Michael Hardt

Michael Hardt (born 1960) is an American political philosopher and literary theorist. He is a professor at Duke University. Hardt is best known for his collaborative works with Antonio Negri, including 'Empire' (2000), 'Multitude: War and Democracy in the Age of Empire' (2004), and 'Commonwealth' (2009). These books analyze contemporary global political and economic structures, focusing on concepts such as "Empire" as a new form of sovereignty, the "multitude" as a revolutionary subject, and the "common" as a basis for new forms of political organization. Hardt's early education included Swarthmore College and the University of Washington, where he earned a PhD in comparative literature. His academic career began at Duke University in 1994. He is interested in political philosophy and literary theory, with notable ideas including the theory of Empire and altermodernity.