Book Review: Political Theory
| Published date | 01 May 2007 |
| Date | 01 May 2007 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-9299.2007.00132_1.x |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
Book Reviews
Political Theory
fering conceptions of ontology, epistemology,
research methods and the purposes of scholarship.
Feminist Methodologies for International
Individual chapters examine, for example, narra-
Relations by Brooke A. Ackerley, Maria
tion, institutional analysis, ethnography, the study
Stern and Jacqui True (eds). Cambridge:
of identity and masculinities, new sites for schol-
Cambridge
University
Press, 2006. 316pp.,
arship (including art and museums) and distinctive
£17.99, ISBN 0 521 67835 8
forms of feminist ethical reflection. The standard
of the chapters is generally high, and they are
Over the last two decades feminist research (and
useful in identifying the differences and simi-
more recently a wider gender studies agenda) has
larities between competing approaches, as well as
made increasing inroads into the often staid world
conveying the excitement and significance of the
of international relations. Although many main-
work. Cumulatively, they paint a valuable picture
stream IR scholars remain wary, if not openly
of the horizons of contemporary feminist work in
hostile, especially in the United States, feminist
international relations.The volume, as a result, will
work is now a thriving and exciting area of
be of considerable interest not only to feminist
inquiry, shedding fascinating light on many
scholars, but also to those teaching general courses
important elements of global social and political
on research methods in international relations.
life. Such scholarship has secured a firm anchorage
in the collective imagination of the field, as well
Duncan Bell
as, more prosaically, most theory courses and
(University of Cambridge)
reading lists. Feminist Methodologies for International
Philosophy of the Encounter: Later Writ-
Relations is a valuable addition to this literature.
ings, 1978–1987 by Louis Althusser. London:
This volume is both a sign of the vitality of
Verso, 2006. 299pp., £16.99, ISBN 1 84467 553
feminist scholarship and a marker of its success.
X
Unlike most collections on feminist work, it
focuses specifically on the various (and sometimes
Althusser was the best-known Marxist philoso-
conflicting) approaches to studying gender that
pher in the Western world in the 1980s. He
have been deployed. Combining conceptual
achieved a different sort of fame in 1980 when, in
reflections with interesting case studies, the con-
a psychotic state, he murdered his wife. He did not
tributors highlight the richness as well as the
publish anything after that and died in 1990.This
diversity of feminist scholarship in international
book contains two long pieces that he was
relations, and offer insights into how such work is
working on at the end of his life, and a substantial
conceived and pursued. The book is divided into
interview. It is a shame that we have had to wait so
three parts (which are not especially distinctive),
long for an English translation. The controversies
and comprises twelve chapters, including a useful
of the European left in the 1980s now seem
scene-setting introduction by the editors. The
anachronistic. How strange to see Althusser
authors include leading feminist academics,
arguing so passionately against the ‘Eurocommu-
including J. Ann Tickner and Christine Sylvester,
nist’ tide of the times, and for a continuing com-
as well as an impressive roster of more junior
mitment to the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’,
scholars.The chapters range widely, exploring dif-
just as the whole Soviet edifice was crumbling.
© 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 Political Studies Association
B O O K R E V I E W S
249
As a philosopher, Althusser was known for
vated violence in our times’ (p. 1). Appadurai
insisting that there is an ‘epistemological break’
addresses both the problem of violence against
between Marx’s early ‘humanist’ and Hegelian
minorities by majorities (the fear of small
ideas, and the ‘scientific’ theory of his later work.
numbers) and globalised terror by minorities (the
Here he concedes that Marx never managed to free
power of small numbers).
his thought of Hegelian elements; they survive
The majority of the book focuses on how fast
right through.The anti-Hegelian,‘scientific’ Marx,
changing conditions in a globalised world and the
he acknowledges, is an ‘imaginary’ construct, as
powerlessness of the nation state against these
Raymond Aron had charged (p. 211, p. 258).
forces create a deep-seated uncertainty, which
Another topic discussed at length concerns the
majorities then project on to minorities.This fear
nature of the state and the concept of ‘ideological
of difference is the first step towards a predatory
state apparatuses’. This was one of Althusser’s
narcissistic society which seeks to eliminate dif-
main contributions to political theory. This
ference to increase its purity.
account (pp. 61–126) significantly clarifies and
The second theme of the book is that globali-
extends his views.
sation pits states, which are vertebrate structures,
In the second piece in this collection, Althusser
relying on rules and norms to regulate their
begins to develop the materialist philosophy
conduct, against cellular structures, which use
which was occupying him in the last years of his
new
developments
in
communications
and
life. He spells out what he calls a ‘materialism of
finance to work both within and across states.
the encounter’, in which random events and
This offers an alternative to Huntington’s thesis
chance encounters, rather than universal laws, are
on the clash of hegemonic civilisations. Instead
determinant. He ascribes this to Marx. Again, I
civilisations are portrayed as fragmented them-
suspect we are in the realms of the imagination.
selves and the clash is between large vertebrate
These ideas are more illuminating about Althusser
structures and agile cellular networks residing
than Marx. Nevertheless, this theory is suggestive
within them.
and it shows that Althusser was continuing to
The author uses India, where Hindu national-
think creatively right up to the end of his life.The
ism developed partially defining itself in opposi-
final piece in this collection is a lengthy interview
tion to a large Muslim minority, as his main
dealing with both political and philosophical
example. But the book covers a wide range of
questions, together with the correspondence with
events from al-Qa’eda attacks to genocide in
the interviewer in preparation for it. One nor-
Rwanda and civil war in Eastern Europe. The
mally worries that unfinished and posthumous
question is whether all these events can be
pieces will be the dregs, but this book is vintage
adequately addressed by one theory tied to glo-
Althusser: clear, forcefully argued and a substantial
balisation, rather than explanations based prima-
addition to his oeuvre. Highly recommended.
rily on local factors.
The weakest aspect of the book is the argument
Sean Sayers
that oppressed minorities become part of a cellu-
(University of Kent)
lar, powerful and violent structure to improve
their self-definition and gain certainty.This trans-
Fear of Small Numbers: An Essay on the
formation is not explained satisfactorily and none
Geography of Anger by Arjun Appadurai.
of the cases cited provide clear evidence for it.
Durham NC: Duke University Press, 2006.
The book has to be considered within the
153pp., £12.95, ISBN 0 8223 3863 7
context of Appadurai’s larger project, which is
Arjun Appadurai’s Fear of Small Numbers follows
optimistic about globalisation. The author closes
on his earlier work in Modernity at Large (1996,
the book with an overview of his work on grass-
Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press). Here
roots globalisation, where global opportunities
he turns from an optimistic assessment of globali-
inspire cooperation and social development rather
sation to examining ‘large-scale culturally moti-
than violence.
© 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2007, 5(2)
250
P O L I T I C A L T H E O R Y
While it may not succeed in all of its aims, this
biased practices of international governmental
ambitious project deserves praise, especially for
organisations (IGOs), which, it is suggested, could
the way in which it introduces the conceptual
be made more democratic by dismantling their
tools of vertebrate and cellular structures to
oligarchic decision-making structures to improve
capture important aspects of the rise in globalised
representativity, and by improving their transpar-
violence and terror.
ency and accountability.The penultimate chapter
discusses ideas for a revival of democracy – partici-
Zsuzsanna Chappell
patory democracy and budgeting, devolution to
(London School of Economics and Political Science)
local-level decision-making, deliberative polls,
citizen juries, referenda, digital democracy – and
Democracy: A Beginner’s Guide by David
the pros and cons associated with these methods.
Beetham. Oxford: Oneworld, 2005. 196pp.,
The best thing we can do as individuals, the book
£19.99, ISBN 1 85168 363 1
argues in the final chapter,is to become involved in
This book is much more than an excellent intro-
local, national and international politics, because
duction to ‘democracy’. The debates over the
democracy ultimately rests on the shoulders of
meaning of the highly contested term ‘democracy’
individuals. This is an informative, engaging and...
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