Brutalism

Achille Mbembe is Research Professor in History and Politics at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is author of Necropolitics and Critique of Black Reason and coeditor of Johannesburg: The Elusive Metropolis, all also published by Duke University Press.

“In an argument both elegant and urgent, Achille Mbembe focuses our attention on the African continent, which is not only where the forms of domination and deprivation that increasingly affect the entire globe are most fully deployed but also where the forms of reparation necessary for a future world can be glimpsed.” - Michael Hardt, author of (The Subversive Seventies) “This is a fantastic translation of a vital text. The poetry, intensity, complexity, and subtlety that we have come to expect from Achille Mbembe’s work are all here in Brutalism.” - Laurent Dubois, translator of (Critique of Black Reason) "Brutalism offers some experimental analyses but is, on the whole, something quite different: a poetico-political vision, or a 'panoramic fresco,' as he promises in the introduction: a suggestive image painted in broad strokes of dark, vital, earthy colours-and accents of hopeful green."- Anders Dunker (Modern Times Review) "This book will be of interest to those working in Africana thought, global development, political theory, and philosophy and, more particularly, to anyone with an interest in ecology, migration, or innovations in technology. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty." (Choice) “Mbembe writes rhapsodic, delirious, poetic prose to make difficult, unassailable arguments in this book.”- Atreyee Majumder (Philosophy in Review) “Achille Mbembe’s Brutalism is a thought-provoking and timely work that challenges readers to rethink the future of humanity in the face of rampant capitalism and technological advancement. Its relevance extends beyond academic circles, offering valuable insights for policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in the intersections of technology, ecology, and social justice. Mbembe’s vision for a new planetary consciousness, rooted in solidarity and repair, is not just an intellectual exercise but a practical call for transformative action.”- Adeniyi Awoyemi (African Affairs)

• Preface  xiAcknowledgments  xviiIntroduction  11. Universal Domination  92. Fracturing  273. Animism and Viscerality  404. Virilism  585. Border-Bodies  786. Circulations  917. The Community of Captives  1058. Potential Humanity and the Politics of the Living  125Conclusion  147Notes  151Index  179