Svirsky and Bignall assemble leading figures to explore the rich philosophical linkages and the political concerns shared by Agamben and postcolonial theory. 12 essays situate Agamben's theories of the 'state of exception' and 'bare life' are in critical relation to the existence of these phenomena in the colonial/postcolonial world. Countries studied include: Russia, Israel and Palestine, Africa the Americas, Asia and Australia.