Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology
This article examines the political anthropological work of Pierre Clastres in light of the emergence of the subfield of comparative political theory. In particular, it argues that Clastres’ reconstruction of the political philosophy of various Amazonian societies offers an alternative model for the...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2020
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/145146 |
| _version_ | 1826121836853723136 |
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| author | Holman, Christopher |
| author2 | School of Social Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Social Sciences Holman, Christopher |
| author_sort | Holman, Christopher |
| collection | NTU |
| description | This article examines the political anthropological work of Pierre Clastres in light of the emergence of the subfield of comparative political theory. In particular, it argues that Clastres’ reconstruction of the political philosophy of various Amazonian societies offers an alternative model for the engagement with texts and traditions external to the history of so-called Western societies. Rejecting all impulses toward totalization – as represented, for example, in the assertion of a dialogical potential for establishing modes of intercultural exchange aimed at achieving mutual understanding – Clastres calls attention to the radical social-historical alterity of forms of society. Appreciation of this alterity not only enlarges the scope of comparative political thought to engage inherited traditions that resist assimilation into Western conversations, but also reveals an indeterminate democratic potential grounded in political creativity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:38:43Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/145146 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:38:43Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1451462023-03-05T15:32:56Z Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology Holman, Christopher School of Social Sciences Social sciences::Political science::Political theory Political Theory Pierre Clastres This article examines the political anthropological work of Pierre Clastres in light of the emergence of the subfield of comparative political theory. In particular, it argues that Clastres’ reconstruction of the political philosophy of various Amazonian societies offers an alternative model for the engagement with texts and traditions external to the history of so-called Western societies. Rejecting all impulses toward totalization – as represented, for example, in the assertion of a dialogical potential for establishing modes of intercultural exchange aimed at achieving mutual understanding – Clastres calls attention to the radical social-historical alterity of forms of society. Appreciation of this alterity not only enlarges the scope of comparative political thought to engage inherited traditions that resist assimilation into Western conversations, but also reveals an indeterminate democratic potential grounded in political creativity. Accepted version 2020-12-14T05:17:49Z 2020-12-14T05:17:49Z 2017 Journal Article Holman, C. (2017). Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology. European Journal of Political Theory, 20(1), 67-94. doi:10.1177/1474885117729772 1474-8851 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/145146 10.1177/1474885117729772 1 20 67 94 en European Journal of Political Theory © 2017 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. This paper was published in European Journal of Political Theory and is made available with permission of SAGE Publications. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | Social sciences::Political science::Political theory Political Theory Pierre Clastres Holman, Christopher Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| title | Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| title_full | Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| title_fullStr | Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| title_short | Pierre Clastres as comparative political theorist : the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| title_sort | pierre clastres as comparative political theorist the democratic potential of the new political anthropology |
| topic | Social sciences::Political science::Political theory Political Theory Pierre Clastres |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/145146 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT holmanchristopher pierreclastresascomparativepoliticaltheoristthedemocraticpotentialofthenewpoliticalanthropology |