Overview

The concept of ideology - traditionally one of Marxism's most persuasive ideas - has recently been subjected to devastating criticisms. Michelle Barrett shows that Marx's own writings offer a confusing array of possible approaches to 'ideology', which the classical Marxist tradition consolidated as 'mystification that serves class interests'. Barrett locates Gramsci and Althusser as key figures in the breakdown of this model - Gramsci's work presaging the separation of class, politics and ideology found in Laclau and Mouffe, and Althusser's failing to deliver an adequate approach to subjectivity. Foucault - replacing Marxism's 'economics of untruth' with his own 'politics of truth' - is examined as an exemplar of post-structuralist critiques of ideology. The book ranges over contemporary debates in philosophy, psychoanalysis and literary theory as well as social theory. Marxism's theoretical universalism, ethnocentrism and gender blindness, as well as it influential term 'ideology', are all subjected to spirited criticism.

Full Product Details

Author:   Michele Barrett
Publisher:   Stanford University Press
Imprint:   Stanford University Press
Edition:   New edition
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.429kg
ISBN:  

9780804720045

ISBN 10:   0804720045
Pages:   204
Publication Date:   01 December 1991
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   No Longer Our Product
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Classical Marxism and Theories of Ideology: 1. Marx: inheriting contraditions; 2. Ideology: critique or description?; 3. Problems of science and determinism; Part II. Collapse of the Marxist Model: 4. Ideology, politics, hegemony: from Gramsci to Laclau and Mouffe; 5. Subjectivity, humanism, psychoanalysis: beyond Althusser's Lacan; Part III. The Politics of Truth: 6. History, discourse, 'truth' and power: Foucault's critique of ideology; 7. Conclusion: Post-Marxism and the concept of ideology; Notes; Index.

Reviews

'The Politics of Truth is remarkable for the lucidity and conscientious with which Mich lle Barrett explores the challenges to a Marxist theory posed by post-structuralist theories. Its concise and judicious discussions of the problems and possibilities for Marxist and post-Marxist theory today will be indispensable to anyone seeking to bring together reflections on class, race, gender and truth.'Jonathan Culler, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Cornell University

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