ABSTRACT
To say that Judith Butler’s theory of performativity has had an important
influence on contemporary understandings of gender identity is to make a
fairly uncontroversial statement. To say that her theory of performativity
makes a valuable contribution to progressive democratic politics is, however,
to make a claim likely to elicit puzzled looks. Given Butler’s critique of
traditional social-movement strategies and her call for the somewhat unusual political practices of drag, parody, and insurrectionary speech, it is not
surprising that she has failed to win over many who see themselves as
committed to progressive politics. Indeed, her theory of performativity has
been charged with positively undermining emancipatory politics, with
threatening the theoretical and strategic resources essential to responding to
and transforming relations of inequality and injustice (for example, Nuss-
baum 1999). But what then are we to do with Butler’s avowed commitment
to and her continual engagement in democratic politics? Is performativity really antithetical to or at odds with progressive politics? Is a ‘politics of the
performative’ an oxymoron at best? Or might a theory of performativity
actually contribute to or advance a theory and practice of politics?1
