Constituent Power, Violence, and the State - The Political Thought of Georges Sorel, Walter Benjamin, Hannah

In Constituent Power, Violence, and the State, Dimitri Vouros examines the question of political violence by placing the thought of Georges Sorel, Walter Benjamin, and Hannah Arendt in conversation with contemporary theories of sovereignty and constituent power.
Vouros argues that the violence sustaining the modern state inhibits institutional accountability and derails constituent power. The paradox of modern law-which is both the expression of the people's will but also alienated from them-sets the stage for political contestation. For Vouros, the multitude's potentiality is actualized through either organized or spontaneous acts of resistance against state force. Antagonism is therefore a key element of the political and must be included in any theory of political agonism. A strong notion of constituent power ensures the integrity of the public sphere and the expansion of citizens' political agency. Bringing all these ideas together is unique for this field of investigation.
Accessible and engagingly written, Constituent Power, Violence, and the State is a must read for researchers in political theory and political philosophy. Critical legal studies scholars and social theorists will also profit from this book.

List of contents

Introduction: The Modern State and Political Power 1. Constituent Power and the State in History 2. Reform or Revolution? 3. Georges Sorel: Violence, Myth, and the State 4. Walter Benjamin: Gewalt, the Law, and Decision 5. Hannah Arendt: Power, Violence, and the Novum Conclusion: Democracy After Violence

About the author

Dimitri Vouros gained his PhD in Philosophy from Western Sydney University in 2023. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and English from The University of Sydney, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of New England.

Summary

Constituent Power, Violence, and the State examines the question of political violence by placing the thought of Georges Sorel, Walter Benjamin, and Hannah Arendt in conversation with contemporary theories of sovereignty and constituent power. This book is a must read for researchers in political theory and political philosophy.

Product details

• Authors: Dimitri Vouros
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 25.11.2024
• EAN: 9781032769035
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3276903-5
• No. of pages: 240
• Series: Routledge Innovations in Political Theory
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Politics; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, Social Theory, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Reference, Warfare & defence, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, social and political philosophy, Terrorism, armed struggle, Western philosophy from c 1800, Warfare and defence, Political science and theory, Social Law, Western Philosophy, From C 1900 -, Social law and Medical law