Laughing at Leviathan: Sovereignty and Audience in West Papua (Chicago Studies in Practices of Meaning)

Name: Laughing at Leviathan: Sovereignty and Audience in West Papua (Chicago Studies in Practices of Meaning)
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Book Synopsis: For West Papua and its people, the promise of sovereignty has never been realized, despite a long and fraught struggle for independence from Indonesia. In Laughing at Leviathan, Danilyn Rutherford examines this struggle through a series of interlocking essays that drive at the core meaning of sovereignty itself—how it is fueled, formed, and even thwarted by pivotal but often overlooked players: those that make up an audience. Whether these players are citizens, missionaries, competing governmental powers, nongovernmental organizations, or the international community at large, Rutherford shows how a complex interplay of various observers is key to the establishment and understanding of the sovereign nation-state.

Drawing on a wide array of sources, from YouTube videos to Dutch propaganda to her own fieldwork observations, Rutherford draws the history of Indonesia, empire, and postcolonial nation-building into a powerful examination of performance and power. Ultimately she revises Thomas Hobbes, painting a picture of the Leviathan not as a coherent body but a fragmented one distributed across a wide range of both real and imagined spectators. In doing so, she offers an important new approach to the understanding of political struggle.

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Discover the untold story of West Papua's struggle for sovereignty in Laughing at Leviathan: Sovereignty and Audience in West Papua. This groundbreaking book, part of the Chicago Studies in Practices of Meaning series, takes readers on a captivating journey through a complex interplay of power and performance.

Author Danilyn Rutherford delves deep into the heart of the sovereignty struggle, revealing how various players, from citizens to missionary groups, shape the narrative of nation-building. Through meticulous research and firsthand observations, Rutherford uncovers the hidden dynamics that fuel the formation and understanding of a sovereign nation-state.

Laughing at Leviathan goes beyond the traditional historical perspectives, incorporating a wide array of sources, from YouTube videos to Dutch propaganda, to provide a comprehensive analysis of Indonesia's history and empire. Rutherford's compelling narrative offers a fresh perspective on the political struggle while challenging established theories in the field.

By revisiting Thomas Hobbes's concept of the Leviathan, Rutherford illustrates how sovereignty is not a single unified entity, but a fragmented one, distributed across a diverse range of real and imagined spectators. This thought-provoking reimagining challenges conventional wisdom and advances a new understanding of power dynamics.

If you are passionate about history, political science, or understanding the complexities of nation-building, Laughing at Leviathan is a must-read. Gain valuable insights into the struggle for sovereignty in West Papua and reimagine the way you perceive political power and performance. Don't miss out on this transformative book that will leave you questioning the very foundations of political struggle.

Ready to embark on this intellectual journey? Click here to secure your copy of Laughing at Leviathan today!

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