Der nietzscheanische Kommunismus von Alain Badiou

Badiou developed a distinctive understanding of communism that differs largely from a Marxist one. Several scholars have noticed the striking differences between Badiou and Marx, but have generally failed to go beyond describing them. Here an attempt is made to trace these differences back to the largely Nietzschean footing of Badiou's philosophy. The article argues that beyond tactics, differences are based on distinct projects and their strategic goals. Marxist communism posits a dialectical overcoming of the capitalist present as predicated on the social, political and cultural transformation brought about by capitalism itself. By contrast, Badiou's project aims at achieving a clean break with history. Nietzsche is useful for Badiou in providing a critique of mass society and aiming to create a new man, the Overman. To analyze the two projects, the nature of capitalism, the meaning of revolutionary subjectivity and attitudes towards history and historical possibilities are discussed. Marx's political project is vindicated vis-&-vis the elitism and anti-humanism that characterize Badiou's approach. A dialogue with Badiou's position, however, is not foreclosed.