The Lessons of Rancière
"Jacques Rancière's work circulates widely these days, but it is rarely well-understood. Sam Chambers'The Lessons of Rancièrewill change that. Distinguishing Rancière's project from the anarchism and Arendtianism with which it is often associated, Chambers gives pride of place to Rancière's historically-situated emancipatory politics of equality and argues that contemporary queer activism is its best exemplar now. Tracking the contingencies of Rancière's (mis-)translation into English, the stakes of different approaches to his work, and the debates to which Rancière is a key contributor (humanism, critical theory, subjectivation, and more), Chambers offers a thoroughgoing analysis of the contribution Rancière stands to make to political and critical theory now. GPS-like, this book will help all readers of Rancière get their bearings in the space and time of contemporary political theory."-- Bonnie Honig, Sarah Rebecca Roland Professor, Political Science, Northwestern University"This is a remarkably deft engagement with Rancière and his interpreters.  Chambers persistently refuses to let the latter capture Rancière for their particular projects, stressing rather his distinctiveness and radicality.  In fact, we discover that there are no enumerable 'lessons' to be learned; only a set of unruly challenges to established positions in contemporary political theory.  This book sparkles with insights."-- Stephen White, James Hart Professor of Politics, University of Virginia