The Real Split in the International
Situationist International

Exploding as politically revolutionary at the heart of the Paris 1968 uprisings, the Situationist International has proved a radical movement in terms of aesthetics and political theory. This volume presents an understanding of the revolutionary thought that inspired the movement.

Exploding as politically revolutionary at the heart of the Paris 1968 uprisings, the Situationist International has proved a tenaciously compelling radical movement in terms of aesthetics and political theory. This volume presents an understanding of the revolutionary thought that inspired the Situationists and has established the Situationist movement - of which Guy Debord was the key member - as one of the most influential of the 20th century. The book sees Debord not only evaluate the movement as a whole, but also signal the end of it. For him, it had become clear that the Situationist's success had produced - within its own ranks as well as outside them - a host of fans and "onlookers" who amounted to little more than consumers of a radicality that had become fashionable. In this way the movement had begun to encompass the very "society of the spectacle" that the Situationists had challenged. There was a danger that Situationist theory could turn into ideology - Debord's reaction was to break up the movement.

Theses on the Situationist International and its time, Guy Debord and Gianfranco Sanguinetti
notes to serve towards the history of the Situationist International from 1969 to 1971
on our enemies' decay
Guy Debord's report to the seventh Situationist International Conference in Paris (excerpts)
Raoul Vaneigem's letter of resignation
communique from the Situationist International concerning Vaneigem
declaration of the 11th November 1970
statutes adopted at the Venice Conference on the 30th September 1969 (excerpt)
the detournements in the Theses on the Situationist International and its time
detournement as negation and prelude (Guy Debord in issue 3 of the Situationist International journal, excerpt).