Political Theory in a Provisional Mode

TY - JOUR

T1 - Political Theory in a Provisional Mode

AU - Thomassen, Lasse

PY - 2010/12

Y1 - 2010/12

N2 - Given the imperfectness, uncertainty and disagreement that characterises politics, we should treat policies, institutions and ideals as provisional. I take this basic understanding of politics as my starting point, and I then ask two questions: How should we think of provisionality in politics? What are the effects of introducing provisionality into political theory? I start from a critique of the way provisionality is conceptualised by contemporary Kantian critical theory, in particular in the work of Elisabeth Ellis, who has developed a theory of provisional politics. On this basis, I propose an alternative conception of provisionality inspired by deconstruction and the work of Jacques Derrida. Ellis's conception of provisionality is a step in the right direction, among other things because it works against rigidity and paternalism in political theory. Nonetheless, Ellis stays within Kantian critical theory, and I will argue that it is possible - and indeed necessary - to radicalise her insights. I argue that we should think of provisionality not in terms of 'not yet', but in terms of Derrida's notion of 'to come'. That is, I argue that imperfectness, uncertainty and disagreement are constitutive of politics, and therefore it is provisionality all the way down, and this has implications of how we approach politics and for how we do political theory.

AB - Given the imperfectness, uncertainty and disagreement that characterises politics, we should treat policies, institutions and ideals as provisional. I take this basic understanding of politics as my starting point, and I then ask two questions: How should we think of provisionality in politics? What are the effects of introducing provisionality into political theory? I start from a critique of the way provisionality is conceptualised by contemporary Kantian critical theory, in particular in the work of Elisabeth Ellis, who has developed a theory of provisional politics. On this basis, I propose an alternative conception of provisionality inspired by deconstruction and the work of Jacques Derrida. Ellis's conception of provisionality is a step in the right direction, among other things because it works against rigidity and paternalism in political theory. Nonetheless, Ellis stays within Kantian critical theory, and I will argue that it is possible - and indeed necessary - to radicalise her insights. I argue that we should think of provisionality not in terms of 'not yet', but in terms of Derrida's notion of 'to come'. That is, I argue that imperfectness, uncertainty and disagreement are constitutive of politics, and therefore it is provisionality all the way down, and this has implications of how we approach politics and for how we do political theory.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1369-8230

VL - 13

SP - 453

EP - 473

JO - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy

JF - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy

IS - 4

ER -