Chantal Mouffe's book *Agonistics: Thinking the World Politically* explores the concept of agonistic democracy, a theory she developed in her earlier works such as *The Return of the Political* (1993), *The Democratic Paradox* (2000), and *On the Political* (2005). Mouffe, known for her collaboration with Ernest Laclau on *Hegemony and Socialist Strategy* (1985), integrates Gramscian heritage with post-structuralist theories to reinterpret political discourse. In this book, Mouffe argues that political experience should be understood as an "ontological dimension of radical negativity," a field of antagonism that cannot be resolved through synthesis or consensus-building. She introduces the term "agonism" to describe a form of conflict that can coexist with democratic principles without leading to conflict or polarization. In agonistic democracy, antagonism is channeled through a process of collective identity formation, where "suparists" (opponents) are seen as rivals whose ideas can be debated, rather than enemies to be defeated. Mouffe critiques both absolute democracy and liberal-rationalist consensus theories, arguing that they fail to address the antagonistic dimension of politics. She suggests that antagonism should be sublimated within democratic institutions through self-referential gestures of self-restraint and recognition of limitations. This approach, she believes, can foster a vibrant democracy that respects pluralism and equality. The book also discusses the potential of multipolarity in the context of global capitalism, emphasizing the need to accept conflict and diversity rather than striving for a universal project. Mouffe advocates for a European project that balances national and regional identities, avoiding the pitfalls of confrontational approaches that could lead to populist, racist, and xenophobic movements. Finally, Mouffe differentiates between two models of radical politics: "pursuing institutions" and "engaging with institutions." She supports the latter, which involves engaging with democratic institutions to address fundamental issues of representation and participation, rather than relying on spontaneous self-organization or neoliberal principles. Mouffe's work highlights the importance of finding alternative models to the current model of representative democracy, which she sees as inadequate to address the challenges of global capitalism.Chantal Mouffe's book *Agonistics: Thinking the World Politically* explores the concept of agonistic democracy, a theory she developed in her earlier works such as *The Return of the Political* (1993), *The Democratic Paradox* (2000), and *On the Political* (2005). Mouffe, known for her collaboration with Ernest Laclau on *Hegemony and Socialist Strategy* (1985), integrates Gramscian heritage with post-structuralist theories to reinterpret political discourse. In this book, Mouffe argues that political experience should be understood as an "ontological dimension of radical negativity," a field of antagonism that cannot be resolved through synthesis or consensus-building. She introduces the term "agonism" to describe a form of conflict that can coexist with democratic principles without leading to conflict or polarization. In agonistic democracy, antagonism is channeled through a process of collective identity formation, where "suparists" (opponents) are seen as rivals whose ideas can be debated, rather than enemies to be defeated. Mouffe critiques both absolute democracy and liberal-rationalist consensus theories, arguing that they fail to address the antagonistic dimension of politics. She suggests that antagonism should be sublimated within democratic institutions through self-referential gestures of self-restraint and recognition of limitations. This approach, she believes, can foster a vibrant democracy that respects pluralism and equality. The book also discusses the potential of multipolarity in the context of global capitalism, emphasizing the need to accept conflict and diversity rather than striving for a universal project. Mouffe advocates for a European project that balances national and regional identities, avoiding the pitfalls of confrontational approaches that could lead to populist, racist, and xenophobic movements. Finally, Mouffe differentiates between two models of radical politics: "pursuing institutions" and "engaging with institutions." She supports the latter, which involves engaging with democratic institutions to address fundamental issues of representation and participation, rather than relying on spontaneous self-organization or neoliberal principles. Mouffe's work highlights the importance of finding alternative models to the current model of representative democracy, which she sees as inadequate to address the challenges of global capitalism.