Rethinking Contemporary Feminist Politics

Has feminist politics lost its radicalism and vitality? Or is it undergoing a resurgence? Rethinking Contemporary Feminist Politics tackles these questions through a blend of empirical research and theoretical reflection, shedding new light on a range of debates concerning questions of political space and time, and feminism's relationship to the state and to popular culture. Dean draws on Arendtian and poststructuralist political theories to propose a novel understanding of the concept of 'radicalism' within feminist politics. Three in-depth case studies of contemporary British feminist groups are presented: The Fawcett Society, Women's Aid and The F-word website. Dean's incisive critique of both narratives of loss and narratives of resurgence in British and transnational feminisms offers a fresh, timely and provocative challenge to dominant understandings of feminist politics.