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Four concepts of politics follow from an attempt to view the established order, its structural workings: actions and inactions, as more or less authentic politics by starting from Slavoj Žižek's theory of authentic Political Act. In short Žižek's theory is viewed from a slightly different angle in an attempt to approach more general theory of politics. When analysing political antagonisms, Žižek has suggested looking for the third term. Viewing an antagonism from both of its viewpoints suggest, however, that instead of one position more, two conceptual positions more may be formulated. These two positions are proposed to be viewed as (in)acts of both corresponding sides. What is called 'Politics of revolution' in the proposed schema suggests 'prefer not to politics' and what is called 'Politics of maintenance' suggests 'prefer to politics'. Furthermore, a proposal to conceptually divide the politics of the established order in two is made in order to clarify the relation of found objects to their origins. Thus two respective conservatisms are identified: conservatism of 'relics old particular all' and conservatism of 'relics of objects which might have saved the world'. In this context any re-Acts of these relics would fit the category of 'Politics of maintenance' and repressing these relics would fit the category of (in)active maintenance through 'prefer to politics'. Another conclusion is that in analysing the political antagonism of two, one could look for, not only for the third but for the fourth term as well. ; peerReviewed

The article argues that there are a number of concepts of politics in play in the current debates on securitization theory and that greater awareness regarding these conceptual differences helps clarify not only theoretical differences but also the possibilities for new theoretical development and reflection. The article identifies three conversations on politics: first, a conversation on how politics concerns action and intentionality; second, a conversation on the modern organization of politics, spheres and sectors; and, third, a conversation on the relationship between politics, ethics and science. Where the first and third conversations refer to politics as an act, in the second conversation politics is inherently tied to the institutional or spatial structures of government – the state, the public, the political field, spheres, sectors or function.

"REASON OF STATE" IS THE DOCTRINE THAT ASSERTS THAT THE PRESERVATION OF THE STATE -- UNDERSTOOD SIMPLY AS DOMINION -- CAN BE PURSUED BY ANY MEANS, JUST OR UNJUST. THE EMERGENCE OF THIS CONCEPTION WAS A REVOLUTION IN THE SENSE OF POLITICS AS WELL AS THAT OF POLITICAL MIND AND POLITICAL SCIENCE. IN SPITE OF ITS MAGNITUDE, HOWEVER, CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARS HAVE PAID LITTLE OR NO ATTENTION TO IT. THIS ESSAY ARGUES THAT THERE HAS BEEN A REVOLUTION IN THE CONCEPT OF POLITICS. IT ALSO TRIES TO INVESTIGATE ITS HISTORICAL MEANING AND SPECIFY THE ROLE OF SOME OF THE POLITICAL THINKERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO ITS DEVELOPMENT AND TRIUMPH.

Klappentext: This textbook provides social science students with an introduction to social and political theory. It asks the questions at the heart of contemporary political debate - why should the individual obey the law? Do people have a right to welfare? Is equality all feminists aim for? What does it mean to be Green? - and explains the meaning of the concepts that we use to answer them. Each chapter discusses a particular concept or theoretical issue. Topics covered include: freedom, citizenship and rights, social justice and equality, constitutionalism and democracy, political obligation, power, violence and revolution, feminism, environmentalism, international relations, and realism and welfare. Referring to current political debates to illustrate their argument, the authors show how people of different political or theoretical persuasions view each of these concepts or issues in often dramatically different (and frequently flawed) ways. They offer original solutions of their own as to how these interpretative disputes might be resolved.

Der Autor unterscheidet fünf verschiedene Arten, in denen sich der Pluralismus als solcher in einer Gesellschaft manifestiert, und zeigt mit Bezug auf Afrika und insbesondere Südafrika auf, wie diese Unterschiede in eine Kultur des politischen Pluralismus Eingang finden können. Vor dem Hintergrund der vielen Facetten des Begriffes "Kultur" diskutiert er die neue pan-afrikanische und post-moderne afrikanische Identität und deren Bedeutung für das Entstehen einer übergreifenden afrikanischen politischen Kultur. (DÜI-Hlb)

Scholars argue that Marx explicitly states that financial and industrial capitalists do form distinct classes. Relations between industrial and financial capital were broadly discussed not only by Marx but also by Marxists after Marx. However, the question of the practical significance of Marx's distinction between industrial and financial capitalists does not seem to be properly answered. This paper tries to show that this distinction always had a political significance. It discusses the changes made by Marx during his lifetime, and attempts to explain those changes by connecting them to historical events on the one hand and to Marx's concept of politics on the other.