Ethics and Politics in Contemporary Theory Between Critical Theory and Post-Marxism

In addressing the political and theoretical debates between critical and post-Marxist theorists, this book discusses the politics of communication and rationality, subjectivity, sovereignty, ethics and deliberative democracy, considering questions such as:

Does the theory of communicative action justify deliberative democracy?

Is a theory of hegemony compatible with an account which relies upon an ideal of communicative success?

Is autonomy a good which should be fostered?

Can the ideal of democracy extend beyond the nation state?

Does post-Marxism have anything interesting to say about ethics?

Analysing the work of Ernesto Laclau and Jürgen Habermas - as representatives of different choices made in regard to theory, politics and morality - Ethics and Politics in Contemporary Theory develops a critical response to the contrasting conclusions of these approaches.