Alain Finkielkraut & Alain Badiou 
Confrontation 
A Conversation with Aude Lancelin

Everything in their respective positions divides them: Alain Badiou is the thinker of a revitalized communism and Alain Finkielkraut the mournful observer of the loss of values. The two opponents, gathered here for their first-ever debate, have irreconcilable visions. Yet neither is a stranger to controversy, and in this debate they make explicit the grounds of their personal dispute as well as addressing, in a frank and open exchange, their ideas and theories.

Guided by Aude Lancelin, the two philosophers discuss subjects as diverse as national identity, Israel and Judaism, May 1968, and renewed popularity of the idea of communism. Their passionate debate is more than just the sum total of their disagreements, however, for neither of them is satisfied with the state of our society or the direction in which its political representatives persist in taking it. They agree that there needs to be change and their confrontation in this volume shows the importance of asking difficult questions, not only of each other, but also of our political systems.

Table of Content

Foreword by Aude Lancelin

1. National Identity and Nations

2. Judaism, Israel, and Universalism

3. May ’68

4. Communism (Past and Future)

Translator’s Notes

Bibliography

About the author

Alain Badiou is a writer, philosopher, and professor emeritus of
the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Alain Finkielkraut
is a professor at the École Polytechnique in Paris and host of
the radio show ‘Répliques’ on France-Culture. Aude
Lancelin is a journalist at Le Nouvel Observateur.