Marxism and Deconstruction

<p>Aside from Jacques Derrida's own references to the "possible articulation" between deconstruction and Marxism the relationship between the two has remained largely unexplored. In <em>Marxism and Deconstruction</em> Michael Ryan examines that multifaceted relationship but not through a mere comparison of two distinct and inviolable entities. Instead he looks at both with an eye to identifying their common elements and reweaving them into a new theory of political practice. To accomplish his task Ryan undertakes a detailed comparison of deconstruction and Marxism relating deconstruction to the dialectical tradition in philosophy and demonstrating how deconstruction can be used in the critique of ideology. He is a forceful critic of both the politics of deconstruction and the metaphysical aspect of Marxism (as seen from a deconstructionist perspective). Besides offering the first book-length study of Derrida in this context Ryan makes the first methodic attempt by an American scholar to apply deconstruction to domains beyond literature. He proposes a deconstructive Marxism one lacking the metaphysical underpinnings of conservative "scientific" Marxist theory and employing deconstructive analysis both for Marxist political criticism and to further current anti-metaphysical developments within Marxism. <em>Marxism and Deconstruction</em> is an innovative and controversial contribution to the fields of literary criticism philosophy and political science.</p>