Pluralism, immanence, affect: William Connolly's political philosophy

Abstract

This thesis presents a synthetic and exegetical survey of William Connolly's writings over the past decade. The most important concepts in Connolly's political philosophy are explained in detail: identity formation through difference, resentment in late modernity, and the importance of affect for thought processes related to ethical and political judgment. Connolly's focus on the psychological and existential dimension of politics, and his serious engagement with the notion of difference, lead him to propose deep pluralism as a model for politics and ethics. This is based on his assessment of the positive dynamics at play in late modernity. Deep pluralism centres on the cultivation of an ethos of engagement, a distinctive sensibility which promotes the exercise of relational modesty, forbearance and generosity in our exchanges with others. Connolly's pioneering work on affect, immanence, culture, pluralism, fundamentalism and resentment show the value of his alternative framing of contemporary issues for political analysis.