Theorising Noumenal Power is a critical engagement with Rainer Forst's theory of what he calls "noumenal power." Forst is the most significant younger generation critical theorist of the Frankfurt School, and his critics include several of the most influential contemporary political power theorists.

Mark Haugaard is Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. He is the founder editor of the Journal of Political Power and the book series, Social and Political Power. He has published extensively upon political power and his most recent publication is The Four Dimensions of Power, 2020.

Matthias Kettner is Professor of Philosophy at Witten/Herdecke University, Germany. He has published widely on discourse ethics, applied ethics, and the philosophy of psychoanalysis.

Noumenal power: an editorial Mark Haugaard, Matthias Kettner 1. The seductive force of 'noumenal power': a new path (or impasse) for critical theory? Simon Susen 2. Noumenal power: concept and explanation Steven Lukes 3. On structural power Clarissa Rile Hayward 4. Relational, structural and systemic forms of power: the 'right to justification' confronting three types of domination Albena Azmanova 5. A broad definition of agential power Pablo Gilabert 6. Justification and the four dimensions of power Mark Haugaard 7. The forstian bargain: overrationalizing the power of reasons Matthias Kettner 8. Noumenal power revisited: reply to critics Rainer Forst