This book is the first booklength deconstructive study of the politicalphilosophy of Jurgen Habermas. Inspired by the work of Jacques Derrida thebook applies de... » 

This book is the first booklength deconstructive study of the politicalphilosophy of Jurgen Habermas. Inspired by the work of Jacques Derrida thebook applies deconstruction to key issues in Habermass work rationaldiscourse and rational consensus constitutional democracy tolerance and civildisobedience.The war in Iraq brought Habermas and Derrida together in defense ofinternational law and in favor of a bigger role for a united Europe ininternational affairs. Yet despite the rapprochement between Habermas andDerrida in the years prior to Derridas death important differences remainbetween Habermass critical theory and Derridas deconstruction. Thesedifferences reflect differences between poststructuralism and critical theoryand between postmodernists and the defenders of modernity. «