Laclau and Mouffe: The Radical Democratic Imaginary

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L A C L AU A N D M O U F F E
Laclau and Mouffe: The Radical Democratic Imaginary is one of the first booklength
studies of two of the most significant political theorists writing today. Anna Marie
Smith provides both a clear and accessible overview of the work of Ernesto Laclau
and Chantal Mouffe and a thoughtful and challenging consideration of some of
the weaknesses in their work. Throughout, she links their work and criticism of it
with some of the key themes in contemporary social and political theory.
Anna Marie Smith shows first how the work of Laclau and Mouffe seeks to
retrieve the strongest elements of both the liberal democratic and socialist
traditions, emphasizing its valuable contribution to radical democratic pluralism.
She goes on to show how they have combined the insights of three important
currents: Gramsci’s political theory, anti-foundational themes found in post-
structuralist theory, and aspects of psychoanalytic theory and how these have been
brought to bear on traditional political theory. She demonstrates how Laclau and
Mouffe have combined these perspectives to develop a compelling theory of social
identity and power relations in contemporary political societies.
Laclau and Mouffe: The Radical Democratic Imaginary also considers some of the
weaknesses in Laclau and Mouffe’s work. Anna Marie Smith examines their
problematic approach to historically structured conditions of political practice
and demonstrates that certain themes in their work have been anticipated by
critiques in feminist and race theory, lesbian and gay studies and multiculturalism.
Underpinning these discussions is careful consideration of the implications these
dimensions have for the notions of hegemony, essentialism and power that are
central to any understanding of Laclau and Mouffe’s work.
Laclau and Mouffe: The Radical Democratic Imaginary provides fresh insights
into the work of two key contemporary political theorists; these insights are linked
to central concerns in contemporary thought and illustrated by lively discussions
of British and American politics. It will be of interest to all those engaged in the
study of political and social theory, philosophy, cultural studies and gender studies.