Topic
Floating signifier
About: Floating signifier is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 297 publications have been published within this topic receiving 6381 citations.
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01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a critical reading of the existing literature on populism, demonstrating its dependency on the basic categories elaborated by theorists of "mass psychology", from Taine and Le Bon to Tarde, McDougall and Freud.
Abstract: In this new and highly original work Ernesto Laclau continues the philosophical and political exploration initiated in Hegemony and Socialist Strategy, New Reflections on the Revolution of Our Time and Emancipation(s). his topic here is the construction of popular identities, conceived in a wide sense covering the ensemble of strategies making possible the emergence of the 'people' as a collective actor. The book skilfully combines theoretical analysis with a myriad of empirical references from numerous historical and geographical contexts. The first part presents a critical reading of the existing literature on populism, demonstrating its dependency on the basic categories elaborated by theorists of 'mass psychology', from Taine and Le Bon to Tarde, McDougall and Freud. The second part forms the main theoretical core of the work, where the question of the emergence of the 'people' as a political and social force is treated. Several categories already present in Laclau's work - such as empty and floating signifiers, hegemony and heterogeneity - are developed here in new and innovative directions. In particular, the relation of populism to democracy and to the logic of representation is given special emphasis. The third part is devoted to particular case studies of both the conditions leading to the emergence of the 'people' and the obstacles preventing its formation. Finally, in a concluding chapter, Laclau locates the question of popular identities within the context of a globalized world and differentiates his approach from those of other theoreticians such as Zizek, Hardt and Negri and Ranciere. This book is essential reading for all those interested in the question of political identities in present-day societies.
2,393 citations
184 citations
TL;DR: Fake news has emerged as a global buzzword and prominent media outlets, such as The New York Times, CNN, and Buzzfeed News, have used the term to designate misleading information spread online as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: “Fake news” has emerged as a global buzzword. While prominent media outlets, such as The New York Times, CNN, and Buzzfeed News, have used the term to designate misleading information spread online...
157 citations
TL;DR: The authors argue that this call is rhetorically operating as a "nodal point" in policy discourse, a floating signifier that different discourses attempt to cover with meaning, and explore this new point of arrival and departure.
Abstract: Encouraged by transnational organisations, curriculum policy-makers in the UK have called for curricula in schools and higher education to include a global dimension and education for global citizenship that will prepare students for life in a global society and work in a global economy. We argue that this call is rhetorically operating as a ‘nodal point’ in policy discourse – a floating signifier that different discourses attempt to cover with meaning. This rhetoric attempts to bring three educational traditions together: environmental education, development education and citizenship education. We explore this new point of arrival and departure and some of the consequences and critiques.
143 citations