The Monstrous and the Dead: Burke, Marx, Fascism (University of Wales Press - Political Philosophy Now)

What is the political function of monstrosity? What is the nature of our political relationship with the dead? Why are the undead so threatening? In The Monstrous and the Dead, Mark Neocleous explores such questions as they run through three major political traditions: conservatism, Marxism and fascism. One of the things uniting these otherwise opposing traditions is that they share a common interest in the dead. This is therefore a book about the politics of remembrance, showing that how and why the dead register in our political lives constitutes a major dividing line for the political traditions in question: are the dead to be reconciled with the living in a conservative fashion, resurrected for the cause of fascism or are their hopes and struggles to be redeemed for a communist future?Exploring these issues reveals that, as well as leaving traces in memories, dreams and unfulfilled wishes, the dead also generate fears, most notably the fear that they are not really dead: they are undead and thus monstrous. The book therefore simultaneously considers the function of monstrosity as a rhetorical political device: in Burke’s response to the monstrous revolution, Marx’s use of the vampire and fascism’s concept of the Marxist-liberal-Jewish menace.The outcome is an original reading of key thinkers and movements in western politics, a provocative account of the role of political metaphor and an eclectic argument concerning the place of the dead in historical struggles. What is the political function of monstrosity? What is the nature of our political relationship with the dead? Why are the undead so threatening? In The Monstrous and the Dead , Mark Neocleous explores such questions as they run through three major political conservatism, Marxism and fascism. One of the things uniting these otherwise opposing traditions is that they share a common interest in the dead. This is therefore a book about the politics of remembrance, showing that how and why the dead register in our political lives constitutes a major dividing line for the political traditions in are the dead to be reconciled with the living in a conservative fashion, resurrected for the cause of fascism or are their hopes and struggles to be redeemed for a communist future? Exploring these issues reveals that, as well as leaving traces in memories, dreams and unfulfilled wishes, the dead also generate fears, most notably the fear that they are not really they are undead and thus monstrous. The book therefore simultaneously considers the function of monstrosity as a rhetorical political in Burkes response to the monstrous revolution, Marxs use of the vampire and fascisms concept of the Marxist-liberal-Jewish menace. The outcome is an original reading of key thinkers and movements in western politics, a provocative account of the role of political metaphor and an eclectic argument concerning the place of the dead in historical struggles. This Is A Book About The Politics Of Remembrance, Showing That How And Why The Dead Register In Our Political Lives Constitutes A Major Dividing Line For The Political Traditions In Question: Are The Dead To Be Reconciled With The Living In A Conservative Fashion, Resurrected For The Cause Of Fascism Or Are Their Hopes And Struggles To Be Redeemed For A Communist Future?--jacket. 1. Burke : The Monstrous Multitude -- A Sublime Revolution? -- Mobs And Monsters -- Reconciliation; Or The Authority Of The Dead -- 2. Marx : The Political Economy Of The Dead -- Bloody Capital -- Living And Dead Labour -- Redemption; Or Must We Let The Dead Bury Their Dead? -- 3. Fascism : Long Live Death! -- The Thrill Of Horror -- 'as For Death -- That We Do Fabulously!' -- Resurrection; Or The Danse Macabre. Mark Neocleous. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This analysis explores the use of metaphors of monstrosity and death in the work in some of the most prominent political theorists. In particular, the crucial role of monster metaphors in the works of Hobbes, Heidegger, and Carl Schmitt is examined, as well as the role of these metaphors in various political systems, such as conservatism, Marxism, and fascism. The image of the vampire in Marx and its relation to his concept of dead labor and capital is also addressed along with a remarkable investigation of the contemporary construction of modern day social and political "monsters." Examines the use of metaphors of monstrosity and the place of the dead in political theory, specifically in relation to conservatism, Marxism and fascism