Revenge of the Real

Just like COVID-19, climate breakdown is an anthropogenic crisis that requires an anthropogenic solution. That’s according to Benjamin Bratton, professor of visual arts at UC San Diego, whose new book is a short, sharp polemic on how the world could govern itself differently using lessons from the pandemic.

In a conversation touching on Foucault, eschatology, China’s future and the archetypal “Karen”, Bratton tells Aaron Bastani why we need a new, positive biopolitics on a planetary scale.

Revenge of the Real: Politics for a Post-Pandemic World is available now.

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We’re up against huge power and influence. Our supporters keep us entirely free to access. We don’t have any ad partnerships or sponsored content.

Donate one hour’s wage per month—or whatever you can afford—today.