I’ve been wrestling with the conjunction of two unrelated events–the death of Hugo Chavez and the confirmation of John Brennan–and what they might reveal about ways we presently understand the state.  For what do the death of a charismatic and controversial leader of Venezuela and the confirmation hearings of a man who coordinated the Obama’s administration’s use of unmanned drones have in common?  I see Corey Robin has some thoughts on this combination. I’ve been thinking about these two events while reading William Cavanaugh’s collection of essays, Migrations of the Holy, for a class I am teaching on religion and Read more