Deleuze & Guattari's "Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia," Chapter 3 The Subject and Enjoyment

 The Process of Recording and Consumption

• The process of recording and consumption is akin to the production of production, with the production of recording itself being produced by the production of production.
• The subject, a subject without a fixed identity, is peripheral to the desiring-machines, defined by the share of the product it takes for itself.
• The subject experiences a reward in the form of a becoming or an avatar, being born of the states it consumes and being reborn with each new state.
• The energy of production is transformed into energy of recording, which is transformed into energy of consummation.
• This residual energy is the motive force behind the third synthesis of the unconscious: the conjunctive synthesis or the production of consumption.
• The opposition between desiring-machines and the body without organs is examined, with the repulsion of these machines giving way to an attraction in the miraculating machine.
• The reconciliation of the two can only occur on the level of a new machine, functioning as "the return of the repressed."
• The term "celibate machine" is used to describe this machine, which succeeds the paranoiac machine and the miraculating machine, forming a new alliance between the desiring-machines and the body without organs.
• The celibate machine reveals the existence of an older paranoiac machine, but it is different from it, manifesting something new and different, a solar force.
• The transformation cannot be explained by the "miraculating" powers the machine possesses due to the inscription hidden inside it.

The Schizoid Experience and the Role of Intensive Quantities

The Autoerotic Experience
• The schizophrenic experience of intensive quantities is a nuptial celebration of a new alliance, birth, and ecstasy.
• These intense quantities are often described as hallucinations and delirium, but they are secondary to the primary emotion, which only experiences intensities, becomings, and transitions.

The Role of Attraction and Repulsion
• The opposition of the forces of attraction and repulsion produces an open series of intensive elements, all of which are positive.
• These intensities are never an expression of the final equilibrium of a system, but consist of an unlimited number of stationary, metastable states through which a subject passes.

The Schizoid's Doctrine
• The schizoid is deeply influenced by the Kantian theory, which fills up matter that has no empty spaces to varying degrees.
• The schizoid's experience is emotionally overwhelming, bringing the schizo as close as possible to matter, to a burning, living center of matter.

The Concept of the Schizo
• The schizo is often conceived as an autistic rag, separated from the real and cut off from life.
• Psychoanalysis reduces a person to a pitiful creature who eternally consumes daddy-and-mommy and nothing else whatsoever.
• The consumption of pure intensities has very little to do with family figures and how very different they are from the conjunctive synthesis of "So that's what it was!" and "So it's me!".

The Concept of the Desiring-Machines in Nietzsche's Philosophy

• The concept of the Desiring-Machines is traced through the points of disjunction on the body without organs, forming circles that converge on the desiring-machines.
• The subject, produced as a residuum alongside the machine, passes through all degrees of the circle and passes from one circle to another.
• The subject is not at the center, which is occupied by the machine, but on the periphery, defined by the states through which it passes.
• The subject is born of each state in the series, continually reborn of the following state that determines him at a given moment.
• Klossowski's commentary on Nietzsche highlights the presence of the Stimmung as a material emotion, constitutive of the most lofty thought and the most acute perception.
• The forces of attraction and repulsion produce a series of intensive states based on the intensity = 0, which designates the body without organs.
• The Nietzschean subject passes through a series of states and identifies these states with the names of history.
• The subject spreads itself along the entire circumference of the circle, the center of which has been abandoned by the ego.
• Nietzsche-as-subject garners euphoric reward from everything that the machine turns out, a product that the reader had thought was no more than the fragmented oeuvre by Nietzsche.
• Nietzsche's vision of the world does not inaugurate a regular succession of landscapes or still lifes, but a parody of the process of recollection of an event.

Chris Harman's "Zombie Capitalism" (Book Note)

 

Chris Harman employs the term "Zombie Capitalism" to depict the dominance of the inert over the living within the global capitalist system. He illustrates this concept through the existence of "zombie banks" kept afloat by state support despite their lack of vitality. Harman asserts that this phenomenon extends beyond banking to encompass the entire economic framework, portraying 21st-century capitalism as a system devoid of vitality in achieving human objectives and responding to human sentiments. However, it sporadically exhibits bursts of activity that induce chaos.

 

Harman's demise in November 2009 imbues his book with a sense of valediction, serving as both a testament to a specific strand of Marxist political analysis and a tribute to his intellectual prowess. Noted for his rigorous research and cogent arguments, Harman's work is accessible to both newcomers to Marxist economics and academics alike. He eschews complex equations in favor of a clear and concise writing style, bolstered by concrete examples to aid comprehension.

 

In "Beyond Marx," Harman introduces the concept of state capitalism from the International Socialist tradition. He posits that in former Soviet economies, nationalized industries served to match foreign rivals' accumulation efforts, primarily for economic and military competitiveness. While this perspective has drawn critique, it provides valuable insight for those engaged in the ongoing debate.

 

Harman proceeds to analyze the effects of imperialism and the state, culminating in a contemporary examination of Marx's theory of the tendency of the rate of profit to fall (TRPF). He links this theory to the post-war trajectory of Western capitalism, attributing the "long boom" and its subsequent decline to factors such as the permanent arms economy and imperialist competition during the Cold War era.

 

Controversially, Harman delves into the TRPF's impact at the end of capitalism's "golden age," acknowledging the challenges of measuring it due to orthodox accounting limitations. Despite criticisms, he supports his arguments with evidence drawn from official data and the works of prominent Marxists, demonstrating the TRPF's emergence as a significant challenge for capital from the late 1960s onward.

 

Harman contends that globalization emerged as both a response to and a product of TRPF, enabling capital to transcend borders in a misguided pursuit of perpetual expansion. In this analysis, neoliberalism becomes an intrinsic aspect of contemporary capitalism rather than a mere variant. Social democracy, Harman suggests, can only adapt to neoliberalism, evolving into a form of social liberalism.

 

n the concluding section, Chris Harman diverges from mainstream leftist perspectives by diminishing the role of financial institutions in the crisis. While he acknowledges the ascendance of finance, he argues that its growth is intertwined with the core dynamics of the system rather than being an independent force. According to Harman, the expansion of finance is a consequence of the internationalization of capital and the protracted deceleration in accumulation.

 

Moreover, Harman provides insights into the "limits of capital," particularly concerning environmental degradation and climate change. He concludes the book with a call for rebellion, albeit briefly reviewing debates on formal and informal labor, restructuring, organized labor, and criticisms of various political movements including the "multitude," autonomist ideologies, and Third Way politics.

 

Harman's decision to forgo completing his PhD in the late 1960s in favor of full-time political activism informs his approach to writing the book. He is mindful of his dual audience: on one hand, aiming to elucidate a technically challenging subject for activists, while also engaging deeply with crucial debates on the left that necessitate intellectual acumen. Harman's adept handling of these dual objectives ensures that his book will likely become a standard reference for those seeking to comprehend Marx's economics and grapple with the contemporary crisis of capitalism.

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Williams’ "Capitalism and Slavery"

 

Eric Williams’ book Capitalism and Slavery represents a significant milestone in the scholarly examination of slavery from an international perspective. It underscores the need for comprehensive research into slavery across the various regions of the world, shedding light on its far-reaching implications. Prior to this work, only a handful of scholars had delved deeply enough into the subject to uncover its international dimensions, while many studies produced in the United States lacked depth and insight.

 

Williams, drawing on his academic prowess honed at Oxford, rises to the challenge of scientifically dissecting the institution of slavery. Unlike mere conjecture or opinion, Williams presents a meticulously researched account, utilizing a wealth of data sourced from archives throughout the British Empire. His understanding spans Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and he elucidates the intricate connections between social, commercial, and industrial factors that underpinned the slave trade and slavery itself.

 

Central to Williams's thesis is the argument that capitalism and slavery shared a symbiotic relationship, with the former both exploiting and ultimately supplanting the latter. He contends that this pattern was not unique to Britain but manifested similarly across other European nations, all of which were impacted by the industrial revolution. The transition from commercial capitalism reliant on slavery to industrial capitalism marked a transformative shift in economic paradigms.

 

Williams examines the geopolitical strategies of the British Empire following the American Revolution, as it turned its focus towards exploiting resources in India and elsewhere. This expansionist agenda, while driven by economic motives, often clashed with political and moral ideals, leading to internal conflicts and debates among policymakers.

 

Williams also critiques the persistence of outdated systems and beliefs, such as the notion that white laborers were unsuitable for tropical climates and the justification of Black inferiority as a basis for slavery. He highlights how entrenched interests and resistance to change can impede progress long after the flaws of existing systems are recognized.

This historical examination of a bygone era, marked by universal revolution, offers valuable insights into the complexities of contemporary issues that often confound our understanding. Just as industrial capitalism supplanted commercial capitalism in the past, today we grapple with economic imperialism, which subjugates the inhabitants of British Empire's colonies. This prompts critical questions about the prospects for regions like India and Native Africa within the existing system, especially in the face of democratizing forces reshaping global dynamics.

 

While Dr. Williams doesn't directly address these pressing questions, his scholarly account illuminates how historical processes unfolded during times of revolution. By drawing parallels between past and present, his work encourages us to discern patterns and make informed decisions about current challenges.

 

This book resonates strongly with those who oppose the British Empire's expansionist policies, highlighting the need for consistent and intelligent opposition. While critiquing the immense flaws of the British system is essential, it must be done with a clear understanding of its workings and implications. Understanding how the British Empire originated and evolved can inform strategies for addressing present injustices.

 

It's crucial to recognize that the British Empire operates differently from the United States, with a democracy that prioritizes privileged interests over individual rights. While figures like Churchill may draw criticism, the systemic nature of British governance ensures continuity in policies that serve entrenched interests. Reforms, if they occur, often reflect the balance of power among these interests, akin to the transition from commercial to industrial capitalism.

Utsa Patnaik and Prabhat Patnaik "Capitalism and Imperialism" (Book Note)

 

Capitalism and Imperialism traces the historical trajectory of capitalism highlighting its intrinsic connection with colonialism and imperialism. The prevailing economic narratives, critiqued by the authors, have often presented a one-sided view, assuming that capitalism can be comprehended in isolation, divorced from its indispensable ties to colonial exploits and the abundant resources derived from colonization that propelled its trajectory.

 

The authors aim to rectify this historical oversight, asserting that traditional economics has suffered from a blind spot arising from its development primarily within metropolitan settings. The book is structured into six parts, with the initial four sections delving into the theoretical dimensions of the capitalism-colonialism nexus and the evolution of capitalism until the post-World War II era. The latter two segments expound upon the transformations in the post-war and neoliberal periods, dissecting the nuanced shifts in capitalism over time.

 

The historical epochs of capitalism are categorized into five stages: the pre-World War I era, the interwar period, the post-World War II "Golden Age of Capitalism," the era of globalization, and the recent years marked by a resurgence of perennial crises within capitalism, signaling an impasse. Throughout these periods, the book underscores the pivotal yet dynamic role played by colonialism and imperialism, serving as the common thread binding the various phases of capitalism's development. According to the authors, the prosperity of metropolitan centers in the narrative is intricately linked to the assistance provided by colonial and imperialistic plunder.

 

The core argument of the book challenges the conventional wisdom held by mainstream economists, who posit that money in the form of wealth is an anomaly due to its perceived inability to generate profits. In contrast, the authors contend that, historically, this has never been the case within capitalism. They set out to demonstrate that the persistent demand for wealth in the form of money poses a continual threat to the progression of capitalism. In the absence of external stimuli, capitalism in isolation would stagnate. These external stimuli, identified as pre-capitalist markets, state expenditures, and innovations, are crucial for sustaining capitalism on an ever-expanding scale. The authors emphatically reject the notion of capitalism as a self-contained and perpetual system.

 

The authors commence their examination of capitalism by characterizing it as a monetary system, asserting that it not only employs money for transactions but also for wealth accumulation. They argue that many economic schools fail to recognize capitalism's use of money to amass wealth, leading to the imperative of preserving the value of money. This is achieved through income deflation on the supply price of commodities, historically realized through imperialism. Imperialism, as defined by the authors, entails a relationship between capitalism and its environment, emphasizing the imposition of a regime that enforces income deflation to avert the threat of rising supply prices. Through colonial subjugation and plunder, the metropole aimed to maintain a stable supply price of raw materials.

 

The book meticulously traces the enduring centrality of imperialism to capitalism, acknowledging its evolving forms. In the post-war boom era dominated by Keynesian economics, imperialism's income deflation strategies were replaced by state-driven measures, sustaining demand in the metropolis while maintaining a trade balance favoring advanced capitalist nations. Following decolonization, nationalist policies empowered the local bourgeoisie with dirigiste regimes. However, in the neoliberal phase, the local bourgeoisie, once reined in by decolonized states, actively participates in the international finance system.

 

The concluding parts of the book delve into the current scenario, accompanied by the rise of neo-fascist politics, and advocate for a revitalized Left to counteract such trends. However, these sections are considered the weakest in the book. While the prognosis is largely accurate, the authors' visions of transformative politics are criticized as somewhat narrow. The authors contend that the economic order in decolonized states favored the local bourgeoisie, but nationalist policies also benefited petty producers, peasants, and craftsmen. Yet, with the integration of the big bourgeoisie into the neoliberal order, the plight of these groups has worsened, evident in recent protests against farm laws favoring the big bourgeoisie. The withdrawal of these laws highlighted the antagonistic relationship between the neoliberal regime and the masses of decolonized states. The big bourgeoisie now aligns with metropolitan capital, promoting the "opening up" of the world for free capital and goods flows, to the detriment of peasants, petty producers, and small capitalists.