Relational Revolutions

It has now been more than 100 years since the Russian Revolution began. The student movement of 1968, on the other hand, is more present, since closer, in our historical consciousness. Time then, to consider the events of 1917 through the prism of 1968 and bring both revolutions into a relationship of mutual critique. While 1917 was focused on the nation, 1968 targeted the individual. In the future, it would be pertinent to take into account the »modes of relationships« between people. This book analyses the revolutionary gender relations as relations that are formed between the private and the public spheres, »close relationships« and »long-distance relationships« – the gender of revolution. In the process, a desire comes to light that still awaits its realisation: the desire for solidarity as a societal mode of relationships.

»The desire to organize life together as equals in solidarity is not so crazy: not individualized as strangers and competitors, scattered in structural scarcity, but sharing in the form of a commune. Yet with the desire for communism also comes its real history, its disappointing heritage. And we have to deal with this. You can’t make history by turning away from it.« Bini Adamczak in an Interview with Viewpoint Magazine

»With that great historical arc and those very contemporary diagnoses Bini Adamczak has succeeded in writing one of the most enlightening and strident political texts in a long time.« Benjamin Moldenhauer, Kreiszeitung

»In Respective Revolutions Bini Adamczak offers a term for revolutionary practice.« Matthias Ubl, analyse & kritik

»Bini Adamczak presents an inspiring analysis of two revolutionary events and draws conclusions for a re-conception of emancipatory politics from that.« Julia Klebs, Widerspruch, Zürich 71

»A brilliant book – and this verdict includes the fact that it provokes objections.« Benedikt Wolf, Jahrbuch Sexualitäten 2018