"Undoing the Demos" is a must-read for considering twenty-first century politics. I like to say that Wendy Brown is identifying that which we have always felt but could not yet understand.

Neoliberalism is one of those contentious words in the study of politics. On one hand, it is like "socialism" in that everybody has an opinion about it, and everyone's opinion is different. However, where "socialism" has divergent theories and the public leaves the subject open to wide interpretation, "neoliberalism" describes often divergent politics that are linked by a core of rationality. That is to say, opposite politics can be described as "neoliberal" due to a phenomenon in political rationality and government.

Brown expands on Michel Foucault's articulation of neoliberalism in his 1978-1979 lectures. These lectures, ironically entitled "The Birth of Biopolitics" (Biopolitics is only scantly discussed) articulate the core of neoliberalism used by critical, postmodern, and marxist theorists alike. This involves a large discussion and revision of Foucault, as well as strong demonstrations of how this theory of neoliberalism functions in the twenty-first century. Furthermore, Brown attempts to do what Foucault did not do, by taking a staunchly democratic view of neoliberalism: contextualizing neoliberalism in how it might effect democracy, the conclusion being very dire.

For political theory, the book is very readable, especially in contrast to Foucault. Brown's prose is also very exciting, and often draws the reader in very deeply. Most important is how Brown's theory appears after reading. Throughout the week over which I read the book, I noticed Brown's neoliberalism in practice, all around me. Very rarely does a book change how one looks at the world, and this one did that.

That isn't to say the book is without faults. Mainly because I am a college student, the last chapter on neoliberalism in education was uncontroversial, as I literally see the corporatization, dumbing-down and destruction of the liberal arts education every single day. However, this is the only substantive critique of the content. There is a sizable critique of the publishing. I am not convinced Zone Books had an editor look over the entire book. There are just unprofessional grammatical and syntax errors all over the book (especially in chapter II), and I am not convinced that this is Brown's fault. Furthermore, the pages have a nasty habit of sticking together near the binding. That quality error deserves a small demerit on the book. 4.5/5. ( )