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Australians reading French theorists!!! snigger snigger, Well listen up, mate. We do not talk like we have escaped from BBC1, and we might add an unnecessary expletive to the odd sentence, but some of us take political theory pretty seriously. Are you suggesting that the geographical distance between China (Mao), Paris (Althusser, Badiou), London and Melbourne makes some difference to our capacity to comprehend? We also have a distinctive political culture. In fact, the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) has had an extraordinary influence on Australia's political history. Its activities have always been clandestine: Rule No. 1 : never show you hand. Rule No. 2 : do your political work were you are and where you skills can make the most impact .. (ie this is an issue of labour productivity) Rule No 3: serve the people (interpreted as the ends do not justify the means) (not necessarily in that order) For academics that means not wasting 30 years of training running around building barricades - leave that to the undergrads. It means not working out of context, as in academics taking over local-level community action groups to enhance their CVs It means working systematically to expose the distortions of the think-tanks and their supporters, using the tools of analysis that we have been lucky enough to develop. Think it through! Sally Weller 09:06 PM 7/02/2007, you wrote: >I've heard that Australian translations of French social theory are >absolutely THE latest thing...! >;) > >-----Original Message----- >From: A forum for critical and radical geographers >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rachel Bethany Hughes >Sent: 07 February 2007 00:55 >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: reading Badiou > >Some geographers may be interested in an English translation of part of >Badiou's 'Logiques des mondes' (2006) titled 'Logic of the site' that >appeared in Diacritics in 2003 (Fall-Winter). Also, a double issue of the >journal Cosmos and History dedicated to 'The Praxis of Alain Badiou' has >recently appeared in book form: http://www.re-press.org/ > >For this geographer, the most accessible introduction to Badiou is the >Introduction to 'Infinite Thought' (2003) - though be warned it is written >by two Australian translators of Badiou in Aussie English, mate. > > >Rachel Hughes > >-- > >Dr Rachel Hughes >Program in Geography >School of Social and Environmental Enquiry >The University of Melbourne > >-- >This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous >content by the NorMAN MailScanner Service and is believed >to be clean. > >The NorMAN MailScanner Service is operated by Information >Systems and Services, Newcastle University. > > >==== >This e-mail is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private and >confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, please take >no action based on it nor show a copy to anyone. Please reply to this e-mail >to highlight the error. You should also be aware that all electronic mail >from, to, or within Northumbria University may be the subject of a request >under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and related legislation, and >therefore may be required to be disclosed to third parties. >This e-mail and attachments have been scanned for viruses prior to leaving >Northumbria University. Northumbria University will not be liable for any >losses as a result of any viruses being passed on. Dr. Sally Weller Economic Geography School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies 221 Bouverie Street University of Melbourne Parkville VIC 3010 AUSTRALIA Phone +613 8344 0626 Fax +613 9349 4218