| Politics on the Edges of Liberalism: Difference, Populism, Revolution, Agitation Contributor(s): Arditi, Benjamin (Author) |
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ISBN: 0748636374 ISBN-13: 9780748636372 Publisher: Edinburgh University Press OUR PRICE: $35.10 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: September 2008 Annotation: New in Paperback In this innovatice challenge to liberal assumptions, Benjamin Arditi tackles four key areas in contemporary politics that work at "the edges of liberalism: " difference, populism, revolution, and agitation. Each chapter discusses the intellectual background and position of these phenomena in relation to liberalism. Difference is explored in the context of the culture wars and its celebration of particularism over universalism. Populism is portrayed as a specter that both accompanies and haunts liberal democracy, and agitation is considered in tandem with emancipatory politics and in relation to revolutionary politics. The final chapter vindicates the use of revolution for contemporary thought, challenging the existing liberal-democratic consensus. Arditi's engagement with major thinkers helps him develop a novel interpretation of contemporary politics. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Literary Criticism | Asian - General - Political Science | History & Theory - General - History | Asia - General |
| Dewey: 320.51 |
| Physical Information: 0.39" H x 5.49" W x 8.54" (0.49 lbs) 176 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Asian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: New in PaperbackThis innovative exploration of ways of thinking about and doing politics presents a challenge to liberal assumptions. The author tackles four key areas in contemporary politics which work at 'the edges of liberalism': difference, populism, revolution and agitation. Each of these phenomena is selected on the basis that they push the envelope of liberalism or seek to go against and beyond it.Each chapter takes on one of these ideas, discussing the intellectual background and considering its position in relation to liberalism. Difference is explored in the context of the politics of the culture wars and its celebration of particularism over universalism. Populism is seen as a spectre of liberal democracy, able to both accompany it and haunt it. Agitation is considered in tandem with emancipatory politics and in relation to revolutionary politics. The final chapter aims to vindicate the use of revolution for contemporary thought, challenging the existing liberal-democratic consensus. The argument is interspersed with many examples drawn from history and contemporary politics to illustrate the author's claims. Arditi's engagement with the main thinkers in the field leads him to develop a novel interpretation of contemporary politics. |