How can recent developments in post-structuralist, post-Marxist and psychoanalytic theory actually inform ongoing empirical research? What are the appropriate methods and strategies for conducting research in discourse theory and analysis? How can concepts such as hegemony, identity, the imaginary, dislocation and empty signifiers illuminate key aspects of contemporary society and politics? This multi-focal work brings together commissioned contributions from the Essex School of Political Discourse Theory. Drawing inspiration from the works of Ernesto Laclau, Chantal Mouffe, Slavoj Zizek, Jacques Derrida, Michael Foucault and Jacques Lacan, the contributors address particular questions using a common theoretical language. The book contains a clear introductory statement of the theoretical approach used, and concludes with an assessment of the future directions of discourse theory in the social sciences. This global volume ranges geographically from Western and Eastern Europe to Latin America and South Africa, from Hong Kong to Turkey and the USA. Each chapter has been selected to address a key theme and issue in contemporary politics and to highlight central concepts and research strategies in the post-structuralist, post-Marxist and psychoanalytical traditions of thinking. David Howarth is Lecturer in Politics at the University of Essex and is currently Director of Masters Programme in Ideology and Discourse Analysis in the Department of Government, Aletta J. Norval is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Essex and Director of the Doctoral Programme in Ideology and Discourse Analysis, Yannis Stavrakakis is lecturing on the Ideology and Discourse Analysis Programme in the Department of Government at the Univesity of Essex