable a n d b a l a n c e d f o o d . . . E v e r y o n e m u s t p r o t e c t me against m e n t a l a n d physical v i o l e n c e . . . I have t h e r i g h t t o sing, d a n c e , play a n d d e v e l o p m y gifts for m y g r e a t e r h a p p i n e s s , e t c ' ( N e v e r has t h e r e b e e n a m o r e U b u - e s q u e d e c l a r a t i o n ; m o r e o v e r , i t m a k e s a m o c k e r y o f c h i l d r e n , t u r n i n g t h e m i n t o p e r f o r m i n g m o n k e y s b y foisting u p o n t h e m t h e legalistic m a n i a o f adults.) So c h i l d r e n will be e x o r c i z e d as n a t u r a l b e i n g s , as a n a c h r o n i s t i c survivals f r o m a n o t h e r age i n a t i m e o f i m m e d i a t e o p t i m a l p e r f o r m a n c e . S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , t h e y will b e c o m e a w i l d , d e l i n q u e n t , c r i m i n a l species. T h e y w i l l lose t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e y are c h i l d r e n , c e a s i n g t o c o m p a r e t h e m s e l v e s p e j o r a t i v e l y w i t h t h e a d u l t m o d e l . D o u b t l e s s t h e y h a v e always b e e n p o t e n t i a l l y d a n g e r o u s b e i n g s — a reality c o n c e a l e d b y p e d a g o g y a n d t h e m o d e r n , b o u r g e o i s idealization o f c h i l d h o o d — a n d t h e y h a v e always t a k e n r e v e n g e for t h e i r i n f e r i o r i t y i n t h e i r o w n way, t h r o u g h r u s e

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a n d b l a c k m a i l , b u t t h a t s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d r e v e n g e w e r e m e r e l y relative b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e always d o o m e d t o d i s a p p e a r — w i t h t i m e . B u t n o w i t i s t i m e w h i c h c h i l d h o o d is n o t g o i n g to have, and t h e evolutionary chain is b r o k e n : t h e child is g o i n g t o t u r n against t h e a d u l t a s a n a l l - o u t e n e m y H e w i l l b e c o m e t h e O t h e r , all t h e s a m e , b u t n o w t h e o t h e r a s Alien - a m o n s t e r p r o d u c e d b y t h e b r e a k d o w n i n the symbolic chain of the generations. R e a l i t y was t h e reality o f t h e a d u l t ( n o t e v e n this i s t r u e t o d a y w h e n h e i s n o l o n g e r t h e m a s t e r o f it). C h i l d h o o d , f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f its unreality, t h e d e p t h s o f its idiotie, w a s o n e of t h e last b a s t i o n s of t h e p o e t i c illusion of t h e w o r l d . Like all o t h e r f o r m s of illusion, it is d o o m e d to d i s a p p e a r s o o n e r or later - or to lead a p u r e l y auxiliary e x i s t a n c e . T h i s is t h e c h i l d no l o n g e r in any sense as destiny, as t h e a c c i d e n t b e a r i n g d e a t h a s w e l l a s j u b i l a t i o n for t h e p a r e n t s , b u t t h e c h i l d a s c o m modity, unfortunately unintegratable i n t o the cycle of accelerated e x c h a n g e and h e n c e b e c o m e a n o n - s t a n d a r d p r o d u c t , a n i t e m from a n o t h e r age, floating m o s t o f t h e t i m e b e t w e e n p a r e n t s w h o n o l o n g e r k n o w w h a t t o d o w i t h it. B u t w h i c h , like t h e dead, like w o m e n , like t h e masses, like t h e object, like all t h e c a t e g o r i e s e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e d o m i n a n t r e a s o n , still has all i t n e e d s t o t a k e its r e v e n g e a n d p o s e a n i n s o l u b l e p r o b l e m for t h e m a s t e r s o f reality. 16 October

106

1995

0

The Double Extermination

Today w e d o n o t t h i n k t h e virtual, t h e virtual t h i n k s us. A n d t o u s this elusive t r a n s parency, w h i c h separates us definitively f r o m t h e real, is as u n i n t e l l i g i b l e as is t h e w i n d o w p a n e t o t h e f l y w h i c h b a n g s against i t w i t h o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h a t s e p arates i t f r o m t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d . T h e f l y c a n n o t e v e n i m a g i n e w h a t i s s e t t i n g this l i m i t o n its space. Similarly, w e c a n n o t e v e n i m a g i n e h o w m u c h t h e v i r t u a l - a s t h o u g h r u n n i n g a h e a d o f u s — has already t r a n s f o r m e d all t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s w e h a v e o f t h e w o r l d . W e c a n n o t i m a g i n e this, for i t i s t h e p a r t i c u l a r i t y o f t h e v i r t u a l t h a t i t p u t s a n e n d n o t j u s t t o reality, b u t t o t h e i m a g i n i n g o f t h e real, t h e political a n d t h e social; n o t j u s t t o t h e reality o f t i m e , b u t t o t h e i m a g i n i n g o f t h e past a n d t h e future (this is w h a t is k n o w n , in a k i n d of b l a c k h u m o u r , as 'real t i m e ' ) . So we are far f r o m h a v i n g u n d e r s t o o d t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n ' s e n t r y o n t h e s c e n e spelt a n e n d t o t h e u n f o l d i n g o f history, t h a t t h e c o m i n g o f artificial i n t e l l i g e n c e spelt a n e n d t o t h o u g h t , e t c . T h e illusion w e still h a r b o u r a b o u t all t h e s e t r a d i t i o n a l c a t e g o r i e s — i n c l u d i n g o u r illusion o f ' o p e n i n g o u r s e l v e s u p t o t h e v i r t u a l ' , a s i f i t w e r e a real e x t e n s i o n of all p o t e n t i a l i t i e s - is t h e illusion of t h e fly u n f l a g g i n g l y b a n g i n g up against t h e w i n d o w p a n e . F o r w e still b e l i e v e i n t h e reality o f t h e v i r t u a l , w h e r e a s

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t h e v i r t u a l has already virtually s c r a m b l e d all t h e p a t h w a y s of t h o u g h t . To s h e d a little light on this c o n f u s i o n , I shall t a k e t h e m o s t delicate e x a m p l e - m o s t delicate precisely b e c a u s e i t arises o u t o f t h e m o s t h o r r i f y i n g , u n i n t e l l i g i b l e e v e n t i n o u r m o d e r n h i s t o r y : t h e h o l o c a u s t a n d t h o s e w h o d e n y it. T h e h o l o c a u s t d e n i a l p r o p osition is, in itself, absurd. T h i s is so o b v i o u s that t h e crucial q u e s t i o n b e c o m e s : w h y i s t h e r e a n y n e e d t o p l e a d t h e t r u t h against t h e h o l o c a u s t - d e n i e r s ? W h y c a n t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e gas c h a m b e r s e v e n b e raised? I n o t h e r ages i t n e v e r c o u l d h a v e b e e n . T h o s e w h o c o n t e s t h o l o c a u s t d e n i a l n e v e r ask t h e m s e l v e s w h y s u c h d e n i a l i s possible; t h e y c o n t e n t t h e m s e l v e s w i t h v e h e m e n t i n d i g n a t i o n . N o w , t h e v e r y fact of h a v i n g to d e f e n d t h e historical reality of t h e gas c h a m b e r s as a m o r a l cause, o f h a v i n g t o d e f e n d 'reality' i n g e n e r a l b y a k i n d o f political c o m m i t m e n t , attests sufficiently t o t h e c h a n g e i n register w h i c h has o c c u r r e d w h e r e h i s t o r i c a l t r u t h i s c o n c e r n e d , a n d t o t h e w a y s i n w h i c h o b j e c t i v i t y has b e e n d i s r u p t e d . W h e r e t h e h o l o c a u s t - d e n i e r s are plainly a b s u r d a n d w r o n g i s w h e n t h e y t h e m selves e s p o u s e realism a n d c o n t e s t the objective, historical reality of t h e h o l o c a u s t . In historical t i m e , t h e event t o o k place a n d t h e e v i d e n c e i s there. B u t w e are n o l o n g e r i n h i s t o r i c a l t i m e ; w e are n o w i n real time, a n d i n real t i m e t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y e v i d e n c e o f a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r . T h e h o l o c a u s t will n e v e r b e verified i n real t i m e . H o l o c a u s t d e n i a l is, t h e r e f o r e , a b s u r d i n its o w n l o g i c , b u t b y its v e r y a b s u r d i t y i t s h e d s l i g h t o n t h e i r r u p t i o n o f a n o t h e r d i m e n s i o n , p a r a d o x i c a l l y t e r m e d 'real t i m e ' - a d i m e n s i o n in w h i c h , paradoxically, o b j e c t i v e reality disappears. A n d n o t j u s t t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e p r e s e n t e v e n t , b u t also t h a t o f past a n d f u t u r e e v e n t s . E v e r y t h i n g n o w r u n s o u t its c o u r s e i n a state o f simultaneity, s o t h a t acts n o l o n g e r find t h e i r m e a n i n g , effects n o l o n g e r find t h e i r cause, a n d h i s t o r y c a n n o l o n g e r b e a n o b j e c t o f reflection. R e a l time is a kind of black hole into w h i c h n o t h i n g penetrates w i t h o u t l o s i n g its s u b s t a n c e . I n fact, t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n c a m p s t h e m s e l v e s b e c o m e v i r t u a l 108

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i n real t i m e , a n d s h o w u p o n l y o n t h e v i r t u a l s c r e e n . All t e s t i m o n y , i n c l u d i n g Holocaust a n d Shoah, sinks, in s p i t e of itself — in s p i t e of us — i n t o t h e s a m e v i r tual abyss - t h e abyss of events or facts w h i c h exist for as l o n g as t h e y exist a n d t h a t i s all. T h i s i s n o t t o a r g u e t h a t t h e t e s t i m o n i e s t h e m s e l v e s , i n t h e i r a b s o l u t e s i n cerity, a n d t h e films (as i m a g e s fully e x h a u s t i n g h o r r o r i n t h e p r e s e n t t i m e o f t h e i m a g e ) do n o t t h e m s e l v e s c o n t r i b u t e to this i m p o s s i b i l i t y of m e m o r y : the real holocaust is doomed to that other extermination which is that of the virtual. T h i s is t h e t r u e final s o l u t i o n . S o t h e h o l o c a u s t - d e n i a l a r g u m e n t c a n n o l o n g e r b e t r u l y r e f u t e d s i n c e e v e r y t h i n g a n d all o f u s — i n c l u d i n g t h o s e w h o reject t h e a r g u m e n t — h a v e g o n e over, w h e t h e r w e like i t o r n o t , i n t o a n age w h e n t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y o b j e c t i v e r e c o u r s e . W e are, t h e r e f o r e , c o n d e m n e d t o o p p o s e i t i n a k i n d o f m i r r o r d e n i a l , a n d this i s i n d e e d t h e u n d o i n g o r d e f e a t o f t h o u g h t , o f h i s t o r i c a l t h o u g h t a n d c r i t i c a l t h o u g h t - b u t in fact it is n o t its defeat: it is t h e v i c t o r y of real t i m e o v e r t h e p r e s e n t , o v e r t h e past, o v e r a n y f o r m o f l o g i c a l a r t i c u l a t i o n o f reality w h a t s o e v e r . T h i s d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f t r u t h m a y b e verified (so t o speak) i n m a n y o t h e r cases. T h e O . J . S i m p s o n affair, for e x a m p l e . A p a r t f r o m a n y political o r j u r i d i c a l c o n s i d erations, w e saw t h e trial build u p i n t o a n a u t o n o m o u s event, f o l l o w i n g o u t its o w n m e d i a script in a s t u p e f y i n g way, m i r r o r i n g itself in its o w n c l o s e d l o o p . As it d i d so, i t eclipsed t h e real e v e n t o f t h e m u r d e r a n d s e c r e t e d its o w n t r u t h w h o l l y u n r e lated t o t h e o b j e c t i v e t r u t h o f t h e facts, for w h i c h t h e e v i d e n c e was t h e r e . B u t t h e t r u e guilt o f S i m p s o n m a y v e r y w e l l c o i n c i d e - i n this u n h i n g i n g o f t r u t h f r o m its m o d e l - w i t h his v i r t u a l i n n o c e n c e . T o t h e p o i n t t h a t S i m p s o n h i m s e l f m u s t n o l o n g e r k n o w exactly — o n c e again in t h e real t i m e of t h e trial - w h e t h e r he is guilty o r n o t . O r w h e t h e r , like O e d i p u s , h e can 'sincerely' set i n train investigations t o d i s c o v e r t h e c r i m i n a l - w h o m a y p e r h a p s b e himself. E v e n t h e future is n o t assured in real t i m e (this was t h e m e a n i n g of t h e paradoxical

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p r o p o s i t i o n : ' T h e Year 2 0 0 0 will n o t t a k e p l a c e ' ) .

17

And it would seem appropri-

ate h e r e t o discuss P a u l Virilio's v i s i o n o f t h e 'final A c c i d e n t ' , t h e ' A c c i d e n t t o e n d all A c c i d e n t s ' , t h e ' A p o c a l y p s e o f t h e V i r t u a l ' w h i c h h e foresees a t t h e e n d o f this e v o l u t i o n — or, b e t t e r , i n v o l u t i o n — o f o u r w o r l d i n t o real t i m e . Yet n o t h i n g c o u l d b e less sure t h a n t h a t a p o c a l y p s e (alas, e v e n this c e r t a i n t y e l u d e s us!). T o d r e a m o f t h e 'final A c c i d e n t ' i s t o s u c c u m b t o t h e illusion o f t h e e n d . I t i s t o f o r g e t t h a t v i r tuality itself is v i r t u a l a n d t h a t , by d e f i n i t i o n , its definitive a d v e n t , its a p o c a l y p s e , c a n n o t t a k e o n t h e force o f reality. T h e r e w i l l b e n o a p o c a l y p s e o f t h e v i r t u a l a n d o f real t i m e precisely b e c a u s e real t i m e abolishes linear t i m e a n d d u r a t i o n , a n d t h e r e b y t h e d i m e n s i o n i n w h i c h t h e y m i g h t d e v e l o p t o t h e i r e x t r e m e limits. T h e r e is no linear-exponential function of the Accident — any m o r e than such a function exists for a n y t h i n g else - a n d its possible e v e n t u a t i o n r e m a i n s a r a n d o m m a t t e r . T h e radical b r e a k w i t h t h e real w h i c h t h e v i r t u a l creates, t h e b l a c k - o u t o r collapse o f t i m e w h i c h real t i m e b r i n g s a b o u t , h a p p i l y p r e s e r v e u s f r o m t h e u l t i m a t e e x t e r m i n a t i o n . T h e v i r t u a l system, like a n y o t h e r , i s d o o m e d , a s i t e x p a n d s , t o d e s t r o y its o w n c o n d i t i o n s o f possibility. W e s h o u l d n o t d r e a m , t h e n , o f a n apocalypse i n t h e future, a n y m o r e i n d e e d t h a n w e s h o u l d d r e a m o f any Utopia w h a t s o e v e r : t h e y will n e v e r t a k e p l a c e i n real t i m e : t h e y w i l l r u n o u t o f t i m e itself. If t h e r e is a v i r t u a l r e v o l u t i o n , t h e n we s h o u l d a c c o r d it its full m e a n i n g a n d t h i n k t h r o u g h all its c o n s e q u e n c e s , e v e n if we r e m a i n free radically to reject it. If t h e r e is n o virtual apocalypse, b u t t h e apocalypse i s itself v i r t u a l (and, virtually, w e are i n t h e a p o c a l y p s e : y o u o n l y have t o see t h e d e v a s t a t i o n o f t h e real w o r l d all a r o u n d ) , t h e n i t i s t h e s a m e w i t h all t h e o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s . T h e social, t h e political, t h e h i s t o r i c a l — e v e n t h e m o r a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l - there are no longer any but virtual events within all

17. See Jean Baudrillard, The Illusion of the End ( C a m b r i d g e : Polity, 1994), p. 9.

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these categories. T h i s m e a n s it is useless s e a r c h i n g for a politics of t h e virtual, an ethics of t h e v i r t u a l , etc., s i n c e it is politics itself w h i c h is b e c o m i n g v i r t u a l , ethics itself w h i c h has b e c o m e v i r t u a l , i n t h e sense t h a t b o t h politics a n d ethics are l o s i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e s g o v e r n i n g t h e i r a c t i o n , l o s i n g t h e i r force o f reality. A n d this e v e n applies w h e r e t e c h n o l o g y i s c o n c e r n e d : w e speak o f ' t e c h n o l o g i e s o f t h e v i r t u a l ' , b u t t h e t r u t h i s t h a t t h e r e are n o w o n l y — o r t h e r e w i l l s o o n o n l y b e - v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s . N o w , t h e r e c a n n o l o n g e r b e a n y n o t i o n o f artifice i n a w o r l d i n w h i c h t h o u g h t itself, i n t e l l i g e n c e , is b e c o m i n g artificial. It is in this sense that we c a n say t h a t it is t h e V i r t u a l w h i c h t h i n k s us, n o t t h e o t h e r w a y a r o u n d . This e n q u i r y into the virtual is m a d e even m o r e delicate and c o m p l e x today by t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y h y p e s u r r o u n d i n g it. T h e excess o f i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e massive a d v e r t i s i n g effort, t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l pressure, t h e m e d i a , t h e i n f a t u a t i o n o r p a n i c — e v e r y t h i n g is c o n t r i b u t i n g to a k i n d of collective h a l l u c i n a t i o n of t h e v i r t u a l a n d its effects. W i n d o w s 9 5 , t h e I n t e r n e t , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y s — these t h i n g s are already c o n s u m e d in a d v a n c e in d i s c o u r s e a n d fantasy. P e r h a p s it is a w a y of s h o r t c i r c u i t i n g t h e i r effects t o u n l e a s h t h e m i n this w a y i n t h e i m a g i n a t i o n . B u t w e are n o t e v e n sure o f t h a t . A r e n ' t h y p e a n d b r a i n w a s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s p a r t o f t h e virtual? W e d o n ' t k n o w . T h i s i s still t h e s t o r y o f t h e fly b a n g i n g its h e a d against t h e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e fact o f t h e w i n d o w p a n e . ' C e r t i t u d e d o e s n o t exist', says a p i e c e o f N e w Y o r k graffiti. B e n e a t h w h i c h has b e e n w r i t t e n , ' A r e y o u sure?' 6 November

111

1995

'Lost from View' and Truly

Disappeared

T h e story of t h e illusionist w h o has a fine act m a k i n g things vanish - rabbits, snakes, scarves a n d t h e like — a n d yet d r e a m s o f j u s t o n e t h i n g : m a k i n g t h e w o m a n w h o shares t h e stage w i t h h i m disappear. H e has t r i e d all h e k n o w s , b u t t o n o avail. O n e day, h o w e v e r , in t h e m i d d l e of a b a n a l c o n j u r i n g t r i c k , t h e r e is a b u r s t of r a p t u r o u s applause. H e t u r n s a r o u n d , a m a z e d , t o see that t h e w o m a n has disappeared. H e d o e s n o t k n o w h o w h e d i d it, o r h o w t o get h e r b a c k . H e will s p e n d his w h o l e life l o o k i n g for t h e key t o t h a t d i s a p p e a r a n c e , t h e secret o f t h a t spell. In his o w n way, J a c q u e s P r a d e l is also a TV illusionist, a v i r t u o s o of d i s a p p e a r i n g t r i c k s . U n d e r c o v e r o f s e a r c h i n g for m i s s i n g p e r s o n s , w h a t d o e s h e d o i n his T V s h o w Perdu de vue b u t m a k e us vanish? * He s h o w s us we are all p o t e n t i a l ' m i s s i n g 1

p e r s o n s ' , j u s t as, to t h e p o l i c e , we are all p o t e n t i a l suspects. He reveals to us h i d d e n as he is b e h i n d t h e s c r e e n a n d t h e i m a g e s - t h a t t h e real ' m i s s i n g p e r s o n s ' are t h e m i l l i o n s o f T V v i e w e r s l o o k i n g o n d u m b f o u n d e d a t his sleight o f h a n d a n d

18. Perdu de vue ran from N o v e m b e r 1991 to 1999 on the French T F 1 channel. O v e r that period it claimed to have reunited thousands of people with their friends and loved ones.

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identifying for all t h e y are w o r t h w i t h t h e o b j e c t o f t h e search, h o p i n g against h o p e t h a t they will b e discovered a n d w r e n c h e d from t h e i r n o n - e x i s t e n c e . S o t h e y are t h e p e o p l e w h o are t r u l y ' n o t a r o u n d any m o r e ' . A n d t h e p r o g r a m m e ' s m o r e o r less failed d e m o n s t r a t i o n (but t h a t is of no i m p o r t a n c e ; it is always s i m u l a t e d ) p l u n g e s t h e m b a c k for a n o t h e r w e e k i n t o t h e n o t h i n g n e s s o f t h e i r a n o n y m i t y . ' W e are all m i s s i n g p e r s o n s ' t h e p r o g r a m m e m i g h t b e called. A n d i n this sense — t h o u g h in this sense a l o n e - t h e p r o g r a m m e is b l i n d i n g l y o b v i o u s . Like all t h e m o s t ' m a s s - m a r k e t ' television, w h o s e message ( w h i c h i s m u c h m o r e edifying t h a n t h a t o f ' h i g h - b r o w ' television) is v e r y clear, t h o u g h initially i n d e c i p h e r a b l e : ' W e are all p o t e n t i a l defectives, p o t e n t i a l v i c t i m s o r terrorists, p o t e n t i a l sufferers f r o m A I D S o r muscular dystrophy'.

19

A n d this i s t r u e . B u t , first a n d f o r e m o s t , w e are m i s s i n g p e r -

sons. A n d i f w e h a d t o p u t Pradel's p r o g r a m m e u n d e r t h e m i c r o s c o p e , t o d r a w s o m e lesson f r o m it, i t w o u l d tell us: ' W e all k n o w s o m e t h i n g essential has d i s a p p e a r e d , b u t w e d o n ' t k n o w w h a t ' . A n d P r a d e l p r e t e n d s t o b e l o o k i n g for a M r X o r a M r s Y, b u t in reality no o n e gives a d a m n a n d no o n e is fooled. In reality, it is t h e real w h i c h has d i s a p p e a r e d a n d b e h i n d Mr X or M r s Y it is t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of t h e real w h i c h fascinates p e o p l e . T h i s is, i n fact, t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e v e n t i n m o d e r n h i s t o r y a n d e v e r y o n e i s a n a c t o r i n t h a t e v e n t b y t h e v e r y fact o f b e i n g t h e r e i n front o f t h e i r T V screens: t h e y lost sight o f t h e real a t exactly t h e s a m e t i m e a s t h e y lost sight o f t h e m s e l v e s . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e are lots o f o t h e r m o d e s o f d i s a p p e a r a n c e a n d o n e o f t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a e s t h e t i c f o r m s is C h r i s t o ' s : w r a p p i n g t h i n g s u p . W h a t his w o r k offers is n o t i n a n y sense t h e classical aesthetic o f t h e veil a l l o w i n g f o r m s t o s h o w t h r o u g h . T h e p o i n t , for h i m , is to m a k e s o m e t h i n g disappear: an island, a cliff, a b r i d g e , a

19. French television holds a ' t e l e t h o n ' event for muscular dystrophy sufferers and a similar annual event for people w i t h AIDS.

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m o n u m e n t , a n d h e n c e t o p u t i t c o m p l e t e l y o u t o f c i r c u l a t i o n . Allusively, o f c o u r s e , a n d for a l i m i t e d t i m e , b u t t h e p h a n t a s m i s clearly t o o b l i t e r a t e t h e o b j e c t o n c e a n d for all. T h e d r e a m i s t h a t o n c e t h e veil i s r e m o v e d , t h e hill (or t h e R e i c h s t a g ) will really h a v e disappeared, t h e w a y D a v i d C o p p e r f i e l d d o e s t h e s e things ( t h o u g h w h a t w a s ' a e s t h e t i c ' illusion i n C h r i s t o b e c o m e s p u r e illusionism w i t h C o p p e r f i e l d ) . A n d , i n t h e case o f t h e R e i c h s t a g , t h e o p e r a t i o n w a s i n t h e h i g h e s t d e g r e e r e v e a l i n g : b y r e m o v i n g f r o m v i e w this e m b l e m o f t h e m o s t d r a m a t i c p e r i o d o f t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y history, C h r i s t o i n a d v e r t e n t l y revealed h o w t h a t h i s t o r y h a d disappeared. T h a t conjuring trick w o u l d have b e e n impossible before t h e disapp e a r a n c e o f t h e B e r l i n Wall (conversely, i t i s h a r d t o i m a g i n e C h r i s t o w r a p p i n g u p t h e B e r l i n Wall w h e n it actually existed). Five m i l l i o n visitors c a m e to c e l e b r a t e this aesthetic l a u n d e r i n g of history. An a m b i g u o u s collective j u b i l a t i o n : if N a z i s m t h r i v e d o n t h e a e s t h e t i c i z a t i o n o f politics, o u r n e w d e m o c r a c y t h r i v e s o n t h e a e s t h e t i c i z a t i o n o f t h e e n d o f history. H e r e again, b e h i n d these t e c h n i q u e s o f c o n j u r i n g - a w a y a n d obliteration, veiling a n d disappearance, t h e d o u b l e p h a n t a s m consists e i t h e r i n disappearing f r o m o u r o w n v i e w o r asking w h a t b e c o m e s o f t h e object w h e n i t disappears from view. O n c e again, a s ever, t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e real. W h a t are w e i n t h e absence o f t h e object? W h a t b e c o m e s o f t h e object w h e n w e are n o l o n g e r there? D o e s i t b e c o m e real again? W e h a v e a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f this s u s p e n s i o n , this w i t h d r a w a l f r o m c i r c u l a t i o n for r e a s o n s o f p r e s e r v i n g t h e real a n d t h e o r i g i n a l — i n t h e C o m b e s d ' A r c c a v e .

20

T h i s is a p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l w o n d e r t h a t was closed to t h e p u b l i c b e f o r e it was ever

20. T h e C o m b e s d'Arc cave, w h i c h has b e e n widely c o m p a r e d with Lascaux and Altamira, was discovered on 24 D e c e m b e r 1994 by J e a n - M a r i e C h a u v e t at Vallon-Pont d'Arc in t h e Ardeche. S o m e t i m e later, Mr Jean Clottes, the 'conservateur general du p a t r i m o i n e ' , a n n o u n c e d that the caves w o u l d be 'preserved for ever from the curiosity of the public'.

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o p e n e d - in its w a y p u t u n d e r w r a p s - w i t h its o r i g i n a l p a i n t i n g s , s e q u e s t e r e d for t h e i r o w n p r e s e r v a t i o n , passing straight i n t o a virtual existence from w h i c h t h e y will n o t r e - e m e r g e . I n this s a m e spirit, a ' t o t a l n a t u r e reserve e n t i r e l y off-limits t o h u m a n s ' has b e e n c r e a t e d i n t h e E c r i n s N a t i o n a l P a r k .

21

In the absence of m a n , it

is h o p e d t h a t an o r i g i n a l flora a n d fauna w i l l be r e d i s c o v e r e d t h e r e , a 'state of n a t u r e ' w i t h i n t h e space o f a c e n t u r y ! Increasingly, w h o l e c h u n k s o f t h e b i o s p h e r e will b e b u r i e d i n o r d e r t o restore t h e m t o a state o f artificial a u t h e n t i c i t y . T h e y are b e i n g protected, deep-frozen, p u t u n d e r wraps, in t h e insane h o p e that o u r o w n traces can b e erased a n d things can b e r e s t o r e d t o t h e i r initial, o r i g i n a l state. F o r w e k n o w t h a t w i t h u s a n d all o u r u n d e r t a k i n g s , t h e w o r l d will n e v e r b e real o r o r i g i n a l again, a n d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d o o m e d , h e n c e f o r t h , t o t h e c u r s e o f t h e s c r e e n , t h e c u r s e o f t h e s i m u l a c r u m . W e are i n a w o r l d w h e r e t h e essential f u n c t i o n o f t h e sign i s t o m a k e reality d i s a p p e a r a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o m a s k t h a t d i s a p p e a r a n c e . B e h i n d e a c h i m a g e s o m e t h i n g has d i s a p p e a r e d (it i s n o t s o m u c h w h a t i t r e p r e s e n t s as this c o n j u r i n g t r i c k i n h e r e n t in t h e i m a g e w h i c h gives it its force as sign). It is t h e s a m e w i t h t h e illusionism o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d m e m o r y . B e h i n d every n e w s i t e m a n event has disappeared; o n t h e p r e t e x t o f p r o v i d i n g n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , events are t a k e n f r o m u s o n e b y o n e . I n this way, t h e y e n t e r t h e r e a l m o f t h e v i r t u a l , like t h e s e a l e d - o f f w a l l p a i n t i n g s , like t h e b u i l d i n g s w r a p p e d u p b y C h r i s t o - like t h e C h e r n o b y l r e a c t o r s sealed away i n t h e i r c o n c r e t e s a r c o p h a g i . I n this way, t h e t h r e a t of a n u c l e a r c a t a s t r o p h e has also passed i n t o v i r t u a l reality. T h a t was t h e greatest o p e r a t i o n o f ' p u t t i n g a n object u n d e r w r a p s ' i n history, costing s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n o n e a n d f o u r b i l l i o n dollars, a n d t a k i n g t e n years t o c o m p l e t e . T h e b i g g e s t o b j e c t ever t a k e n o u t o f c i r c u l a t i o n for all t i m e .

2 1 . T h e Ecrins national park, w h i c h lies in the area b e t w e e n Grenoble, B r i a n c o n and Gap, c o n tains a central z o n e of 9 1 , 7 4 0 hectares in w h i c h there are no p e r m a n e n t inhabitants.

115

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A n d s h o u l d w e a d d h e r e t h e p e o p l e o f S t r a s b o u r g religiously b u r y i n g a j u m b l e d cocktail of signs of t h e h u m a n species (cassettes, an o p e r a , a bra, etc.) in a c o n t a i n e r t h a t i s n o t i n t e n d e d t o b e o p e n e d u n t i l t h e year 3 0 5 0 ? A p r o v i n c i a l v a r i a n t o f t h e capsule s e n t i n t o interstellar space s o m e years a g o w i t h t h e n o b l e s t attestations t o o u r h u m a n i t y o n b o a r d ( s o m e m u s i c b y B a c h , a p h o t o o f Liz Taylor, etc.). T h e o d d e s t t h i n g i s t h a t , a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s w e are b u r y i n g t h e s e signs o f t h e p r e s e n t i n t h e future ( w h o are t h e y i n t e n d e d for, i f n o t for s o m e o t h e r species t h a n o u r o w n , for a w o r l d w e shall have n o f u r t h e r p a r t i n a n d w h i c h a m o u n t s t h e r e f o r e t o a n a b s o l u t e o r i g i n ? ) , w h e r e t h e traces o f o u r o w n species a n d all t h e o t h e r s are c o n c e r n e d , w e are d i g g i n g u p e v e r y t h i n g t h a t can b e d u g u p . W e d e s p e r a t e l y w a n t n o t h i n g t o have d i s a p p e a r e d . A n d i n s o m e cases w e are e x h u m i n g t h i n g s t h a t h a v e b e e n b u r i e d since t h e w o r l d b e g a n (the Lascaux caves) i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e m i m m e diately o u t o f h a r m ' s w a y a n d k e e p t h e m f r o m v i e w u n t i l t h e e n d o f t h e w o r l d . W h a t i s t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e s e t h i n g s w h i c h will have h a r d l y h a d t i m e t o pass t h r o u g h t h e stage o f reality b e f o r e b e i n g c o n s i g n e d t o t h e status o f v i d e o ? W h y w r e n c h t h e s e traces, objects a n d vestiges f r o m t h e secret lairs w h e r e t h e y w e r e alive, w h e n t h e y will i m m e d i a t e l y d e c o m p o s e i n t h e o p e n air? C o n v e r s e l y , w h a t i s t h e p o i n t o f c r y o g e n i z i n g (like D i s n e y i n his l i q u i d n i t r o g e n capsule), freezing a n d m u s e i f y i n g art w o r k s a n d c u l t u r e s i n o r d e r t o afford t h e m a n i m p r o b a b l e , artificial i m m o r t a l i t y , unless w e have o b s c u r e l y s e n s e d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d i s a p p e a r i n g ? E v e n t h e h u m a n