Ebook: REVOLUTIONARY RECOGNITION

Revolutionary Recognition represents a major contribution to contemporary political theory by arguing that human emancipation is only possible in a society that is characterised by ‘mutual recognition’. In present-day political theory, the term ‘recognition’ has become popular and widely discussed, but it is seen as synonymous with reformist scenarios, such as being used as a method to legitimise social democratic institutions, or to validate identity politics.
In a style suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students, the authors undertake an expansive critique of existing understandings of recognition, comprehensively exploring those of Charles Taylor and Axel Honneth, before proceeding, via the work of Hegel and Marx, to present how mutual theory can have revolutionary, rather than merely reformist implications. Their work is unapologetically political and introduces a new principle – ‘mutual recognition’ – around which radical politics can rally to campaign for social change. This book is a ground-breaking contribution to left wing theory and is relevant as both a scholarly text and a rallying cry to the Left.