Chantal Mouffe is a Belgian political theorist, best known as the co-author of Hegemony and Socialist Strategy with Ernesto Laclau. Together, they rejected Marxist economic determinism and the notion of class struggle as the sole crucial antagonism in society. Instead, they advocated for a radical democracy of agonistic pluralism, where all antagonisms can be expressed. Mouffe's work explores the fundamental role of antagonism in shaping the very possibility and vision of society.
igo Errejón of Podemos and political theorist Chantal Mouffe here discuss the emergence of these new forces, and in particular of Podemos. They critically engage with both the older traditions and the newly emerging parties and movements; explore new ways of creating collective identities and building majorities; and reflect on the major political challenges facing the left. This is a conversation between two people who are ideally placed to draw on the earlier theoretical work of Mouffe with Ernesto Laclau, and to link it directly into the practice of the new politics.
From the theory of ‘deliberative democracy’ to the politics of the ‘third way’, the present Zeitgeist is characterized by attempts to deny what Chantal Mouffe contends is the inherently conflictual nature of democratic politics. Far from being signs of progress, such ideas constitute a serious threat to democratic institutions. Taking issue with John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas on one side, and the political tenets of Blair, Clinton and Schröder on the other, Mouffe brings to the fore the paradoxical nature of modern liberal democracy in which the category of the ‘adversary’ plays a central role. She draws on the work of Wittgenstein, Derrida, and the provocative theses of Carl Schmitt, to propose a new understanding of democracy which acknowledges the ineradicability of antagonism in its workings.
What is the “populist moment” and what does it mean for the left? We are currently witnessing in Western Europe a “populist moment” that signals the crisis of neoliberal hegemony. The central axis of the political conflict will be between right- and left-wing populism. By establishing a frontier between “the people” and “the oligarchy,” a left–populist strategy could bring together the manifold struggles against subordination, oppression and discrimination. This strategy acknowledges that democratic discourse plays a crucial role in the political imaginary of our societies. And through the construction of a collective will, mobilizing common affects in defence of equality and social justice, it will be possible to combat the xenophobic policies promoted by right-wing populism. In redrawing political frontiers, this “populist moment” points to a “return of the political” after years of postpolitics. A return may open the way for authoritarian solutions—through regimes that weaken liberal-democratic institutions—but it could also lead to a reaffirmation and extension of democratic values
A powerful new understanding of citizenship, democracy and pluralism.In this work, Mouffe argues that liberal democracy misunderstands the problems of ethnic, religious and nationalist conflicts because of its inadequate conception of politics. She suggests that the democratic revolution may be jeopardized by a lack of understanding of citizenship, community and pluralism. Mouffe examines the work of Schmitt and Rawls and explores feminist theory, in an attempt to place the project of radical and plural democracy on a more adequate foundation than is provided by liberal theory.
First published in 1998, this collection brings together key articles by prominent feminist thinkers, providing a sophisticated exploration of theoretical topics central to feminist social thought. It highlights significant concerns in contemporary feminist scholarship and the advancements made by feminist philosophers.
The editor's introduction offers alternative pathways through the text, enabling instructors to tailor the reader to their specific courses and student interests. Each article includes a brief introduction that contextualizes it, emphasizing the main issues and conclusions, which aids students in navigating challenging theoretical concepts.
Organized around seven topics—constructions of gender; theorizing diversity; figurations of women; subjectivity, agency, and feminist critique; social identity, solidarity, and political engagement; care and its critics; and women, equality, and justice—this collection represents a broad spectrum of feminist thinking. Students will engage with critical questions, including how gender norms are instilled and perpetuated, the relationships between gender and other social positions like race and class, the resources available for recognizing and resisting subordination, the goals of feminist politics, and the reconciliation of social and legal equality with difference.
Zgoda buduje, niezgoda rujnuje? Chantal Mouffe, filozofka, intelektualistka i
aktywistka, twierdzi że jest zupełnie na odwrót. To pozorny konsensus
podminowuje demokratyczne instytucje i przesłania możliwość jakiejkolwiek
zmiany. A skoro we współczesnych społeczeństwach nie da się uniknąć
antagonizmu, wielości racji i wartości, być może warto tworzyć instytucje,
które pomieściłyby wszystkie te sprzeczności? Inaczej konflikt zamieni się w
wojnę, a oponent we wroga. Można tego uniknąć. Agonistyka to zbiór interwencji
i poszukiwanie szans dla radykalnej i pluralistycznej demokracji w różnych
sferach życia społecznego: polityce, stosunkach międzynarodowych, projekcie
europejskim i wreszcie praktykach artystycznych. Perspektywa Mouffe jest
optymistyczna, tak jakby wraz z możliwością antagonizmu na arenę wkraczało też
życie.
Schon früh erkannte Chantal Mouffe in den multiplen Krisen unserer Zeit einen »populistischen Moment«. Nun stellt sie ernüchtert fest: Rechte Parteien haben diesen viel erfolgreicher genutzt als linke. Den Grund sieht Mouffe darin, dass Rechtspopulisten und autoritäre Neoliberale geschickt Gefühle manipulieren und das Sicherheitsbedürfnis der Menschen ausbeuten. Linke hingegen setzen mit Projekten wie dem »Green New Deal« rationalistisch allein auf die Kraft des besseren Arguments. Mit ihrer hochaktuellen Intervention knüpft die Politikwissenschaftlerin an ihr Manifest Für einen linken Populismus an. Sie entwickelt die Vision einer »Grünen demokratischen Revolution«, die soziale Gerechtigkeit mit ökologischen Zielen verbindet und die Leidenschaften der Menschen mobilisiert.
Die SPD wirbt mit »Das Wir entscheidet«, die CDU mit »Gemeinsam erfolgreich« – die Wahlplakate unterstreichen, wie politischer Wettbewerb heute meist aussieht: konsensorientiert und ohne klare Alternativen. Der Ansatz Chantal Mouffes zielt in die entgegengesetzte Richtung: Der agonistische Wettstreit der Ideen ist ein fundamentaler Bestandteil des Politischen. Daher plädiert Mouffe für einen radikalen Pluralismus: Wir müssen sicherstellen, dass unterschiedliche Modelle präsentiert und diskutiert werden können – und zwar auf der nationalen, der europäischen und der globalen Ebene. Was das konkret bedeutet und welche Lehren die Linke daraus ziehen muss, erläutert die Politikwissenschaftlerin im Nachfolgeband zu ihrem vielbeachteten Buch „Über das Politische“.
