While Gilles Deleuze is hailed as on of the most influential thinkers in the twentieth century and a key figure in poststructuralist thought, the impact of his work on political theory and the challenges it presents has received remarkably little attention. Deleuze and the Political provides the first full-length overview of Deleuze's relation to political thought, as well as an accessible and fascinating introduction to some of the key themes in his work. Paul Patton explores the full range of Deleuze's work, interweaving motifs that extend from his early writings, such as Nietzsche and Philosophy, to the more recent What is Philosophy? and major texts such as Anti-Oedipus and Difference and Repetition. Throughout, Patton demonstrates Deleuze's relevance to theoretical and practical concerns in disciplines as diverse as philosophy, political theory, sociology, history, and cultural studies.