Slavoj 'ˆ‘i'ˆek is probably the most important figure in contemporary theory since Michel Foucault. Politically urgent as well as intellectually engaging, 'ˆ‘i'ˆek's writing has had an enormous impact on contemporary philosophy, social theory, cultural studies and communications departments. 'ˆ‘i'ˆek's thought is driven by the need to find an alternative to the problems of globalisation and the supposed end of ideology in the advanced democracies. His insights into popular culture and political life internationally have made him a 'must read' for anybody serious about understanding the condition the world is in today. Yet his works have often seemed an intellectual roller-coaster, to be enjoyed and admired, but not emulated or critically engaged. In 'ˆ‘i'ˆek and Politics, Geoff Boucher and Matthew Sharpe go beyond standard introductions to spell out a new approach to reading 'ˆ‘i'ˆek, one that can be highly critical as well as deeply appreciative. They show that 'ˆ‘i'ˆek has a raft of fundamental positions that enable his theoretical positions to be put to work on practical problems. Explaining these positions with clear examples, they outline why 'ˆ‘i'ˆek's confrontation with thinkers such as Derrida, Foucault and Deleuze has so radically changed how we think about society.

They then go on to track 'ˆ‘i'ˆek's own intellectual development during the last twenty years, as he has grappled with theoretical problems and the political climate of the War on Terror. This book is a major addition to the literature on 'ˆ‘i'ˆek and a crucial critical introduction to his thought.Matthew Sharpe lectures in philosophy and psychoanalytic studies at Deakin University. He has published Slavoj Zizek: A Little Piece of the Real and is co-editor of Traversing the Fantasy: Critical Essays on Slavok 'ˆ‘i'ˆek (2005). Geoff Boucher lectures in literary studies and psychoanalytic studies at Deakin University. He has published articles on 'ˆ‘i'ˆek in Telos and is co-editor of Traversing the Fantasy: Critical Essays on Slavok 'ˆ‘i'ˆek (2005). He has also written The Charmed Circle of Ideology (2008) on the post-Marxism of Butler, 'ˆ‘i'ˆek, Laclau and Mouffe.