How counter-critique problematises power: on the ‘tyranny’ of ideas
Abstract
Drawing on a corpus of books by conservative, right-wing or reactionary authors – together termed ‘counter-critics’ – this article examines how they represent their opponents’ ideas as ‘tyranny’, as ‘authoritarian’ or even ‘totalitarian’. Rather than offering a theoretical account of ‘power’, the approach here follows a Foucauldian approach to ‘problematisation’, examining how ‘power’ is represented in discourse. Beyond tracing how counter-critics denounce their opponents as ‘tyrannical’, what emerges here is how a special power is attributed to words and ideas, both to enchant people with ideology and to dispel such delusions. Finally, this article offers reflexive considerations concerning the practice of critique.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Foucault
Power
and Ethics
Critical Theory and Philosophy
Critical and Liberation Pedagogy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Political Power
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 366–382
- Publication date
- 3 April 2026
- Language
- EN