Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Revolt as pure politics – and the subject. / Diken, Bulent.
In: Third Text, Vol. 25, No. 5, 2011, p. 539-551.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Revolt as pure politics – and the subject
AU - Diken, Bulent
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - This article deals with revolt in terms of ‘pure politics’ in Alain Badiou's sense. Extending the link between revolt and politics to the question of the subject, it elaborates on subjectivation as an effect which polarises a historical situation and an extra-historical event. The four main ‘subject effects’ discussed are: superego, anxiety, courage and justice. Following this, the article argues that, since subjection is an embodied relation, one cannot liberate oneself from it only through intellectual reflection. Revolt against the modern law, which takes the form of superego, necessarily involves a moment of masochism, of counter-actualisation. Concepts of repetition and resurrection are central in this context. The article ends with a critical reflection on pure politics, emphasizing the role of economy vis-à-vis politics.
AB - This article deals with revolt in terms of ‘pure politics’ in Alain Badiou's sense. Extending the link between revolt and politics to the question of the subject, it elaborates on subjectivation as an effect which polarises a historical situation and an extra-historical event. The four main ‘subject effects’ discussed are: superego, anxiety, courage and justice. Following this, the article argues that, since subjection is an embodied relation, one cannot liberate oneself from it only through intellectual reflection. Revolt against the modern law, which takes the form of superego, necessarily involves a moment of masochism, of counter-actualisation. Concepts of repetition and resurrection are central in this context. The article ends with a critical reflection on pure politics, emphasizing the role of economy vis-à-vis politics.
KW - Revolt
KW - anxiety
KW - superego
KW - law
KW - repetition
KW - justice
KW - courage
KW - sadism
KW - masochism
KW - Alain Badiou
U2 - 10.1080/09528822.2011.608958
DO - 10.1080/09528822.2011.608958
M3 - Journal article
VL - 25
SP - 539
EP - 551
JO - Third Text
JF - Third Text
SN - 0952-8822
IS - 5
ER -