Antagonistics: Capitalism and Power in an Age of War

by Gopal Balakrishnan

Antagonistics addresses central political and theoretical how should we conceive the relations between neo-imperial warfare and neoliberalism, or American hegemony and capitalist globalization? Reflections on the major issues of the new international order are set within a larger framework, tracing the intertwined evolution of the modern state system and the capitalist mode of production, from the Treaty of Westphalia to the Occupation of Iraq. Gopal Balakrishnan interrogates three key political perspectives—including Tocqueville’s liberalism, Althusser’s Marxism and Schmitt on the radical right—for their insights on state power and civil society, democracy, and class. Antagonistics combines intellectual history, political philosophy, and historical sociology to produce a highly distinctive portrait of an age of capital and war.

Genres: Politics

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2008

About the author

A prolific writer and independent scholar, Gopal Balakrishnan has authored numerous books, essays, chapters, and articles covering a broad range of intellectual interests. His published books include The Enemy: An Intellectual Portrait of Carl Schmitt and Antagonistics: Capitalism and Power in an Age of War. His edited volumes include Mapping the Nation and Debating Empire. He is the author of numerous essays and book chapters, and his work has been translated into multiple languages. In recent years, Balakrishnan has developed a distinctive interpretation of Karl Marx’s later economic thought and is working to refine his findings into a cohesive and politically resonating form. He has also begun collaborating with the editors of SS African Mercury. This journal delivers bold theoretical analyses and critiques of the political and cultural landscape across the ideological spectrum. He will be publishing most of his future work with SS African Mercury.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gopal is a smart guy. This book consists, with one exception, of reviews that were published in The New Left Review (he's now on the editorial board). If you want to learn more about history, politics, philosophy, etc., and how all of these things are important for the Left of yesterday and today, Gopal Balakrishnan is the man. And I'm not just saying this so that he accepts me into the History of Consciousness PhD program @ UCSC when I apply.