Abstract

This article considers two models of the future based on Jacques Derrida's distinction between le futur and l'avenir. The former is related to technology, including political technology, and the latter involves an experience of participation, which allows for the existence not of “the future”, but of “forthcoming”. L'avenir is on the side of direct democracy and unmediated political action. The future and l'avenir are different kinds of time. The future is projective, l'avenir is event driven. The future is predictable; l'avenir refers to what we might call absolute openness. L'avenir is the experience of encountering the other, including in the field of politics. The author believes that Maidan creates a space for this second conception of time, continuing the line of political philosophy coming from Baruch Spinoza and his idea of multitudo and absolute democracy.