The Partisan vs. The Militant: The Janus-Face of Maoist Politics

This study explores the juxtaposition of Carl Schmitt’s partisan and Alain Badiou’s militant as political subjects by revealing their foundational reliance on Mao Tse-tung’s ideas. Central to this discussion is the influence of Mao’s revolutionary praxis, which serves as an unexpected common point between these two opposing theorists. The dual events of the Chinese Revolution and the Cultural Revolution that set Mao’s role as a partisan warrior for Schmitt and a militant of mass movements for Badiou present us with a complicated picture. The study argues that the role of violence in Schmitt’s and Badiou’s theories provides the key to moving beyond a superficial comparison between the two thinkers. To that end, the study first presents Schmitt’s reading of Mao. By focusing on Theory of the Partisan, his justification for violence is analyzed through a detailed examination of its destructive logic, militaristic form, and its ultimate purpose of reproducing the state’s power. In contrast, the examination of Badiou’s Maoist roots reveals a militant subject that embodies universalist and transformative politics by employing the subtractive logic of violence. This, the study argues, creates new political possibilities that challenge existing structures without succumbing to state-centric paradigms. By situating Mao’s thought within the broader discourse on violence and political subjectivity, the study demonstrates how historical and theoretical legacies continue to shape contemporary debates on the nature and purpose of politics. Ultimately, it contributes to political theory by delineating the distinct yet interconnected roles of Schmitt’s partisan and Badiou’s militant, while highlighting Mao’s enduring relevance.