The Other Heading

Eminent French thinker Derrida sees the greatest threat facing Europe to be a return to old forms of nationalism, racism, xenophobia and religious fanaticism. Comprised of two recent newspaper articles linked by a preface, this opaque discourse applies deconstructionist theory to the contemporary political scene. Rejecting both the complete unification and the fragmentation of Europe, Derrida calls for a renewal of Enlightenment values and liberal democracy. Yet these values, he argues, cannot by themselves overcome Eurocentric biases and chauvinism. By deconstructing such concepts as public opinion, freedom of the press, responsibility and identity, he attempts to point the way toward a new language for contemplating Europe's destiny. Derrida makes use of texts by Martin Heidegger, Paul Valery and Karl Marx to aid his contemplation of the ferment unsettling Western Europe, as well as the waves of perestroika and democratization sweeping Central and Eastern Europe. (June)