Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Canon Controversies in Political Thought

Two Theories of Influence

  • Book
  • © 2020

Overview

Authors:
  1. Dominic Welburn

    1. University of Bradford, Bradford, UK

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Demonstrates how a more historically-driven conceptual analysis of influence is needed

  • Defends the Orrian model over the Nietzschean to meet the challenging diversity of political theories in the twenty-first century

  • Argues that there is no extra-canonical ground from which to dismiss particular canons to the benefit of the Western canon

  • 973 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 1-20

  3. Visions of Influence and Originality

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 21-34

  4. The Canon of Western Literature

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 35-48

  5. Influence and Nietzsche

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 49-64

  6. Influence in Twentieth Century Political Thought

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 65-82

  7. The Reinvigoration of Influence Studies

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 83-104

  8. Conclusion

    • Dominic Welburn
    Pages 105-123

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 125-136
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

This book explores the meaning of 'influence', which has played a central role in the formation of the canon, or tradition, of Western political thought. Via a critical overview of the relative fortunes of influence studies in the history of political thought, literary theory, and – at times – the history of art and poetry, it is possible to identify a dominant theory of the term. Nietzschean and ‘emanational’ in nature, thanks largely to the work of Harold Bloom, this particular theory views influence as mere power and represents a broadly accepted meaning in twentieth century thought. Canons or traditions of thought came to be institutions in themselves reflecting prevalent social and political inequalities. To be sure, a theory of influence as power came to be seen as complicit in arbitrary canon formation, across a range of disciplines. The book argues, ultimately, that a second theory of influence, imported from Mary Orr’s work on intertextuality, affords a rival perspective and a more positive, intergenerational meaning of influence. Orr’s ‘braided rope’ theory of influence allows for the development of a plurality of canons each capable of constructing new histories for a variety of epistemic communities. The existence of agonistic, rival canons presents pedagogical questions for all teachers of political theory, but one that can be potentially navigated by a new understanding of influence, in the Orrian tradition.

Reviews

“In this well-written and critically informed book, Welburn reviews how past political thinkers are connected. He invites us to re-think the question of influence in the history of political thought.” (Gary Browning, Professor of Political Thought, Oxford Brookes University, UK)

“This is an excellent study. It achieves an impressive feat of synthesis of existing writing on the ‘influence problem’ in the history of thought and, in so doing, makes influence speak to very many of the concerns of the present day. By beginning with the linguistic ambiguities of the word ‘influence’ – as verb, as noun – Welburn manages to unlock some persisting puzzles. He concludes by demonstrating that re-thinking influence should matter to politics, as well as method. The human virtues which Welburn finds vital to carrying out inquiry into influence that would be profitable – such as humility, openness, groundedness – are well embodied in his own efforts.” (Richard Shorten, Senior Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Birmingham, UK)

“This is a timely and perceptive account of the positive role of ‘influence’ in political thought. Dominic Welburn engages with a range of studies in literary and philosophical theory to defend canonicity as essential to, rather than the antithesis of, originality. He provides a refreshing defence of the Western tradition, albeit alongside rival canons as expressions of different political imaginations.” (Julia Stapleton, Professor of Political Thought, Durham University, UK)

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Bradford, Bradford, UK

    Dominic Welburn

About the author

Dominic Welburn taught political theory for ten years at the universities of Hull, Leeds, York, Oxford Brookes, and Birmingham. He is now based at Bradford University, UK.

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation