Introduction: On the Absent Ground of the Social; 1. The Contours of 'Left Heideggerianism': Post-Foundationalism and Contingency; 2. Politics and the Political: Genealogy of a Conceptual Difference; 3. Retracing the Political Difference: Jean-Luc Nancy; 4. The Machiavellian Moment Retheorized: Claude Lefort; 5. The State and the Politics of Truth: Alain Badiou; 6. Political Difference and Ontological Difference: Ernesto Laclau; Conclusion: Founding Post-Foundational: A Political Ontology.

There is a real need for a book like this. Marchart is a patient author. He explains things slowly and clearly to his reader. And what he explains is surely of interest to those of us who work in the interstices of political theory and Continental (especially post-Heideggerian) philosophy. -- Professor Linda Zerilli, Northwestern University This book will make a valuable contribution in engaging students and academics with important debates in contemporary political theory! it is a clear, well-written and sophisticated introduction, one that will be welcomed by students and university teachers alike. -- Dr Majid Yar, University of Kent at Canterbury Marchart is to be praised for rescuing the nation of post-foundationalism as well as political difference and the political itself. -- Anya Topolski Political Theory Marchart is to be praised for rescuing the notion of post-foundationalism from the accusations of nihilism and anti-foundationalism as well as political difference and the political itself. I see this book as ideally suited for close readings (perhaps by groups in philosophy or political theory) or as a secondary reading for courses that consider post-foundational political thought. There is a real need for a book like this. Marchart is a patient author. He explains things slowly and clearly to his reader. And what he explains is surely of interest to those of us who work in the interstices of political theory and Continental (especially post-Heideggerian) philosophy. This book will make a valuable contribution in engaging students and academics with important debates in contemporary political theory! it is a clear, well-written and sophisticated introduction, one that will be welcomed by students and university teachers alike. Marchart is to be praised for rescuing the nation of post-foundationalism as well as political difference and the political itself.