Review: David Howarth (2000). Discourse

Abstract

HOWARTH's book is an accessible, readable and concise overview of theories of and approaches to discourse in the human and social sciences, focusing upon LACLAU and MOUFFE's discourse theory approach. The roots of this approach are described in structuralist and post-structuralist theories including the work of SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA and FOUCAULT, as well as the MARXism of ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI and PECHEUX. The book is mostly even-handed and the author takes great care to make his material accessible. However, critical realist alternatives to poststructuralism receive little attention and issues of agency and subjectivity remain problematic. These issues are part of the wider debate between realism and relativism, the intransigence of which is somewhat downplayed in this book. Nevertheless, HOWARTH has produced a valuable resource which should be welcomed by teachers and students in this field.

HOWARTH's book is an accessible, readable and concise overview of theories of and approaches to discourse in the human and social sciences, focusing upon LACLAU and MOUFFE's discourse theory approach. The roots of this approach are described in structuralist and post-structuralist theories including the work of SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA and FOUCAULT, as well as the MARXism of ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI and PECHEUX. The book is mostly even-handed and the author takes great care to make his material accessible. However, critical realist alternatives to poststructuralism receive little attention and issues of agency and subjectivity remain problematic. These issues are part of the wider debate between realism and relativism, the intransigence of which is somewhat downplayed in this book. Nevertheless, HOWARTH has produced a valuable resource which should be welcomed by teachers and students in this field.

El libro de HOWARTH es una revisión general accesible, legible y concisa de las teorías y enfoques del discurso en las ciencias sociales y humanas, focalizándose en los enfoques de LACLAU y MOUFFE sobre la teoría del discurso. Las raíces de este enfoque son descritas en las teorías estructuralistas y post estructuralistas, incluyendo el trabajo de SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA y FOUCAULT, así como el marxismo de ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI y PECHEUX. El libro es en su mayor parte imparcial y el autor se esfuerza en hacer accesible el material. Sin embargo, las alternativas crítica realistas al post estructuralismo reciben poca atención y asuntos como la gestión humana y la subjetividad permanecen problemáticos. Estas cuestiones son parte del debate más amplio entre realismo y relativismo, intransigencia del cual es de alguna manera presentada en este libro. Sin embargo, HOWARTH ha producido un recurso valioso el cual debería ser bienvenido para maestros y estudiantes en este campo.