Common Ground
Democracy and Collectivity in an Age of Individualism
Published on 8. November 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-7453-2531-6 (ISBN)
Description
Under neoliberalism the cult of individualism reigns supreme, forced upon us through culture, media and politics, it fatally limits our capacity to escape the current crisis of democratic politics. In Common Ground, Jeremy Gilbert asks us to reimagine the philosophical relationship between individuality, collectivity, affect and agency, proposing a radically non-individualist mode of imagining social life.
The book considers how opponents of neoliberal hegemony, and of the individualist tradition in Western thought, might protect collective creativity and democratic possibility. Examination of the historical roots of individualism's 'Leviathan logic' and fresh readings of theorists such as Hobbes, Lazzarato, Simondon, Lyotard, Laclau and Deleuze and Guattari, force us to confront longstanding assumptions about the nature of the individual and of collectivity. Exploration of this fundamental faultline in contemporary politics is accompanied by analysis of the different ideas and practices of collectivity, from conservative notions of hierarchical and patriarchal communities to the politics of 'horizontality' and 'the commons' which lie at the heart of radical movements today. Through an understanding of the philosophy shaping contemporary relations and disrupting hegemonic values, we can re-imagine the present moment.
The book considers how opponents of neoliberal hegemony, and of the individualist tradition in Western thought, might protect collective creativity and democratic possibility. Examination of the historical roots of individualism's 'Leviathan logic' and fresh readings of theorists such as Hobbes, Lazzarato, Simondon, Lyotard, Laclau and Deleuze and Guattari, force us to confront longstanding assumptions about the nature of the individual and of collectivity. Exploration of this fundamental faultline in contemporary politics is accompanied by analysis of the different ideas and practices of collectivity, from conservative notions of hierarchical and patriarchal communities to the politics of 'horizontality' and 'the commons' which lie at the heart of radical movements today. Through an understanding of the philosophy shaping contemporary relations and disrupting hegemonic values, we can re-imagine the present moment.
Reviews / Votes
'A bold, brilliant and ultimately hopeful attempt to build a critique of liberalism and neoliberalism on different foundations' -- Mark Fisher, Goldsmiths 'A serious and courageous engagement with the deepest issue of our time. Humanity cannot go on as we are, but how do we change course? Gilbert starts to build a strategy from the wreckage' -- Anthony Barnett, founder of openDemocracy 'We live in an interregnum. The old is not yet dead and the new is yet to be born. No one understands this moment better than Jeremy Gilbert.' -- Neal Lawson, Chair for Compass 'The task of a philosophy of relation, of a transindividual philosophy, is not just to assert the reality of relations, but to understand how those very relations individuate us. Gilbert's book is an important contribution to such a project' -- Jason Read, The New Inquiry 'A bold, brilliant and ultimately hopeful attempt to build a critique of liberalism and neoliberalism on different foundations' -- William Davies, Goldsmiths 'Addresses the most urgent practical questions about individualism and collectivism, using the most sophisticated theoretical tools available to progressive thought' -- Lawrence Grossberg, Morris Davis Distinguished Professor of Media Studies & Cultural Studies at UNC, and author of Cultural Studies in the Future Tense (Duke University Press, 2010) 'Jeremy Gilbert is a master storyteller, reassembling critical traditions and opening up contemporary cases. In contrast to much theorising of the present, Common Ground honours the liveness and the conceptual vitality of the political: a necessity, in this exciting and terrifying contemporary moment' -- Lauren Berlant, George M. Pullman Distinguished Service Professor, Department of English, University of ChicagoMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
399 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7453-2531-6 (9780745325316)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2013
1st Edition
Pluto Press
€83.69
Available for download
E-Book
11/2013
1st Edition
Pluto Press
€31.99
Available for download
Person
Jeremy Gilbert is Professor of Cultural and Political Theory at the University of East London and editor of the journal New Formations. He is widely known as a theorist and political commentator, writing for both academic and general audiences. He is the author of Common Ground (Pluto, 2013).Gilbert writes regularly for outlets such New Statesman, OpenDemocracy and the Guardian.
Content
Preface
1. Postmodernity and the Crisis of Democracy
2. A War of All Against All: Neoliberal Hegemony and Competitive Individualism
3. Leviathan Logics: Group Psychology from Hobbes to Laclau
4. The State of Community Opened: Multitude and Multiplicity
5. The Non-Fascist Crowd: Individuation and Infinite Relationality
6. Feeling Together: Affect, Identity and the Politics of the Common
7. On the Impossibility of Making Decisions: Affect, Agency and the Democratic Sublime
Conclusions
Notes
Index
1. Postmodernity and the Crisis of Democracy
2. A War of All Against All: Neoliberal Hegemony and Competitive Individualism
3. Leviathan Logics: Group Psychology from Hobbes to Laclau
4. The State of Community Opened: Multitude and Multiplicity
5. The Non-Fascist Crowd: Individuation and Infinite Relationality
6. Feeling Together: Affect, Identity and the Politics of the Common
7. On the Impossibility of Making Decisions: Affect, Agency and the Democratic Sublime
Conclusions
Notes
Index