Antonio Negri (Author) Antonio Negri (1933-2023) was an Italian philosopher and political activist. He was a prominent figure in the left-wing operaismo movement in the 1960s and '70s. He is best known for his writings on globalization--particularly the highly influential volume Empire (co-authored with Michael Hardt)--but he also wrote on subjects as various as Vladimir Lenin, Baruch Spinoza, and the Book of Job.