Theopolitical Figures

Examines the meaning of five theopolitical figures - scripture, prophecy, oath, charisma and hospitality - in contemporary philosophica-lpolitical discourse This book explores the extent to which theological discourse has been, and continues to be, relevant in shaping the meanings, symbols and realities of certain instituted political practices. This relevance has historically manifested itself in the hybridisation of theological and political concepts, images, gestures and rituals. Combining theological and political concepts, Herrero shows that some divine traces could be embedded in institutionalised political practices. She argues that these theopolitical figures - scripture, prophecy, oath, charisma and hospitality - should be read negatively as other names of God, in the sense of a negative theology, in the post-secular world. By analysing the symbolic meaning of these figures, Theopolitical Figures sheds new light on crucial questions for contemporary societies, such as the unconditional character of justice, unfeasibility of historical expectation, stability of the word, idea of power as a gift, and openness to otherness as an ethica-lpolitical imperative. Montserrat Herrero is Professor of Political Philosophy and Researcher in the Institute for Culture and Society at the University of Navarra, Spain.