Overview

Post-structuralism is recognized as a major force within literary and cultural studies. This book applies the theory to politics and shows the ways in which it can illuminate political theory and analysis. The authors explore the two-way relationship, showing not only that post-structuralism can enhance the study of politics, but also that advocates of post-structuralism can benefit from being open to the lessons political studies can teach. The book aims to: clarify the relationship of contemporary theory to politics; open up a new intellectual interface; create a space for exchange between disciplines; and provide a statement of the role of post-structuralist theory in politics. Covering three main sections - What is Post-Structuralist political theory?; Post-structuralism and political analysis; and the question of the political - the authors draw on themes raised by continental thinkers such as Derrida, Nancy and Deleuze, and Anglo-American thinkers such as Butler and Connolly in their questioning of the theoretical and empirical understanding of contemporary politics.

Full Product Details

9780748612963

Table of Contents

Reviews

An extremely admirable publication ! a great achievment by the editors. This is not least because Politics and Post-Structuralism will go a long way to redressing the misconstrual and general misrepresentation of post-structuralism, showing it (or them) to be both politically and intellectually vital and valuable. An intelligent, thought-provoking and lively collection which offers an insight into the ways in which post-structuralism might move us beyond the framework of mainstream political theory and political science. These wide-ranging contributions are suggestive of the scope and possibilities opened up by a post-structuralist approach to political theorizing and the analysis of contemporary politics. -- Aletta J. Norval Excellent ... I think it will serve a good function, become a state of the art kind of book appreciated by students and teachers alike ... I think the editors are correct in their appraisal that the impact of post-structuralism on theorizing and conceptualizing politics has not yet really begun and that now is a good time to carry this task out. -- Professor Keith Ansell-Pearson, University of Warwick Few volumes are as well put together, framing the key issues in ways accessible to both readers of post-structuralism and political studies alike. In rereading the questions of critique, community, subjectivity, the public and the state, and the policy process, the volume covers many of the most important contemporary issues of political studies in both the UK and the US and will make a useful introduction and companion to a reading of both post-structuralist thought and political practice. -- Professor Ian R. Douglas, The American University in Cairo An extremely admirable publication ! a great achievment by the editors. This is not least because Politics and Post-Structuralism will go a long way to redressing the misconstrual and general misrepresentation of post-structuralism, showing it (or them) to be both politically and intellectually vital and valuable. An intelligent, thought-provoking and lively collection which offers an insight into the ways in which post-structuralism might move us beyond the framework of mainstream political theory and political science. These wide-ranging contributions are suggestive of the scope and possibilities opened up by a post-structuralist approach to political theorizing and the analysis of contemporary politics. Excellent ... I think it will serve a good function, become a state of the art kind of book appreciated by students and teachers alike ... I think the editors are correct in their appraisal that the impact of post-structuralism on theorizing and conceptualizing politics has not yet really begun and that now is a good time to carry this task out. Few volumes are as well put together, framing the key issues in ways accessible to both readers of post-structuralism and political studies alike. In rereading the questions of critique, community, subjectivity, the public and the state, and the policy process, the volume covers many of the most important contemporary issues of political studies in both the UK and the US and will make a useful introduction and companion to a reading of both post-structuralist thought and political practice.

An extremely admirable publication ! a great achievment by the editors. This is not least because Politics and Post-Structuralism will go a long way to redressing the misconstrual and general misrepresentation of post-structuralism, showing it (or them) to be both politically and intellectually vital and valuable. An intelligent, thought-provoking and lively collection which offers an insight into the ways in which post-structuralism might move us beyond the framework of mainstream political theory and political science. These wide-ranging contributions are suggestive of the scope and possibilities opened up by a post-structuralist approach to political theorizing and the analysis of contemporary politics. -- Aletta J. Norval Excellent ... I think it will serve a good function, become a state of the art kind of book appreciated by students and teachers alike ... I think the editors are correct in their appraisal that the impact of post-structuralism on theorizing and conceptualizing politics has not yet really begun and that now is a good time to carry this task out. -- Professor Keith Ansell-Pearson, University of Warwick Few volumes are as well put together, framing the key issues in ways accessible to both readers of post-structuralism and political studies alike. In rereading the questions of critique, community, subjectivity, the public and the state, and the policy process, the volume covers many of the most important contemporary issues of political studies in both the UK and the US and will make a useful introduction and companion to a reading of both post-structuralist thought and political practice. -- Professor Ian R. Douglas, The American University in Cairo An extremely admirable publication ! a great achievment by the editors. This is not least because Politics and Post-Structuralism will go a long way to redressing the misconstrual and general misrepresentation of post-structuralism, showing it (or them) to be both politically and intellectually vital and valuable. An intelligent, thought-provoking and lively collection which offers an insight into the ways in which post-structuralism might move us beyond the framework of mainstream political theory and political science. These wide-ranging contributions are suggestive of the scope and possibilities opened up by a post-structuralist approach to political theorizing and the analysis of contemporary politics. Excellent ... I think it will serve a good function, become a state of the art kind of book appreciated by students and teachers alike ... I think the editors are correct in their appraisal that the impact of post-structuralism on theorizing and conceptualizing politics has not yet really begun and that now is a good time to carry this task out. Few volumes are as well put together, framing the key issues in ways accessible to both readers of post-structuralism and political studies alike. In rereading the questions of critique, community, subjectivity, the public and the state, and the policy process, the volume covers many of the most important contemporary issues of political studies in both the UK and the US and will make a useful introduction and companion to a reading of both post-structuralist thought and political practice.

Author Information

Alan Finlayson is Lecturer in Politics at the University of Wales, Swansea. Co-editor (with Jeremy Valentine) of Politics and Post-Structuralism: An Introduction (EUP, 2002) and co-author of Contemporary Social and Political Thought: An Introduction (1999) Jeremy Valentine is Lecturer in Media Studies at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available