Hardt and Negri’s multitude: illusion or reality?

Abstract

Would it be possible for citizens to join forces when common interests are at stake and mobilize themselves with no need for leaders? Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri affirm so in their acclaimed book “Empire” and its sequel “Multitude”. This research explores both these works and those that debated Hardt and Negri’s proposals afterwards. After a thorough analysis of arguments for and against Hardt and Negri’s scenario, this paper concludes with some reflections on the political and sociological feasibility of this proposal.