Claiming vindication since the publication of '' The Coming Insurrection '' , the author ( s ) declare that insurrections and political instability have reached all parts of the world in the intervening years , particularly in the case of the Arab Spring . Despite this , the author ( s ) lament that the many and isolated insurrections have not led to comprehensive , international revolution , which they attribute to faults in leftist strategy , and to the high degree of organization of their declared enemies : " What characterizes the 1 % is that they are '' organized '' . They even organize in order to organize the lives of others . " As a remedy , the author ( s ) propose an international conversation , in which the book will be one part : " For a discussion to take place , statements need to be offered , this being one . " ' '' 1 . ' '' The opening chapter explores the theme of '' crises '' in a general way , particularly financial crises such as the financial crisis of 2007 – 2008 , and the Greek government-debt crisis . The author ( s ) present a skepticism about the reality of such " actual " crises , seeing them instead as being intentionally manufactured by elites , as means of social control : " The discourse of crisis intervenes as a political method for managing populations . " This treatment of crises is distinct from , but related to , classical economic Marxist crises . ' '' 2 . ' '' In addition to financial crises , there are also environmental ones , such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster , and fictional ones , like a zombie apocalypse . Here , the author ( s ) observe fictional crises as elements of the popular imagination , like the above " real " crises , again as means of control : " Maintaining an endless fear to forestall a frightful end . " ' '' 3 . ' '' In response to these fearful images of crisis , the author ( s ) give an optimistic appraisal of the capacity of human beings for spontaneous self-organization , and so call for the rejection of " crisis " as a thing to fear : " Rethinking an idea of revolution capable of interrupting the disastrous course of things is to purge it of every apocalyptic element it has contained up to now . " ' '' 1 . ' '' The chapter begins with a general illustration of early 21st century global protest movements , or '' insurrections '' , which were partially precipitated by the deaths of young people . Alexandros Grigoropoulos ' death led to the 2008 Greek riots , Mark Duggan 's death led to the 2011 England riots , and Mohamed Bouazizi 's death led to the Tunisian revolution . Although specific , secondary grievances in these cases included police brutality and austerity , what is common to such insurrections is a general '' disgust '' with the present state of affairs , as typified in one example given by the author ( s ) : " The true content of Occupy Wall Street was not the demand , tacked onto the movement a posteriori like a post-it stuck on a hippopotamus , for better wages , decent housing , or a more generous social security , but '' disgust with the life we 're forced to live . '' Disgust with a life in which we 're all '' alone '' , alone facing the necessity for each one to make a living , house oneself , feed oneself , realize one 's potential , and attend to one 's health , '' by oneself . '' ' '' 2 . ' '' Building on the above , the author ( s ) cite other such contemporary insurrections , and begin referring to them generally as '' movements of the squares '' , a phrase which they attribute to other Greek protests in Syntagma Square . The author ( s ) criticize the tendency in these protests towards " general assemblies " and " democratic actions " , by specifically opposing their preferred method of '' insurrection '' ( which implies well-placed minority initiative ) to democracy throughout the remainder of the chapter . " Above all , if there is one thing that has nothing to do with any arithmetical principle of majority , it is insurrections , the victory of which depends on qualitative criteria — having to do with determination , courage , self-confidence , strategic sense , collective energy . If for two whole centuries elections have been the most widely used instrument after the army for suppressing insurrections , it 's clearly because the insurgents are never a majority . " This same criticism of paralyzing , democratic " procedure " in protest movements is revisited in the Committee 's later book , '' Now '' . ' '' 3 . ' '' '' Democracy '' and '' government '' are held to be merely specific forms of power , and not the inevitable or only ends which power must serve . " A king reigns . A general commands . A judge judges . Governing is something different . " The author ( s ) liken these various forms of power to '' pastoral power '' , that of a shepherd over his flock , a metaphor which is repeated in '' Now '' . ' '' 4 . ' '' In closing , the author ( s ) sketch the theory of '' destitution '' ( again more fully developed in '' Now '' ) , which entails rejection of the various categories of life which are held in contempt by the author ( s ) ( capitalism , the police , states , etc ) , through refusal of engagement in those categories ' terms
Mark Duggan 's death
Death of Mark Duggan
The Invisible Committee