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

Marchart, Oliver

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

About this title

About the Author

Oliver Marchart is Professor of Sociology at the University of Lucerne

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)

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 074862497X
• ISBN 13: 9780748624973
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208