The Political Forms of Modern Society : Bureaucracy, Democracy, Totalitarianism

Claude Lefort is a French social and political theorist. His analysis of contemporary political events are often related to a consideration of one or more of the major contributions to the history of political thought. His accounts of the development of bureaucracy and totalitarianism in the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, and of the role of symbolism in modern societies are set against a study of Marx's theory of political ideology. While critical of many traditional assumptions and doctrines, Lefort develops a political position based on a reappraisal of the idea of human rights and a reconsideration of what democracy means today.

Claude Lefort is one of the leading social and political theorists in France today.

This anthology of his most important work published over the last four decades makes his writing widely accessible to an English-speaking audience for the first time.With exceptional skill Lefort combines the analysis of contemporary political events with a sensitivity to the history of political thought. His critical account of the development of bureaucracy and totalitarianism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe is a timely contribution to current debates about the nature and shortcomings of these societies. His incisive analyses of Marx's theory of history and concept of ideology provide the backdrop for a highly original account of the role of symbolism in modern societies. While critical of many traditional assumptions and doctrines, Lefort develops a political position based on a reappraisal of the idea of human rights and a reconsideration of what"democracy" means today.The Political Forms of Modern Society is a major contribution to contemporary social and political theory. The volume includes a substantial introduction that describes the context of Lefort's writings and highlights the central themes of his work.Claude Lefort teaches social and political theory at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales,Paris. He was a founder, with Cornelius Castoriadis, of the influential independent journal of the left, Socialisme ou Barbarie. John B. Thompson is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Cambridge.

Claude Lefort is one of the leading social and political theorists in France today. This anthology of his most important work published over the last four decades makes his writing widely accessible to an English-speaking audience for the first time.With exceptional skill Lefort combines the analysis of contemporary political events with a sensitivity to the history of political thought. His critical account of the development of bureaucracy and totalitarianism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe is a timely contribution to current debates about the nature and shortcomings of these societies. His incisive analyses of Marx's theory of history and concept of ideology provide the backdrop for a highly original account of the role of symbolism in modern societies. While critical of many traditional assumptions and doctrines, Lefort develops a political position based on a reappraisal of the idea of human rights and a reconsideration of what "democracy" means today.The Political Forms of Modern Society is a major contribution to contemporary social and political theory. The volume includes a substantial introduction that describes the context of Lefort's writings and highlights the central themes of his work.Claude Lefort teaches social and political theory at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris. He was a founder, with Cornelius Castoriadis, of the influential independent journal of the left, Socialisme ou Barbarie. John B. Thompson is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Cambridge. The Contradiction Of Trotsky -- Totalitarianism Without Stalin -- What Is Bureaucracy? -- Novelty And The Appeal Of Repetition -- Marx: From One Vision Of History To Another -- Outline Of The Genesis Of Ideology In Modern Societies -- Politics And Human Rights -- The Logic Of Totalitarianism -- The Image Of The Body And Totalitarianism -- Pushing Back The Limits Of The Possible Claude Lefort ; Edited And Introduced By John B. Thompson. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. [331]-333. Lefort's analysis of contemporary political events are often related to a consideration of one or more of the major contributions to the history of political thought. For example, his study of the role of symbolism in modern societies is set against a study of Marx's theory of political ideology.