Post-foundational Political Thought: Political Difference in Nancy, Lefort, Badiou and Laclau (Taking on the Political) - Hardcover

Oliver Marchart

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 074862497X ISBN 13: 9780748624973

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2007

Synopsis

A wide-ranging overview of the emergence of post-foundationalism and a survey of the work of its key contemporary exponents. This book presents the first systematic coverage of the conceptual difference between 'politics' (the practice of conventional politics: the political system or political forms of action) and 'the political' (a much more radical aspect which cannot be restricted to the realms of institutional politics). It is also the first introductory overview of post-foundationalism and the tradition of 'left Heideggerianism': the political thought of contemporary theorists who make frequent use of the idea of political difference: Jean-Luc Nancy, Claude Lefort, Alain Badiou and Ernesto Laclau. After an overview of current trends in social post-foundationalism and a genealogical chapter on the historical emergence of the difference between the concepts of 'politics' and 'the political', the work of individual theorists is presented and discussed at length. Individual chapters are presented on the political thought of Jean-Luc Nancy (including Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe), Claude Lefort, Alain Badiou, and Ernesto Laclau (including Chantal Mouffe). Overall the book offers an elaboration of the idea of a post-foundational conception of politics. Other titles in the Taking on the Political series: Valentine and Arditi/ Polemicisation 0 7486 1064 2 Shapiro/ Cinematic Political Thought 0 7486 1289 0 Chambers/ Language and the Politics of Untimeliness 0 7486 1766 3 Bowman/ Post-Marxism Versus Cultural Studies 978 0 7486 1762 3 Simons/ Critical Political Theory in the Media Age 0 7486 1583 0

About this title

Review

"There is a real need for a book like this. Marchart is a patient author. He explains things slowly and clearly to his reader. And what he explains is surely of interest to those of us who work in the interstices of political theory and Continental (especially post-Heideggerian) philosophy." -- Linda Zerilli, Northwestern University

"This book will make a valuable contribution in engaging students and academics with important debates in contemporary political theory it is a clear, well-written and sophisticated introduction, one that will be welcomed by students and university teachers alike." -- Dr Majid Yar, University of Kent at Canterbury

An excellent monograph, recommended to all those interested in critical theory. Furthermore, it is an invaluable resource.--Peter Bloom"H-Ideas" (01/01/0001)

There is a real need for a book like this. Marchart is a patient author. He explains things slowly and clearly to his reader. And what he explains is surely of interest to those of us who work in the interstices of political theory and Continental (especially post-Heideggerian) philosophy.--Linda Zerilli, Northwestern University

This book will make a valuable contribution in engaging students and academics with important debates in contemporary political theory... it is a clear, well-written and sophisticated introduction, one that will be welcomed by students and university teachers alike.--Dr Majid Yar, University of Kent at Canterbury

About the Author

Oliver Marchart is a professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Lucerne, Switzerland. He is co-editor (with Simon Critchley) of Laclau: A Critical Reader (2004) and is author of six books written in German including Beginning Anew: Hannah Arendt, Revolution and Globalisation (2005), and Techno-Colonialism: Theory and Imaginary Cartography of Culture and the Media (2004).

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 074862497X
• ISBN 13: 9780748624973
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224