Suchergebnisse

The central argument of this book is that the univocal ontology and corresponding immanent metaphysics of the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995) can provide a theoretical perspective capable of accounting for the complex nature of world politics. Drawing on a wide variety of Deleuze's writings, it develops a thorough investigation of his ontology and metaphysics as they pertain to core questions of world politics such as power, identity, hierarchy, space, time, territory and the state. The book explores the dynamics of contemporary world politics and issues by focusing on the 'anti' or 'alter-globalization movement' (AGM). It analyses several approaches to social and political theory which deal explicitly with the AGM including global governance theory, international relations, social movement theory, Marxism, and post-Marxism. These are contrasted with a larger Deleuzian theory which can be of use when addressing the diffuse, and often paradoxical aspects of world politics. Deleuze's work poses a major challenge to traditional understanding of global politics and this book will be of considerable interest to those with an interest in social and political theory, critical international relations and globalization studies.

This paper starts with the observation that at least for the last century there has been an orthodoxy in the social sciences characterized by sui generis structures of various kinds but also (paradoxically) by the unique role of individuals in their ability to intervene in the flow of events. This paper argues that there is a commonality to a number of challenges to orthodoxy that dates back to the beginnings of the social sciences themselves with Vico. Although many connections have been made between elements of these critiques (Latour's connection to Whitehead, Deleuze's connection to Tarde), this paper proposes to make such connections more explicit by focusing on a central commitment to or tendency towards a monism characterized by a univocal ontology. The implication is that these various alternatives perhaps have more in common than normally thought and can continue to learn from each other. Most importantly, they present a coherent and viable alternative to social science orthodoxy.

Deleuze's legacy in the social sciences in general and in international studies in particular has been predominantly shaped by postmodernist and poststructuralist readings derived largely from American literary criticism. This has led to the proliferation of various Deleuzo-Guattarian terms such as rhizome and war machine, as well as an ill-defined 'Deleuzian approach'. Although productive in their own way, such readings of Deleuze's philosophy obscure a profound and elegant theory (or super-theory) of the world that offers considerable innovations in efforts to explain and understand the complex and integrated world we live in. The article argues for a reading of Deleuze's work committed to his univocal ontology and his metaphysical system of the virtual and the actual. It is argued that this approach addresses some of the most vexing questions of international studies and suggests methodologically sound avenues of further study.