Violence Entitlement and Politics
Book Description
In this thought-provoking exploration of political theology, Steven G. Ogden examines the complex relationship between masculine entitlement and violent behavior across personal and public spheres. Drawing from diverse intellectual traditions spanning from Michel Foucault and Judith Butler to Rowan Williams and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, this work offers a unique theological perspective on one of society's most pressing challenges.
Ogden presents entitlement as a deeply ingrained gender pattern that predisposes individuals toward controlling and potentially violent actions. His analysis moves fluidly between intimate family dynamics and broader military contexts before expanding into the wider political landscape. The author argues that transformation of these destructive patterns requires what he terms "limit-experiences" that fundamentally disrupt the entitled subject's sense of self.
Central to Ogden's approach is a theology of transformation rooted in immanence, offering hope for genuine change in those predisposed to violence. The work takes on particular relevance in today's political climate, where strongman leadership styles and proprietorial thinking reinforce harmful entitlement patterns. Rather than simply diagnosing these problems, Ogden calls for the development of counter-discourses and alternative practices that can challenge these destructive dynamics.
This concise yet comprehensive study provides valuable insights for readers seeking to understand the theological dimensions of violence and the possibilities for meaningful transformation in both personal and political contexts.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)
📄 Length: 142 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Violence
- ✓ Explore Women
- ✓ Explore Violence against
- ✓ Explore Violence envers
- ✓ Explore Femmes
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Political theology
- ✓ Explore Hommes
