New Books Network Massimo Modonesi, "The Antagonistic Principle: Marxism and Political Action" (Haymarket, 2019)
Oct 20, 2025
Massimo Modonesi is a professor and expert on Marxism and Latin American social movements, joined by researcher Maria Vignau. They discuss the concept of political subjectivity, exploring the triad of subalternity, antagonism, and autonomy in the context of resistance. They critique contemporary analyses that overlook the importance of class struggle, differentiating between defensive resistance and rebellious insubordination. Modonesi also highlights historical anti-neoliberal movements in Latin America and current challenges facing progressive governments, emphasizing the potential for renewed resistance.
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Marxism's Retreat From Collective Action
- Marxist analysis retreated from studying collective action, leaving form-focused theories to dominate.
- Modonesi argues for reviving Marxist tools to analyze political subjectivation and agency.
Form Versus Content In Movement Studies
- Contemporary studies emphasize movement form (e.g., social media) often at the expense of political content and class struggle.
- Modonesi and Maria call to re-center class struggle, subjectivation, and agency in analysis.
Class As Relational And Active
- Class should not be treated as static nomenclature but as a relation defined by struggle and exploitation.
- Political subjectivities form through antagonistic confrontation, not mere class labeling.
