Political Theory after Deleuze

217 Pages·2013·1.286 MB·English

by  Nathan Widder

Political Theory
After Deleuze
Deleuze Encounters
Series Editor: Ian Buchanan, Professor and Director of the Institute
for Social Transformation and Research, Wollongong University,
Australia.
The Deleuze Encounters series provides students in philosophy
and related subjects with concise and accessible introductions to
the application of Deleuze’s work in key areas of study. Each book
demonstrates how Deleuze’s ideas and concepts can enhance
present work in a particular field.
Series titles include:
Cinema After Deleuze
Richard Rushton
Philosophy After Deleuze
Joe Hughes
Theology After Deleuze
Kristien Justaert
Political Theory
After Deleuze
NathaN Widder
Deleuze Encounters
Continuum International Publishing Group
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© Nathan Widder 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval
system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
Nathan Widder has asserted his right under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: HB: 978-1-4411-9795-5
e-ISBN: 978-1-4411-1687-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Widder, Nathan, 1970–
Political theory after Deleuze/Nathan Widder.
p. cm. – (Deleuze encounters)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-1-4411-9795-5 (hardcover) –
ISBN 978-1-4411-5088-2 (pbk.) –
ISBN 978-1-4411-1687-1 (ebook (pdf)) –
ISBN 978-1-4411-9260-8 (ebook (epub))
1. Political science–Philosophy.
2. Deleuze, Gilles, 1925–1995–Political and social views.
3. Deleuze, Gilles, 1925–1995–Influence. I. Title. II. Series.
JA83.W52 2012
320.01–dc23
2011036461
Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
To my mother, Rachel Widder
vi
Contents
Preface ix
List of abbreviations xii
1 The ontological turn in political theory 1
‘Strong’ versus ‘Weak’ ontology 8
Abundance and lack 11
Immanence and transcendence 17
2 Deleuze’s ontology 21
An ontology of ‘sense’ 21
Difference in itself 27
Virtual and actual; differentiation and differenciation 35
Repetition and the event 41
The simulacrum and the simulation of identity 53
3 Deleuze’s Nietzsche 61
A new ontology of sense and force and a new method
of critique 63
Nietzschean and Hegelian masters and slaves 71
The will to truth and nihilism; the Overman and eternal return 79
4 Desire and desiring-machines 89
Desire as lack and the subject of lack 94
Desiring-machines; social machines 105
Territorial, despotic and capitalist social machines 114
viii CoNteNts
5 Micropolitics 123
Thought’s dogmatic image 125
The many levels of politics 129
The place of the subject? 135
The ethics of making yourself a body without organs 141
6 Conclusion: Pluralism and ‘a life’ 149
Notes 155
Bibliography 181
Index 189
Preface
t his book examines Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy in relation to
political theory. In this respect, it aims to show how Deleuze’s
thought is cashed out through a number of political and ethical themes.
But it is also meant to contribute to current debates and trends in
political theory by offering a reading of the field of political theory from
a perspective Deleuze’s philosophy provides. In this respect, it aims to
show why those who are interested and involved in these debates and
trends ought to be interested in reading Deleuze. With this in mind,
the opening chapter positions Deleuze in relation to what has become
known as the ‘ontological turn’ in political theory, outlining a set of
debates concerning ‘strong’ versus ‘weak’ ontology, the possible
ontological foundations of ‘radical democratic theory’, and the nature of
immanence and transcendence in political and philosophical thought.
Four subsequent chapters then explore the major components of
Deleuze’s ontology, his reading of Nietzsche, the politics of desire he
develops primarily in collaboration with Félix Guattari, and finally the
idea of micropolitics. The conclusion addresses ethical issues linked to
Deleuze’s last publication, ‘Immanence: a Life’.
Inasmuch as a number of political theorists are already influenced
by Deleuze, there is no need to introduce a Deleuzian perspective
into political theory, as many versions of it already exist. But I hope
that readers will find the Deleuzianism offered here to be distinctive,
and that, by showing how Deleuze’s thought challenges aspects of
the existing framework of political theory, this work can both shift
that framework and free Deleuze’s thought from some of the usual
interpretations and appropriations. Throughout the book, I have sought
to introduce Deleuze’s thought by relating it to key figures who are
not only important interlocutors for him but also major influences
in contemporary political thought. These include Hegel, Foucault,
Lacan, and, as indicated above, Nietzsche. But many other classical
and modern thinkers make appearances, including Aristotle, Plato,
Spinoza, Leibniz, Bergson, Sartre, Freud, and Melanie Klein. While