Re: <nettime> Resistance (was: 10 Preliminary Theses on Trump)

[Patrice Riemens <patrice@xs4all.nl>]

On 2017-01-26 16:38, Ian Alan Paul wrote:

> "Is you 10th thesis calling for a revolution without using the word.
>
>   If so why not? Why avoid the word? Has it become tarnished by
>   carrying too much historical baggage ? Or does te word simply
>   not cover what it is you are trying to say?"

(...)

> One thing that remains perfectly clear to me is that we lack models
> for what successfully resistance looks like in the present, and so now 
> is the time for what I would call speculative or experimental
> resistance.  I think we should be striking out in different directions
> both as a kind of cartographic activity (as a means of understanding
> the current configurations/limits/concentrations/flows of power) and as
> a means of perhaps finding ourselves finally able to, as I say in my
> text, "make possible that which cannot be under capitalism."


At the moment capitalism as we know it (do we? ;-) is in such 
turmoil/reconfiguration, principally but not only because of the return 
of (geo)politics, that I am not sure about 'cartographing' it. And with 
regard to 'resistance', I am even less sure, not to say frankly 
pessimistic.

I believe that the real political forces that are behind Trump, and 
assorted look-alikes in other countries, are eagerly on the watch-out 
for opposition/resistance, and are mouthwatering at the prospect of 
'robustly' dealing with it, in a kind of final countdown bandobust.

My hunch would be to withdraw, do 'our own thing', and wait for the 
storm to pass - something I might even be able to do, at my pre-advanced 
age. But even on that I am quite pessimistic: if we don't come out of 
the woods, they will ferret us out of the bushes, by direct repression, 
but even more, indirectly - mostly thru total digitization/ hi-tech 
surveillance (e.g. 'cashelss society'). But the even, brute, 'fascist' 
force is also very much in the(ir) cards ...

Of course, as emblazoned in the arms of the City/canton of Geneva: "Post 
Tenebras Lux", and reformation (!) shall come, but it might get us first 
into deeps yet unseen.

We surely live in 'interesting times' ...

Cheers all the same,
p+5D!

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