Politics and Suicide: The philosophy of political self-destruction (Interventions)

__Politics and Suicide__ argues that whilst the historical lineage of suicidal politics is recognised, the fundamental significance of autodestruction to the political remains under examined. It contends that practices like suicide-bombing do not simply embody a strange or abnormal ‘suicidal’ articulation of the political, but rather, that the existence of suicidal politics tells us something fundamental about the political as such and thinking about political violence more broadly. Recent world events have emphatically shown our need for tools with which to develop better understandings of the politics of suicide. Through the exploration of several arresting case-studies, including the ‘Kamikaze’ bombers of World War Two, Jan Palach’s self-immolation in 1969, Cold War nuclear deterrence, and the suicide-terrorist attacks of 9/11 Michelsen asks how we might talk of a political suicide in any of these contexts. The book charts how political processes ‘go suicidal’, and asks how we might still consider them to be political in such a case. It investigates how suicide can function as ‘politics’. A strong contribution to the fields of philosophy and international relations theory, this work will also be of interest to students and scholars of political theory and terrorism & political violence. Politics And Suicide Argues That Whilst The Historical Lineage Of Suicidal Politics Is Recognised, The Fundamental Significance Of Autodestruction To The Political Remains Under Examined. It Contends That Practices Like Suicide-bombing Do Not Simply Embody A Strange Or Abnormal Suicidal Articulation Of The Political, But Rather, That The Existence Of Suicidal Politics Tells Us Something Fundamental About The Political As Such And Thinking About Political Violence More Broadly. Recent World Events Have Emphatically Shown Our Need For Tools With Which To Develop Better Understandings Of The Politics Of Suicide. Through The Exploration Of Several Arresting Case-studies, Including The Kamikaze Bombers Of World War Two, Jan Palach's Self-immolation In 1969, Cold War Nuclear Deterrence, And The Suicide-terrorist Attacks Of 9/11 Michelsen Asks How We Might Talk Of A Political Suicide In Any Of These Contexts. The Book Charts How Political Processes Go Suicidal, And Asks How We Might Still Consider Them To Be Political In Such A Case. It Investigates How Suicide Can Function As Politics. A Strong Contribution To The Fields Of Philosophy And International Relations Theory, This Work Will Also Be Of Interest To Students And Scholars Of Political Theory And Terrorism And Political Violence.-- Nicholas Michelsen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Politics and Suicide argues that whilst the historical lineage of suicidal politics is recognised, the fundamental significance of autodestruction to the political remains under examined. It contends that practices like suicide-bombing do not simply embody a strange or abnormal suicidal articulation of the political, but rather, that the existence of suicidal politics tells us something fundamental about the political as such and thinking about political violence more broadly. Recent world events have emphatically shown our need for tools with which to develop better understandings of the politics of suicide. Through the exploration of several arresting case-studies, including the Kamikaze bombers of World War Two, Jan Palach's self-immolation in 1969, Cold War nuclear deterrence, and the suicide-terrorist attacks of 9/11 Michelsen asks how we might talk of a political suicide in any of these contexts. The book charts how political processes go suicidal, and asks how we might still consider them to be political in such a case. It investigates how suicide can function as politics. A strong contribution to the fields of philosophy and international relations theory, this work will also be of interest to students and scholars of political theory and terrorism and political violence.-- Provided by Publisher Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction 1 Kamikaze State suicide Politics, the assemblage of desire The fascist assemblage Revolution and annihilation Mishima’s revolution 2 Self-burning Immolāre Death and desire Events and death Palach’s revolution On suicide machines 3 Hunger striking Crossing the threshold Bodily inscription Decoding death Exchange Terror and production 4 Terror Human bomb The despot Liberal suicides Terror and liberalism A politics from the outside 5 Cult and revolution Revolutionary suicide Jonestown Millenarianism Dying well Afterword: on machines Index