- T.J. Clark: “Knife at the Throat”“Shatz, just as much as Macey, wishes to tell the story of the making of a revolutionary. He too knows that in Fanon’s case the identity ‘revolutionary’ held together (just) many half-identities, many human conditions, some embraced and some rejected, some explicit, others living on in an inflexible Unconscious.”
- Shafi Md Mostofa: “Injustice Paves the Way for Revolution: Lessons from Bangladesh”“Moreover, the success of any revolution depends on the cultural preparedness of the people. Revolutions may be sparked by injustice, but their outcomes are shaped by the collective consciousness and readiness of the populace to embrace change. In Bangladesh’s case, the cultural strength of the student-led movement, and the symbolic leadership of a figure like Dr. Muhammad Yunus, were key factors in ensuring that the revolution succeeded in bringing about meaningful change. But, the legacy of long term misrule is hard to overcome.”
- Miguel Amorós: “What is Anarchism?”“Despite the undeniably crucial role of the anarchist masses in the revolutions of the last century, no matter how much we search through classic anarchist literature, we will find few references to revolution as a means of transforming society. Because of the violent implications it necessarily contains, it contradicted the pacifist postulates of the ideology, which, let us not forget, is often presented as an ethical ideal, not an imposed one; or as a moral rebellion (Errico Malatesta), a liberated subjectivity (Libertad), ‘a conduct within any regime’ (Felipe Alaiz)”.
- Emi Eleode: “‘In some cases, it was the women who were fiercest in the fight’: The female freedom fighters of the Haitian Revolution”“However, it’s important to acknowledge that the brave overthrowing of slavery and the creation of an independent Haiti was a joint victory between men and women. And while many sources exist focusing on the male figures of the Haitian Revolution, recent efforts have been made by historians, scholars, activists, writers and others to locate women’s stories of the revolution, and bring them to light.”
- Suzanne Hyde & Chloe Peacock: “Rewriting the riots, from 2011 to today”“The meanings that come to settle around these riots will be powerful in shaping and justifying the politics of this Labour administration. As in 2011, the days and weeks following riots are crucially important in setting the scene for the political agendas that follow. The government now needs to set out its longer-term policy responses to the 2024 riots.”
C. P. Cavafy Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies and Comparative Literature, University of Michigan
This site is a book-length scholarly study of political hubris in modern tragedy, specifically, the self-destruction of revolution from Romantic to Postmodern theater and beyond. It includes original scholarship as well as news, comments, and announcements. It remains a work in progress in that new material is regularly added to it and existing material is revised and reconfigured.
Parallel blog of further reflections on solidarity and collaborative culture