Lasse Thomassen, Derrida, Deconstruction and Political Theory – Edinburgh University Press, January 2026

Explores how Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction can help analyse political concepts including justice, democracy, sovereignty, populism and post-truth

• The first comprehensive study of deconstruction as political theory, showing Jacques Derrida’s relevance for contemporary political theory
• Demonstrates the usefulness of deconstruction for the study of political concepts such as rights, justice, sovereignty, democracy, populism and post-truth
• Contrasts a deconstructive approach with other theoretical approaches, including analytic philosophy and critical theory, and with liberal, deliberative, and biopolitical approaches to political concepts
• Uses extensive examples from contemporary political phenomena such as Covid-19, Donald Trump’s populism and post-truth

Drawing on the work of Jacques Derrida and other post-structuralists, this book argues for deconstruction as a distinctive way to practice political theory. Lasse Thomassen shows familiar critiques of deconstruction as relativist and apolitical to be misconceived, and argues for deconstruction as a critical approach to contemporary politics and society. In so doing, the book contrasts deconstruction with other approaches to political theory, including analytic philosophy, critical theory, liberalism, deliberative democracy and biopolitical approaches. 

Developing the argument around political concepts such as rights, justice, sovereignty, democracy and populism, the book combines the deconstructive readings of these political concepts with extensive engagements with contemporary political phenomena such as 9-11, Covid-19, Donald Trump and post-truth.