Derrida, Deconstruction and Political Theory Lasse Thomassen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thomassen, Lasse, Author.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (216 p.)

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press, [2026]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Explores how Jacques Derridas deconstruction can help analyse political concepts including justice, democracy, sovereignty, populism and post-truthThe first comprehensive study of deconstruction as political theory, showing Jacques Derridas relevance for contemporary political theoryDemonstrates the usefulness of deconstruction for the study of political concepts such as rights, justice, sovereignty, democracy, populism and post-truthContrasts a deconstructive approach with other theoretical approaches, including analytic philosophy and critical theory, and with liberal, deliberative, and biopolitical approaches to political conceptsUses extensive examples from contemporary political phenomena such as Covid-19, Donald Trump's populism and post-truthDrawing on the work of Jacques Derrida and other post-structuralists, this book argues for deconstruction as a distinctive way to practice political theory. Lasse Thomassen shows familiar critiques of deconstruction as relativist and apolitical to be misconceived, and argues for deconstruction as a critical approach to contemporary politics and society. In so doing, the book contrasts deconstruction with other approaches to political theory, including analytic philosophy, critical theory, liberalism, deliberative democracy and biopolitical approaches. Developing the argument around political concepts such as rights, justice, sovereignty, democracy and populism, the book combines the deconstructive readings of these political concepts with extensive engagements with contemporary political phenomena such as 9-11, Covid-19, Donald Trump and post-truth.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction Deconstruction as Political Theory

1 Deconstruction between Particularity and Universality: Practising Political Theory Deconstructively

2 Deconstructing Sovereignty Discourse: Between the Conditional and the Unconditional

3 Democracy To-Come: Dealing with Disagreement

4 Democratic Rogues: The People Goes to The Capitol

5 The Force of Truth: Deconstruction against Post-Truth

6 Deconstruction as/of Method: Exemplarity and Casing

Conclusion

References

Index

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed February 17 2026)

ISBN:

9781399545402

1-3995-4540-X