"Emmanuel Renault's book opens an important new chapter in critical theory that goes well beyond the model it takes its inspiration from, Axel Honneth's "ethics of recognition." Renault argues that a radicalized theory of recognition, inspired by the work of Honneth, can provide a systematic alternative to the liberal-democratic projects of such thinkers as Rawls and Habermas. It places social suffering at the heart of a critical theory of justice and utilizes as its foundation a complex, psychoanalytically rich account of suffering and identity. Renault's book draws on a variety of theoretical sources and a wide range of critical-theoretical paradigms, including Habermasian and post-Habermasian critical theory (Habermas, Honneth, Fraser), communitarianism (Taylor), and French critical theory (Foucault, Ranciere, Bourdieu). It also brings the recognition paradigm into a sustained conversation with social movement theory, psychoanalysis, and socialist political thought"--