Contemporary Political Movements and the Thought of Jacques Rancire: Equality in Action

(Hardback)

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In this book, Todd May shows how democratic progressive politics can happen and how it is happening in very different arenas. He takes an intensive look at a range of contemporary political movements and shows how, to one degree or another, they exemplify the political thought of Jacques Ranciere. May's easy, clear writing style means that no philosophical background is required.Following an essential overview of Ranciere's thought he considers the following groups: the Algerian refugee movement in Montreal for citizenship, the first Palestinian intifada, the politics of equality and identity politics in relation to the Zapatista movement, a local food co-op in South Carolina and an anarchist press in Oakland.Essentially this book shows how political theory and practice can enlighten one another and in an age of cynicism, fear and despair, Todd May suggests there is hope for the possibility of progressive democratic action. It will appeal to Ranciere students, scholars and political activists alike.

Reviews

This very welcome book will be useful for those with an interest in Rancires work as well as those with a practical or theoretical interest in radical politics. It is very well written and makes Rancire and his otherwise idiosyncratic terminology accessible to a larger audience. -- Political Studies Review * Lasse Thomassen, Queen Mary, University of London *
This very welcome book will be useful for those with an interest in Rancires work as well as those with a practical or theoretical interest in radical politics. It is very well written and makes Rancire and his otherwise idiosyncratic terminology accessible to a larger audience. -- Lasse Thomassen, Queen Mary, University of London * Political Studies Review *
This is a timely, accessible and inspiring study of democracy in action. As a critic and as an activist Todd May has always insisted on the unity of theory and practice, but with this pathbreaking new book he has taken a crucial and unprecedented step both in the interpretation of Rancire's philosophy and in the analysis of contemporary egalitarian projects. -- Peter Hallward, Kingston University

Author Bio

Todd May is Class of 1941 Memorial Professor of the Humanities at Clemson University. Among his most recent publications are Gilles Deleuze: An Introduction (2005) and The Philosophy of Foucault (2006). He has also been active in various political movements of equality, including anti-racism work and the struggle for Palestinian rights.