Abstract
This logic of coalition is systematically unpacked and interrogated in this edition’s feature essay by Nick Mansfield. In “Coalition: The Politics of Decision”, Mansfield draws upon the work of Jacques Derrida to carefully analyse the implications of coalition for contemporary politics. Coalition can be distinguished from community or family, and is more akin to friendship, according to Mansfield. This is for two fundamental reasons: firstly, coalitions involve “decision”, and secondly, coalitions are always inevitably in relation to enmity. While coalitions start with a gesture of friendship, Mansfield argues via Derrida’s reading of Schmitt, that this category can slip into enemy territory. Mansfield’s paper uses this theoretical framework in order to comment on political action today.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | M/C journal |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright The Author/s. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author and the publisher. For further reproduction rights please contact the publisher at http://www.media-culture.org.au/.Keywords
- Derrida
- coalition
- decisionism