Back Over the Sexual Contract: A Hegelian Critique of Patriarchy

Back Over the Sexual Contract: A Hegelian Critique of Patriarchy examines the problem of patriarchy in modern European political theory by reopening the question of the sexual contract. Lorenzo Rustighi argues that the conceptual roots of male patriarchal entitlement should be sought in the logic of authorized power that underpins the modern understanding of the state and the family. He suggests that patriarchy is not an alien threat to democracy but is inscribed in the intrinsically anti-democratic effects of the understanding of democracy construed by the modern rationale of the social contract. Rustighi proposes an unconventional constitutional approach to feminist political theory to help rethink democracy beyond its inherent impasses.

Format: Hardback
Length: 316 pages
Publication date: 27 December 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

The question of whether patriarchy is a disease of democratic societies or a structural issue has long been debated. In order to address this conundrum, Lorenzo Rustighi's book Back Over the Sexual Contract: A Hegelian Critique of Patriarchy delves into the issue of patriarchy in modern European political theory by reopening the question of the sexual contract. Rustighi examines the works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant to argue that the conceptual foundations of male patriarchal entitlement can be traced back to the logic of authorized power that underpins the modern understanding of both the state and the family. By challenging the conventional distinction between the private and the public, Rustighi suggests that patriarchy is not an external threat to democracy, but rather is inherent in the anti-democratic effects of the understanding of democracy that is derived from the modern rationale of the social contract.

In order to propose an alternative constitutional approach to feminist political theory, Rustighi employs a Hegelian framework. He argues that patriarchy is not an alien force that undermines democracy, but rather is embedded within the very structure of democratic societies. Rustighi's book offers a fresh perspective on democracy and provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about gender equality and political representation.

In conclusion, Back Over the Sexual Contract: A Hegelian Critique of Patriarchy is a thought-provoking book that challenges the conventional understanding of patriarchy and offers an innovative constitutional approach to feminist political theory. By examining the relationship between the state, the family, and the logic of authorized power, Rustighi provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of democracy and its potential for transformation.

Weight: 631g
Dimension: 238 x 160 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793638717