Description
PYROPOLITICS IN A WORLD ON FIRE
Book Summary
In an era marked by wildfires, protests, and global conflicts, Michael Marder proposes a novel theoretical framework for understanding contemporary politics. This essay explores how fire, from the pyres of the Inquisition to self-immolations and global warming, has been a central element in political theory and practice. The author unveils the hidden reverse side of geopolitics: pyropolitics, a logic of destruction and transformation that dictates the rules of the game in our world. An interdisciplinary analysis that combines philosophy, theology, and current events to understand where we are heading.
What is it about?
Michael Marder argues that traditional politics, centered on land and territory, has always had a shadowy and blinding double: the politics of fire. The book traces various manifestations of this pyropolitics throughout history, from the burning of books and heretics during the Inquisition to self-immolation as a form of political protest. It analyzes how fire appears in concepts such as the "melting pot," "revolutionary sparks," and car bombings in the Middle East. Through classical political theory, theology, philosophy, literature, and film, the author constructs a semantic-discursive field that allows for the identification and understanding of these phenomena. The work concludes that, in a context of global warming and armed conflict, pyropolitics has become the sine qua non of current politics.
Main Topics
- The relationship between fire and political power throughout history.
- The analysis of political violence and its symbolic and material forms.
- Critique of traditional geopolitics and the proposal of a new paradigm.
- Reflection on global warming as a political and existential phenomenon.
- The intersection of philosophy, theology, and contemporary political theory.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in political philosophy, critical theory, and cultural studies. It will also be of great value to those seeking to understand power dynamics in the context of ecological crisis and global conflict. It is ideal for students and professionals in political science, sociology, and the humanities, as well as anyone who desires a deep and original reflection on the foundations of current politics.
What this book contributes
- A new theoretical lens for interpreting contemporary political phenomena.
- An interdisciplinary analysis that connects philosophy, history, and current events.
- Conceptual tools for understanding violence, protest, and the climate crisis.
- A critical perspective on the limits of traditional geopolitics.
- An invitation to rethink the role of fire in culture and politics.
Technical Sheet
- Author: Michael Marder
- Publisher: Nuevos Emprendimientos Editoriales S L
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Social and political philosophy
- Collection: Huellas y Señales
- Publication date: October 2023
- Number of pages: 288
- Weight: 397 g
Editorial Assessment
Pyropolitics in a World on Fire offers an original and provocative proposal that challenges traditional categories of political thought. Michael Marder succeeds in articulating a coherent and suggestive discourse based on an element as primary as fire, demonstrating its relevance in current conflicts and crises. It is a stimulating read for those seeking innovative theoretical frameworks, although its conceptual density may require some familiarity with contemporary philosophy. A book that invites critical reflection on the world on fire that we inhabit.