Antonio Negri investigates a ‘new democracy’

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Negri_Antonio.jpg” caption=”Antonio Negri Photo credit: Nora Parcu”]The Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition and the Department of English and Cultural Studies welcomes Italian political philosopher, Antonio Negri, as 2006 Hooker Distinguished Visiting Professor on Tuesday, April 18. Negri is best known for his influential bestseller on globalization, Empire (2000), co-authored with American cultural critic, Michael Hardt. Their follow-up book, Multitude (2004) was also a bestseller.

Antonio Negri is a controversial figure whose life and political activity are difficult to separate from his academic work and writing. Author of books on Descartes, Spinoza, and Machiavelli, in addition to works on the philosophy of time and the state-form, he first came to public attention as an activist during the political turbulence of late 1960s and 70s in Italy. His recent writings, including Empire and the more recent Multitude, can be seen as an attempt to extend his earlier political theories to take into account the political problems and possibilities for radical change introduced by a capitalism that has become truly global.

Negri's public lecture “The Multitude and United States Imperialism: Is a 'new democracy' possible?” will take place on April 18 at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers, Gilmour Hall 111. The lecture will be followed by a reception sponsored by the Dean of Humanities. Negri will be speaking in French with English subtitles projected during the lecture.

For more information, please contact Robert O'Brien at obrienr@mcmaster.ca or Mary O'Connor at moconnor@mcmaster.ca.