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“Christian theology gives rise to two political paradigms in the broad sense, which are antinomic yet functionally connected: political theology, which grounds the transcendence of sovereign power in the one God, and economic theology, which replaces this with the idea of an ‘oikonomia’ conceived as an immanent order—domestic and not strictly political—governing both divine and human life. From the former derive political philosophy and the modern theory of sovereignty; from the latter, modern biopolitics, culminating in the current triumph of economy and government over every other aspect of social life.”

With this work, republished here with a new set of illustrations—Agamben's investigation into the genealogy of power, begun in Homo Sacer, reaches a decisive turning point. As Agamben demonstrates, modern power is not only “government” but also “glory,” and the ceremonial, liturgical, and acclamatory aspects we are accustomed to considering relics of the past still constitute the foundation of Western power.

Through a fascinating analysis of liturgical acclamations and ceremonial symbols of power—from the throne to the crown, from purple to fasces—the scholar sheds new light on the function of consensus and the media in modern democracies: a book that profoundly renews our entire vision of politics.

Giorgio Agamben

Giorgio Agamben is one of the most hotly debated political philosophers today. His works on the political and legal paradigm of the West have caught the attention of philosophers, sociologists, political scientists and jurists alike, but his significance has been obscured by myths and misunderstandings. His works have been translated into more than 15 languages.