CRUELTY, TERROR AND CINICISM Deleuze, Gattari and Marxism

Abstract

This article presents Deleuze and Guattari’s universal history from Anti-Oedipus, with the aim of discussing central points from the work that follow Marx’ thesis from Grundrisse. The aim of the article is to show the way in which Deleuze and Guattari reformulate the classical Marxist problem of ideology into a question of constitution of subjectivity. Beginning with Marx’ manuscript on precapitalist forms of production from Grundrisse, I describe three regimes that Deleuze and Guattari formulate: primitivism, despotism and capitalism, with special focus on the last one, and the form of subjectivity this regime presupposes. Finally, I also address some of the problems of their historiography.