Deconstruction and Democracy

by Thomson, Alex

• ISBN13: 9780826475770
• ISBN10: 0826475779
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-03-18
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

Derrida's claim that "without deconstruction there can be no responsible political thought" is one of his most provocative and one that even his most vocal admirers have been reluctant to endorse fully. Deconstruction and Democracy evaluates and substantiates Derrida's claim, assessing the importance of this eminent contemporary philosopher's work for political thought. Alex Thomson argues that the time has come for a fresh understanding of deconstruction--one that acknowledges its relevance for, and potential contribution to, political thinking. The book provides cogent analysis and exegesis of Derrida's political writings; explores the implications for his political theory and practice; and brings it into dialogue with other major strands of contemporary political thought.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vi
Abbreviations	vii
Introduction	1	(8)
Part 1: Deconstruction and Democracy	9	(46)
No Democracy without Deconstruction?	12	(19)
Deconstruction and Liberal Democracy	31	(10)
Deconstruction and Radical Democracy	41	(14)
Part 2: Deconstruction as Political Practice	55	(46)
Deconstruction and Philosophical Nationalism	58	(16)
The Politics of Exemplarity: Derrida and Heidegger	74	(15)
Hospitality and the Cosmopolitical	89	(12)
Part 3: Politics against Ethics	101	(44)
Economy of Violence: Derrida and Levinas	104	(18)
Against Community	122	(23)
Part 4: Deconstruction and Depoliticization	145	(53)
The Spectrality of Politics	148	(13)
Depoliticization and Repoliticization	161	(13)
The Politics of Spectrality	174	(11)
Deconstruction and Depoliticization	185	(13)
Conclusion	198	(5)
Notes	203	(11)
Bibliography	214	(9)
Index	223