Hegemonijska logika označavanja: o transformaciji političkih pojmova u teoriji Ernesta Laclaua i Chantal Mouffe

doctoral thesis

• Title (english): Hegemonic Logic of Signification: On the Transformation of Political Concepts in the Theory of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe
• Author: Vedran Jerbić; MBZ: 00951895888
• Mentor: Nebojša Blanuša (mentor); MBZ: 162560
• Committee member: Tonči Kursar (predsjednik povjerenstva); MBZ: 190466
• Granter: University of Zagreb; The Faculty of Political Science; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-04-21, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Political Science; Political Theory/History of Political Ideas
• Universal decimal classification (UDC): 32 - Politics

Abstract

Ovaj rad nastoji proširiti i preispitati metodološke granice tzv. hegemonijske logike označavanja koristeći se okvirom teorije hegemonije Ernesta Laclaua i Chantal Mouffe (2001) i (post)strukturalističkim teorijama jezika. Cilj je reinterpretirati teoriju hegemonije kako bi se istražila tzv. konfliktna dimenzija označavanja, a iz koje se proces ustrojavanja političkih pojmova i stabilizacije njihova značenja promatra kao učinak prošivanja antagonističkog rascjepa društvenog prostora. Želi se braniti teza da nam značenjska struktura današnjih političkih pojmova uvelike izmiče, odnosno da oni prestaju biti politički, ukoliko ih u interpretacijskoj proceduri apstrahiramo od konkretnih društvenih previranja i pripadajuće hegemonijske uloge. Zadatak koji stoji pred ovim radom sistematizacija je metodoloških i epistemoloških posljedica poimanja praksi označavanja i transformacije političkih pojmova u današnjim društvima kroz dimenziju neiskorjenjivosti konflikta (Mouffe, 2000, 2016; Laclau 2007; Laclau i Mouffe, 2007).
Zanima me da li je problem kontinuiranog sukoba oko značenja političkih pojmova razrješiv putem kritičke reinterpretacije teorije hegemonije, a koja bi mogla ponuditi tzv. strateški model interpretacije i time izbjeći zamke modernističkog postupka pojmovnog raščišćavanja? Odnosno, ako jezik ili diskurs shvatimo kao polje diferencijalnih elemenata reguliranih odnosima negativnosti, možemo li ikada doći do zadovoljavajuće „definicije“ političkih pojmova koje bi reflektirale racionalnu strukturu političkog poretka? Da li diferencijalnost jezika nužno završava u polju sukoba i podjele u kojem su politički pojmovi poprište antagonizma i nesumjerljivih pozicija ili je moguće zamisliti takvu „politizaciju“ jezika koja bi ponudila zajednički simbolički okvir suradnje i konsenzusa? Središnja je teza da teorija hegemonije pruža plodan metodološki okvir za razumijevanje ovog problema i predstavlja srednju poziciju između, na primjer, Lyotardovog postmodernog stajališta da smo suočeni s nesumjerljivosti jezičnih pozicija i Habermasovog ideala racionalne deliberacije i konsenzualnog pristupa.
Rad će biti strukturiran tako da će se prošireni okvir teorije hegemonije smjestiti u dijalog s lingvističkim kontekstualizmom Quentina Skinnera, morfologijom ideologija Michaela Freedena i konceptualnom historijom Reinharta Kosellecka, te će se u konačnici demonstrirati aplikativna vrijednost sistematizirane hegemonijske perspektive analizom formalno-značenjskih aspekata pojmovne opreke „lijevo-desno“.

Abstract (english)

The aim of this Ph.D. is to expand and reassess the methodological boundaries of the so-called hegemonic logic of signification by using the framework of Laclau and Mouffe's theory of hegemony and (post)structuralist theories of language. The aim is to reinterpret the theory of hegemony in order to investigate a so-called conflictual dimension of signification, from which the process of formation of political concepts is apprehended as an effect of suturing the antagonistic social space. The thesis is that the signifying structure of contemporary political concepts eludes us, that is they cease to be political if we isolate them from the concrete social turmoil and their hegemonic function. Therefore, I try to systemize the methodological and epistemological consequences of perceiving signifying practice in contemporary societies through the dimension of ineradicability of political conflicts.
I wonder if a problem of continuing contestation over the meaning of political concepts can be solved by a critical reinterpretation of the theory of hegemony, through which I could offer a strategic model of interpretation and avoid the trap of the modernistic process of conceptual clarification? That is if language and/or discourse is apprehended as the field of differential elements regulated by the relations of negativity, can we ever reach a satisfying “definition” of political concepts in which the rational structure of political order would be reflected? Does the differentially of language necessarily end up in the field of conflict and division in which political concepts are sites of antagonism and incommensurability, or is it possible to imagine such “politicization” of language offering the shared symbolic framework of cooperation and consensus? The main thesis is that the theory of hegemony offers a methodologically fruitful position for understanding this problem and that it represents a middle ground between, for example, Lyotard’s postmodern view that we are always already faced with the incommensurability of linguistic positions and Habermas’ ideal of rational deliberation and consensual approach.
The dissertation will be structured in a way to offer a dialogue between a broad framework of the theory of hegemony and Quentin Skinner’s linguistic contextualism, Michael Freeden’s morphology of ideologies, and Reinhart Koselleck’s conceptual history, while also demonstrating the applicative value of this framework in the analysis of the formal signifying aspects of the conceptual opposition between “left” and “right”.

• Keywords: hegemonija; označavanje; diskurs; poststrukturalizam; antagonizam.
• Keywords (english): hegemony; signification; discourse; poststructuralism; antagonism.
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:114:176946
• Promotion: 2021
• Study programme: Title: Political Science - doctoral study programme; Study programme type: university; Study level: postgraduate; Academic / professional title: DOKTOR/DOKTORICA ZNANOSTI, PODRUČJE DRUŠTVENIH ZNANOSTI, POLJE POLITOLOGIJA (DOKTOR/DOKTORICA ZNANOSTI, PODRUČJE DRUŠTVENIH ZNANOSTI, POLJE POLITOLOGIJA)
• Type of resource: Text
• Extent: 242 str. ; 30 cm
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-04-26 13:18:45