I can’t say I’ve read much of Badiou’s philosophical work but his diatribes are usually worth reading. This is an article published in Le Monde that appeared in my Facebook newsfeed a few moments ago. Given the recent events in Paris I think we can see why.
below is a provisional translation of Alain Badiou’s article “The Racism of Intellectuals” published May 5, 2012 in Le Monde.
—-
The Racism of Intellectuals
by Alain Badiou, philosopher, dramatist and writer
The extent of the vote for Marianne Le Pen is surprising and overwhelming; we search for an explanation–The political class comes out with a handy sociology: the France of the lower classes, the misled provincials, the workers, the under-educated, frightened by globalization, the decline in purchasing power, the disintegration of their districts, and foreign strangers present at their doors, wants to retreat into nationalism and xenophobia.
Besides, aren’t these those French “stragglers” who were accused of having voted “No” in the referendum on the draft European Constitution? As opposed to the educated, modern urban middle classes who are the social salt of our well-tempered democracy.
Let’s say that this French “underclass” {Joe Publique Francais?–GP} is in these…
View original post 1,338 more words
synthetic zerØ 