iek on Race: Toward an Anti-Racist Future

(Hardback)

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Slavoj ieks prolific comments on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, scapegoating, popular nationalism, the refugee crisis, Eurocentrism, the War on Terror, neocolonialism, global justice, and rioting comprise a dizzying array of thinking. But what can we pull out of his various writings and commentaries on race in the contemporary world Is there anything approaching a iekian philosophy of race Zahi Zalloua argues here that there is and that the often polemical style of iek's pronouncements shouldn't undermine the importance and urgency of his work in this area. Zalloua not only examines iek's philosophy of race but addresses the misconceptions that have arisen and some of the perceived shortcomings in his work to date. iek on Race also puts iek in dialogue with critical race and anti-colonial studies, dwelling on the sparks struck up by this dialogue and the differences, gaps, and absences it points up. Engaging ieks singular contribution to the analysis of race and racism, iek on Race both patiently interrogates and critically extends his direct comments on the topic, developing more fully the potential of his thought. In a response to the book, iek boldly reaffirms his theoretical stance, clarifying further his often difficult-to-work-out positions on some of his more controversial pronouncements.

Reviews

iek on Race provides new revelations on every page about the ways that psychoanalytic theory, specifically that of Slavoj iek, contributes to the critique of racism. For those who believe that iek has nothing to say about racism, Zallouas book will prove an eye-opening experience. It completely changes how we can theorize the fight against racism. -- Todd McGowan, Professor of English, University of Vermont, USA
Against the fake neutralism of the Western liberal gaze and its obverse side of identity politics, Zahi Zalloua lends a powerfully articulate voice to ieks uncompromising call for a new universality of strangers. Drawing clear-sighted connections between Black Lives Matter, Palestinian resistance, Afro-pessimism and class struggle this timely intervention develops iekian themes and ideas in politically bold and creative ways, directly challenging todays Left and Right orthodoxies on race and racism. -- Glyn Daly, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Northampton, UK, and author of Speculation: Politics, Ideology, Event
In iek on Race Zahi Zalloua achieves several remarkable feats. To point out just two of them: First, he provides an extremely helpful and timely account of ieks conceptual and political arguments on racism, bringing out their systematic nature and unique and particularly valuable core. Second, and related to Zallouas own reading of both contemporary social antagonisms and ieks theory, he successfully avoids and transposes the alternative between particular identity and universalism, which has been mortifying the emancipatory struggles for far too long. The book is an absolute must for anyone who wants to think and confront the problem of racism in both its simplicity and complexity. -- Alenka Zupancic, Professor of Philosophy and Psychoanalysis at The European Graduate School, Switzerland

Author Bio

Zahi Zalloua is the Cushing Eells Professor of Philosophy and Literature and Professor of French and Interdisciplinary Studies at Whitman College, USA.