Rousseau and Radical Democracy

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Rousseau and Radical Democracy presents the first comprehensive examination of Rousseau's founding role in, and continuing relevance for, recent and influential theories of democracy. Kevin Inston demonstrates the actuality of Rousseau's thinking through an analysis of his deep connection with the groundbreaking work of contemporary European thinkers, including Lefort, Laclau and Mouffe. The book affirms Rousseau's centrality for current debates in democratic thought by showing how, contrary to common assumptions, his writings emphasise the openness and difference necessary for a dynamic mode of democracy committed to extending the principles of freedom and equality. By connecting Rousseau's philosophy with present-day thinking, Inston stresses the theoretical consistency of his political thought against those influential deconstructive readings of his work by thinkers such as Derrida and De Man. This book argues that the ambiguities and tensions in Rousseau actually form part of the logic of Rousseau's rigorous reflection on democracy that accepts the inherent incompleteness and uncertainty of any political project as the condition of freedom and change.

Reviews

"In Rousseau and Radical Democracy, Kevin Inston shows an important, and to this point overlooked, connection between contemporary understandings of democracy and Jean Jacque Rousseau's. Thoughtfully written and clearly argued, Inston helps to show us the continuing relevance of Rousseau's political thought more than two hundred years later." - James J. Delaney, Associate Professor, Niagara University, USA

Author Bio

Kevin Inston is Lecturer in French Studies at University College London, UK.