The ‘political’ in the thought of the 20th and 21st century refers to the ‘differentia specifica’ or the fundamental traits of political action as distinct from both other forms of practice and process -social, economic, religious etc.- and from interactions which operate within the institutional framework of the established order. Hence, the ‘political’ in the thought of Carl Schmitt was bound up with the decision of the sovereign and the friend-enemy distinction, that is, with a fundamental antagonism which sets up political communities, while in the thought of Claude Lefort it is located in the moment of the initial creation and institution of a new social formation. Our main objective is to critically explore and assess different interpretations of the ‘political’ from the time of Carl Schmitt to date, in the work of thinkers such as Claude Lefort, Michel Foucault, Ernesto Laclau, Chantal Mouffe, Giorgio Agamben and Michael Hardt & Toni Negri. Particular emphasis will be laid on the conceptualization of power and sovereignty (biopolitics, postdemocracy, hegemony, voluntary servitude) and on the links between politics and ontology, that is, on how the different conceptions of the political are intertwined and interact with different conceptions of the basic structure of reality, as well as on the new forms of political articulation which emerge in our times (commons, horizontality, post-hegemony).

Solid and critical understanding of basic concepts of contemporary political theory regarding the different conceptions and forms of ‘the political.’
Ability to study and process the relevant literature, and to carry out bibliographical research.
Ability to develop a critical and original reflection on relevant topics.
Ability to write an scientific argumentative essay, which will lay the groundwork for scientific publications.

Degree of solid and critical understanding of basic concepts of contemporary political theory regarding the different conceptions and forms of ‘the political’ as judged by the students’ participation in the graduate seminar, the oral presentation and the final paper for the term. Degree of ability to study and process the relevant literature, and to carry out bibliographical research as judged by the final essay for the term. Ability to develop a critical and original reflection on relevant topics as judged by the students’ participation in the graduate seminar, the oral presentation and the paper for the term. Ability to write an scientific argumentative essay, which will lay the groundwork for scientific publications as judged by the final essay for the term.

Additional bibliography for study
Αγκάμπεν Τζιώρτζιο (Agamben Giorgio) (2005) Homo sacer. Kυρίαρχη εξουσία και γυμνή ζωή, μτφρ. Π. Tσιαμούρας, Αθήνα: Scripta
Καστοριάδης Κορνήλιος (1985) Η φαντασιακή θέσμιση της κοινωνίας, μτφρ. Σ. Χαλικιάς κ.α., Αθήνα: Ράππας
Mπαντιού Αλέν (2009) Από το είναι στο συμβάν, μτφρ. Δ. Βεργέτης κ.α., Αθήνα: Πατάκης
Mποεσί Ετιέν ντε λα (2012) Πραγματεία περί εθελοδουλείας, μτφρ. Π. Καλαμαράς, Θεσσαλονίκη: Πανοπτικόν
Μουφ Σαντάλ (Mouffe Chantal) (2004) Το δημοκρατικό παράδοξο, μτφρ. Α. Κιουπκιολής, Αθήνα: Πόλις.
Moυφ Σαντάλ (2010) Επί του Πολιτικού, μτφρ. Α. Κιουπκιολής, Αθήνα: Εκκρεμές.
Μπούμπερ Μάρτιν (Buber Martin) (2000) Μονοπάτια στην Ουτοπία, μτφρ. Β. Τομανάς,
Ντέι Ρίτσαρντ Τζ. Φ. (Day Richard J.F.) (2008) Το τέλος της ηγεμονίας, μτφρ. Π. Καλαμαράς, Αθήνα: Ελευθεριακή Κουλτούρα.
Σμιτ Καρλ (Schmitt Carl) (1988) H έννοια του πολιτικού, μτφρ. A. Λαβράνου, Αθήνα: Kριτική
Σμιτ Καρλ (1994) Πολιτική Θεολογία. Tέσσερα κεφάλαια γύρω από τη διδασκαλία της κυριαρχίας, μτφρ. Π. Kονδύλης, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Λεβιάθαν
Σμιτ Καρλ (1990) H θεωρία του αντάρτη. Παρεμβολή στην έννοια του πολιτικού, μτφρ. Σ. Xασιώτη, Αθήνα: Πλέθρον
Φουκώ Μισέλ (1991) H μικροφυσική της εξουσίας, μτφρ. Λ. Tρουλινού, Αθήνα: Ύψιλον