The belief that political action isn't just a byproduct of economic forces (a critique often aimed at traditional Marxism).
When people discuss this in a historical or academic context (often referencing authors like Dick Howard or the theories of Carl Schmitt and Chantal Mouffe), they are usually exploring how "the political"—the fundamental way we live together and handle conflict—comes before the specific "politics" of daily government. Key Themes The Primacy of the Political: A History of Poli...
The phrase refers to the idea that political decisions and power structures shape society, economics, and law, rather than being secondary to them. The belief that political action isn't just a
Examining how modern societies are "instituted" through political breakthroughs, like the French or American Revolutions. rather than being secondary to them.
The idea that society is defined by the "us vs. them" distinctions and the power to decide on the state of exception.