From Art to Politics: Octavio Paz and the Pursuit of Freedom

This book offers an analysis of Paz’s political thought, arguing that it is rooted in two separate and often antagonistic traditions, Liberalism and Romanticism. Grenier shows that Paz’s political thought is best approached not so much by looking at the specific positions Paz took in the issues of his day, but rather by uncovering the core values at the heart of Paz’s political philosophy. From Art to Politics gives not only a better understanding of Paz’s thought, but also a discussion of the political culture and democratization of Mexico. The book takes a novel look at issues such as the relations between art and politics, the role of intellectuals, and the penchant of academics for ‘machination’ theories in the area of art and culture. The result is an account of Paz’s work that is both more focused and more ambitious than those offered in previous books on Paz’s politics.