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Single Idea 21851

[from 'Many Politics' by Gilles Deleuze, in 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / a. Just wars ]

Full Idea

There will always be a tension between the State apparatus with its requirement for self-preservation, and the war-machine in its undertaking to destroy the State, to destroy the subjects of the State, and even to destroy itself.

Gist of Idea

The State requires self-preservation, but the war-machine desires destruction

Source

Gilles Deleuze (Many Politics [1977], p.106)

Book Reference

Deleuze,Gilles: 'Dialogues II' [Continuum 2006], p.106


A Reaction

This seems to fit WWI quite well, but the desire of the war-machine to destroy the State which pays for it sounds unlikely. Nevertheless war is appalling for the state, but it is the whole point of the war-machine, which gets restless.