Pepper spray Quote by Michael Hardt
““We know that some are reluctant to group together the orderly occupiers of Zuccotti Park and even the carnivalesque alterglobalization protesters with the poor and impoverished rioters’ savage jacqueries and violent expressions of rage. Don’t think, though, that some of these struggles are more advanced and others more backward. No, the old Bolshevik theory of a passage of political consciousness from spontaneity to organization no longer has a place here. And let’s have no moralizing about how the rebellions of the poor should be better organized, more constructive, and less violent. On US college campuses the police use pepper spray, whereas in the dark sections of the metropolis they shoot with live rounds. What is most important in each of these struggles, we think, is to understand how the powerful refusals, expressed in various ways, are accompanied by processes capable of forming new social bonds. They do not seek to restore an order and they do not ask for justice or reparations for the offended, but they want instead to construct another possible world.””
About This Quote
Struggles differ in form but share a drive to create new social bonds and alternative worlds, beyond traditional organization.
In simple terms: Protests aim to build new societies, not just demand justice.
Key Takeaway
Support grassroots movements that envision alternatives.
Themes
activism
social change
community building
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- urban protests
- college campus activism
- policy reform
- community organizing
Key Concepts
political theory
social movements
Questions to Reflect On
- What non‑violent methods can strengthen collective action?
- How can diverse groups unite without losing distinct voices?
A Different Perspective
Violent tactics can undermine legitimacy and alienate allies.
