Keeping the Other Alive: Counter-trends to the Death Drive

Judith Butler, an American philosopher, is Maxine Elliot Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Program in Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of several books, among them: Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity; The Psychic Life of Power: Theories of Subjection; Precarious Life: Powers of Violence and Mourning; Who Sings the Nation- State?: Language, Politics, Belonging (with Gayatri Spivak); Frames of War: When is Life Grievable? and recently, Vulnerability in Resistance. Judith Butler was Founding Director of the Critical Theory Program at Berkeley and is currently Principal Director in the development of an International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs. Judith is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships both nationally and internationally in London, Switzerland, France, and Germany. She has received nine honorary degrees. She is active in several human rights organizations, currently serving on the board of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York and the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace.