French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Badiou, Petrograd, Shanghai. The Two Revolutions of the 20th Century
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas

Petrograd, Shanghai: The Two Revolutions of the 20th Century

Alain Badiou

Paris, La Fabrique

128 pages — 10 euros

ISBN: 978-2-35872-166-0

OVERVIEW

A journey on the Trans-Siberian? No, a personal meditation on the two revolutions of the twentieth century, the two great victories that demonstrated that the impossible can sometimes happen. From Lenin's April Theses (1917) to the Chinese Communist Party's “16-Point Decision” (1966), Badiou shows how intelligent and generous the thought underlying revolutionary action was. Although these two revolutions ultimately failed—falling victim to a disparate coalition of party cadres, an inherently conservative army, and a petty-bourgeois mindset—their history is full of lessons for all who believe in the future of communism.

THE AUTHOR

Alain Badiou is a philosopher, novelist, and playwright. Inspired by Marxism, he seeks in thought and the art of writing everything that is compatible with egalitarian politics. His notable works include, in philosophy, Métaphysique du bonheur réel (PUF, 2015); in literature, Calme bloc ici-bas (POL, 1997); for the stage, Le Second procès de Socrate (Actes Sud, 2015); and in political essays, De quoi Sarkozy est-il le nom? (Éd. Lignes, 2007).

As one of France's most prominent contemporary philosophers, Alain Badiou has consistently sought to align his philosophical inquiries with radical egalitarian politics. This volume fits within a long tradition of French intellectual engagement with Marxism and revolutionary history. By revisiting key moments of political disruption, such as Vladimir Lenin's 1917 April Theses and the early stages of the Chinese Cultural Revolution in 1966, Badiou contextualizes these historical events not as mere historical anomalies, but as crucial reference points for modern political theory.

This concise essay addresses fundamental questions about the nature of political change and the structural challenges that revolutionary movements face. Badiou examines how initial emancipatory impulses can be stifled by state bureaucracy, military conservatism, and bourgeois tendencies. By analyzing these failures, the text provides valuable insights for students of political philosophy, historians of the twentieth century, and contemporary activists. It serves as an accessible introduction to Badiou's political thought, prompting readers to reconsider the legacy and future possibilities of communist theory.