From extreme violence to the problem of civility : a selection from Violence and civility: on the limits of political philosophy

In this impassioned argument, Étienne Balibar boldly confronts the insidious causes of violence, racism, nationalism, and ethnic cleansing worldwide. Through a novel synthesis of theory and empirical studies of violence drawn from contemporary life, Balibar tests the limits of political philosophy to formulate new, productive conceptions of war, revolution, sovereignty, and class. Balibar explores how the relationship between politics and violence effects the way violence continues to exist in our society, and further how "civility" presents itself within this contemporary dichotomy. Balibar introduces the need to view politics as "counter-violence" versus "anti-violence" and other conversions in power and authority to better aptly respond to cruelty and violence.

In this impassioned argument, Étienne Balibar boldly confronts the insidious causes of violence, racism, nationalism, and ethnic cleansing worldwide. Through a novel synthesis of theory and empirical studies of violence drawn from contemporary life, Balibar tests the limits of political philosophy to formulate new, productive conceptions of war, revolution, sovereignty, and class. Balibar explores how the relationship between politics and violence effects the way violence continues to exist in our society, and further how "civility" presents itself within this contemporary dichotomy. Balibar introduces the need to view politics as "counter-violence" versus "anti-violence" and other conversions in power and authority to better aptly respond to cruelty and violence.

©œtienne Balibar is emeritus professor of philosophy at Paris X Nanterre and emeritus professor of comparative literature at the University of California, Irvine. He is currently professor of modern European philosophy at Kingston University, London, and visiting professor at Columbia University. His books include Reading Capital (with Louis Althusser); Race, Nation, Class: Ambiguous Identites (with Immanuel Wallerstein); The Philosophy of Marx; Spinoza and Politics; and Equaliberty: Political Essays. Étienne Balibar is emeritus professor of philosophy at Paris X Nanterre and emeritus professor of comparative literature at the University of California, Irvine. He is currently professor of modern European philosophy at Kingston University, London, and visiting professor at Columbia University. His books include Reading Capital (with Louis Althusser); Race, Nation, Class: Ambiguous Identites (with Immanuel Wallerstein); The Philosophy of Marx; Spinoza and Politics; and Equaliberty: Political Essays Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Introduction. Violence and Politics: Questions; From Extreme Violence to the Problem of Civility; Notes