The Multitude

This is just an attempt to provide a concrete example of what Virno deems the Multitude. To try to understand what Virno is getting at and how we can find concrete examples today we have to look at this theoretical death match of Hobbes vs. Spinoza, "people" vs. "multitudes".

"People" work within the system, the multitudes work outside of it. People work within the legitimacy of the state, multitudes are not able to be subsumed by an operational state and often act outside of it.

Virno writes, "The multitude, instead, is united by the risk which derives from not feeling at home," from being exposed omnilaterally to the world." So, the multitudes are connected though they act outside of the state.

An example that both works with Virno's conception and possibly challenges it is the Landless Workers' Movement of Brazil The group occupies unused land and establishes communal farms, houses, schools, and all sorts of other good things. In fact, you too can be a part of the "Multitude" by going to their website and becoming a "Friend" of the movement. But this is where this concept poses a problem for me.

The Landless Workers' Movement works because it has become legitimized within the state of Brazil. Reclaiming land without making some kind of cash purchase is certainly working outside of the laws established by certain groups within Brazil. As it turns out, working outside of these laws is more beneficial to the common good of the people that the Landless Workers' Movement serves. However, through the Landless Workers' Movement Party the movement is able to legalize and legitimize their activities. Their accomplishments also stem from the ability to get mass support among the Brazilian population, not among the netizens...

Those are my thoughts for now! La lucha continua!
-Eve