On the Political (Thinking in Action) 1st Edition

by Chantal Mouffe (Author)

4 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0415305211

ISBN-10: 0415305217

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Since September 11th, we frequently hear that political differences should be put aside: the real struggle is between good and evil. What does this mean for political and social life? Is there a 'Third Way' beyond left and right, and if so, should we fear or welcome it?

This thought-provoking book by Chantal Mouffe, a globally recognized political author, presents a timely account of the current state of democracy, affording readers the most relevant and up-to-date information.

Arguing that liberal 'third way thinking' ignores fundamental, conflicting aspects of human nature, Mouffe states that, far from expanding democracy, globalization is undermining the combative and radical heart of democratic life.

Going back first to Aristotle, she identifies the historical origins of the political and reflects on the Enlightenment, and the social contract, arguing that in spite of its good intentions, it levelled the radical core of political life.

Contemporary examples, including the Iraq war, racism and the rise of the far right, are used to illustrate and support her theory that far from combating extremism, the quest for consensus politics undermines the ability to challenge it. These case studies are also highly effective points of reference for student revision.

On the Political is a stimulating argument about the future of politics and addresses the most fundamental aspects of democracy that will aid further study.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Clear, direct and accessible...Mouffe represents a position that every serious student of of contemporary political thought must acknowledge and come to terms.' - The Philosophers' Magazine

'An excellent book. It is very clear, straight to the point and with a minimum amount of jargon. Its succinctness, clarity and contemporary relevance should ensure its success.' - Donald Sassoon, Queen Mary and Westfield College

'Carries a clear, relevant and provocative message. It is likely to stir up an important debate.' - Jacob Torfing, Roskilde University

'On the Political is a thought-provoking book tackling urgent domestic and international political problems trhough a disputatious engagement with various contemporary domestic theory. Mouffe succeeds in presenting these problems and disputes in an accessible language.' - Environment and Planning D: Society and Space

About the Author

University of Westminster

Series: Thinking in Action
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1st edition (June 15, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0415305217
ISBN-13: 978-0415305211
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #640 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Ideologies
- #903 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political History
- #948 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Democracy

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Renate Ogilvie

Five Stars

April 20, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Outstanding.

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March 29, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Great!

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A. J. Sutter

Clear and timely (4.5 stars)

April 30, 2012

Format: Hardcover

I found this book to be refreshing, both for being relatively light on jargon and for questioning the prevailing "governance" talk of our times -- talk that is no less intense in the current Obama era than it was in the Blair era when this book was first published. The author's (CM's) point is that some sort of we/they distinction is fundamental to human nature, and that attempts to wish it away -- such as by approaching politics as a set of problems to be solved through consensus-based governance -- will backfire, and even create extreme reaction (the "extreme right," fundamentalism, etc.). The problem facing modern democracy is how to allow healthy we-they distinctions, without having them degenerate into friend-enemy ones.

I was skeptical at first of CM's use of the Nazi philosopher Carl Schmitt, for whom the friend-enemy dichotomy was the essence of the political, in a leftist cause; but she manages to invoke him mainly as an object lesson of what to avoid. At the same time, she does a good job of pointing out the weaknesses of thinkers like Giddens, Habermas, and Hardt & Negri, among others, and how they negate the political. She also helped me to understand the point of writers who speak of "reflexive democracy," an often-invoked but rarely-explained term in recent political philosophy. I was a little surprised, though, that CM mentions Machiavelli only once in passing, citing to "The Prince". In his other major work, the "Discourses," he had made a very similar point to CM's: he emphasized that the strength of the Roman republic was in creating institutions that allowed a healthy political conflict in society (in that case, between the poorer masses and the wealthy few). The book perhaps owes him more than CM acknowledges. Moreover, Machiavelli's theme has been revived in recent decades by Philip Pettit, Quentin Skinner, Maurizio Viroli and others, but unfortunately their contemporary "civic republicanism" isn't discussed in this book at all.

CM's prose is for the most part remarkably clear, so much so that I plan to assign at least a chunk of the book in a politics class I'm teaching to non-native speakers of English in Japan. A satisfying and relatively easy read, in both respects unlike much other political theory floating around these days.

8 people found this helpful

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October 14, 2007

Format: Paperback

A lot of people in my class thought she had some good stuff to say, but I felt like she was kicking down an open door. I just was not that impressed.

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