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Just Published – For Humanism: Explorations in Theory and Politics

Today, anti-humanism is a dominant, even definitive, feature of contemporary theory. This book sets out to challenge this by establishing the historical context that resulted in humanism’s eclipse, critiquing anti-humanism, and exploring alternative, neglected traditions and possible new directions.

Humanism is a diverse and complex tradition that may facilitate the renewal of progressive theory through the championing of human subjectivity, agency and freedom. Across four extended essays, David Alderson, Kevin Anderson, Barbara Epstein and Robert Spencer engage critically with the Marxist tradition, recent developments in poststructuralism, postcolonialism and queer theory.

David Alderson is a senior lecturer in modern literature at the University of Manchester. He is the author of Sex, Needs, and Queer Culture: From Liberation to the Postgay. Robert Spencer is a senior lecturer in postcolonial literatures and cultures at the University of Manchester.