New reflections on the revolution of our time

TLDR

The book builds on earlier work exploring democracy and socialism, extending the analysis begun in *Hegemony and Socialist Strategy*. It seeks to analyze the meanings of social struggle under late capitalism and to reconstruct political identities within a democratic revolutionary framework. Employing a critical method that links structural changes in the world‑system to a radical interpretative form, the author integrates politics, theory, Marxism, psychoanalysis, historical events such as May 1968, and third‑world struggles, culminating in reflective interviews.

Abstract

New Reflections on the Revolution of Our Time continues the innovative exploration of major issues concerning democracy and socialism which was staked out in Hegemony and Socialist Strategy. Examining the meanings of social struggle in the context of late capitalism, Laclau situates the re-making of political identities within a framework of democratic revolution. The critical method is one which describes major structural changes in the contemporary world-system at the same time as it theorizes a coherent and radical interpretative form. This marriage of politics and theory allows the book to embrace topics ranging from the relationship between Marxism and psychoanalysis to the historical significance of May 1968 and forms of political struggle in the third world. In a final section of illuminating interviews the author expounds his most recent thought on politics and philosophy.