jim writes " "The Working Class or the Multitude?"

A Debate with Chris Harman and Michael Hardt

This debate was organised by UK's Globalise Resistance on 25 January 2003 at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil in front of about 300 people. The two main speakers spoke for 21 minutes each, and there were then some 22 contributions from the floor -- one of the highest degrees of participation at any meeting at the forum.

Transcription
Note from Chris Harman: In transcribing the debate, I could not decipher from the recording of most of the names of contributors from the floor, and four of the contributions at all. The transcriptions of some of the other contributions are based on translations provided verbally at the meeting.

Format
This long document is divided into eight parts. A PDF version (273kB) is also available.

Initial Statement: Chris Harman

Initial Statement: Michael Hardt

Debate from the floor

Michael Hardt replies

Chris Harman replies

Further debate from the floor

Michael Hardt concludes

Chris Harman concludes

Go here for the debate: Harman Hardt Debate"