‘SEMIOTEXT(E) FOREIGN AGENTS SERIES (Oiginally published in 1977 as “Viese et Politique,” Editon Galilés, Pais. Copyrighe © 1977 Pau! Vilio Copyright © 2006 Semiotext(e) ‘Translasion © Semiotest() and Mark Polizzors [All eighes reserved. No pare of this book may be reproduced, stored in @ rectieval system, of transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, phowo- copying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of he publisher. Published by Semiotexe() 2007 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 427, Los Angeles, CA 90057 Special thanks to Nicholas Zurko and Mark Polizzi. Cover: Map of Pasis published in 1847 depicting Baron Georges Engine Haussman’s plan co transform Paris inco “the capital of capitals.” In rear the newworks of new strets and boulevards and in green are the parks, Courtesy ‘of the New York City Public Library. Race Cover Photography: Sylvére Lounger Design: Hedi Et Khols ISBN-10: 1-58435-040-7, ISBN-13:978-1-58435.040.8 ‘Distibuted by The MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. and London, England Printed in the United States of America SPEE POLI Paul Virilio Translated by Marc Polizzotti Contents Introduction: Logistics of Habitable Circulation PART 1, THE DROMOCRATIC REVOLUTION |. From Street Fight to State Right 2. From Highway Right to State Right PART 2. DROMOLOGICAL PROGRESS 1. From Space Right to State Right 2. Practical War PART 3. DROMOCRATIC SOCIETY Unable Bodies 2 The Boarding of Metabolic Vehicles 3. The End of the Proletariat 4, The Consumption of Security PART 4. THE STATE OF EMERGENCY Notes a 29 49 59 61 73 at 15: 136 147 169Benjamin H. Bratton Logistics of Habitable Circulation ‘A brie introduction to the 2006 eultion of Speed and Poitics| there had never been @ war | would have made very 900d architect. — Ahmed Shah Masoud, Aighan opposition leader reportedly assassinated 8.9.01 by suicide bombers who were, tis ‘assumed, trained by Osama Bin-Lacan on behalf ofthe Taliban, 85 quoted in the Los Angeles Times, the morning edtion of September 11, 2001 PAUL VIRIIO'S MODERNITY is /ngistcal. It doesn't directly deal with war, but with everything that makes it possible. Logistics is the preparation for war through che transfer of the nation’s poten- tial to its armed forces in time of peace as in times of war! ‘Modernity is a world in motion, expressed in translations of strategic space into logistical time, and back again. It is a history of cities, partitions, trading circuits, satellites, and software; of a political landscape governed by competing technologies of sur- veillance, mobilization, fortification and their interdependent administrations. It begins as an archaelogy of naval routes, strategic techniques and urban distributions, and becomes an integrated world of events reduced to shapes and symbols, viewed and ‘manipulated instantaneously on screens. In Virilio’ narrative,