This article addresses the efforts of Habermas to continue the modern rationalistic project as well as the criticism of Hardt and Negri, for whom this project has become obsolete in post-modern times dominated by the so-called "Empire." It first analyses the criticism of Hardt and Negri on the Habermasian concept of rationality and praxis: there is no communicative reason (in contrast to strategic reason) that is not instrumentalised by the Empire. It then analyses the criticism of Hardt and Negri on the theory of Habermas on society: there is no world of life (in contrast to system) that is not possessed by the Empire. Finally, it analyses the criticism of Hardt and Negri on the notion Habermas developed of historic transformation: it is not the progress in institutions and the formal constitution that can provoke ruptures in history, but only the vital force of the multitude - the constituent power, articulated according to the material constitution of society.
Empire; Modernity; Capitalism; Communicative action; Multitude