Routledge Foucault and the Political (Thinking the Political)

Michel Foucault's involvement with politics, both as an individual and a writer, has been much commented upon but until now has not been systematically reviewed. This is the first major introductory study of Michel Foucault as a political thinker. Jonathon Simons explores the importance of the political in all areas of Foucault's work and life, including important material only recently made available and the implications of various revelations about his private life. Simons relates Foucault's work both to contemporary political thinkers such as Michael Walzer, Charles Taylor and Jurgen Habermas, and to those challenging conventional political categories, especially people who write on feminist and gay theory, such as Judith Butler. Students of Foucault and of political and social theory, as well as those working in lesbian and gay theory, and feminist studies, will find this book essential. Review 'Unquestionably the work of a first rate scholar who has pondered the issues raised by his subject with very commendable seriousness and concentration. In a field where clarity of expression and stylistic economy are not always common, it reads extremely well.' - N.J. Rengger, University of Bristol 'A nuanced, richly textured account which is sympathetic to Foucault's overall agenda without being uncritical.' - Fred Dallmayr, University of Notre Dame