Enriching Discourse Theory: the Discursivematerial Knot1 As a Non-Hierarchical Ontology. Issue 2 (1st April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carpentier, Nico
• Is Part Of: Global discourse. Volume 9:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 369
• Page End: 384
• Publication Date: 2019-04-01
• Subjects: ENTANGLEMENT -- DISCOURSE THEORY -- LACLAU AND MOUFFE -- POST-MARXISM; International relations -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Civilization, Modern -- 21st century -- Periodicals; 320.01
• DOI: 10.1332/204378919X15526540593633
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2326-9995

Abstract

Abstract : Laclau and Mouffe's discourse theory has played a significant role in thinking through the political role of knowledge and ideology, without ignoring the significance of the material, also in relation to its post-Marxist agenda and the de-essentialisation of class relations. At the same time, there is a need to enrich discourse theory, by finding a better balance between the discursive and the material, and by providing a better theoretisation of the entanglement of the discursive and the material. This article remains grounded in, and loyal to, discourse theory, but aims to learn from new materialism in order to develop a non-hierarchical theory of entanglement, as a discursive-material knot. In particular, it investigates the theoreticalconceptual potential of three concepts, namely the assemblage, the invitation and the investment. This theoretical development also has strategic importance, in that it facilitates a better and more constructive dialogue between different (critical) fields, for instance, between those that are explicitly engaged with discourse theory and new materialism, but also between the emancipatory project(s) that post-Marxism advocates, namely cultural studies and (critical) political economy.