On the Political

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by Chantal Mouffe

Routledge

Due/Published July 2005, 144 pages, paper

ISBN 0415305217

Since September 11, we frequently hear that the struggle is between good and evil and that politics is at an end. Should we welcome or fear a 'Third Way' beyond left and right? In this book, Chantal Mouffe argues that third way thinking ignores fundamental, conflictual aspects of human nature and that far from expanding democracy, globalization is undermining the combative and radical heart of democratic life.

Going back first to Aristotle, she identifies the historical origins of the political. She also reflects on the Enlightenment and the social contract, arguing that in spite of its good intentions, it fatally suppressed the radical core of political life. She uses many contemporary examples, including the Iraq war, racism and the rise of the far right, to argue that far from ending dangerous extremism, the political void created by the search for consensus inflames it.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Politics and the political

Chapter 2: Beyond the adversarial model?

Chapter 3: Current challenges to the post-political vision

Chapter 4: Which world order: Cosmopolitan or Multipolar?

Conclusion

Bibliography