Foucault and Power: The Influence of Political Engagement on Theories of Power

Description

Michel Foucault is one of the most preeminent theorists of power, yet the relationship between his militant activities and his analysis of power remains unclear. The book explores this relationship to explain the development of Foucault’s thinking about power. Using newly translated and unpublished materials, it examines what led Foucault to take on the question of power in the early 1970s and subsequently refine his thinking, working through different models (war and government) and modalities (disciplinary, biopolitical and governmental). Looking at Foucault’s political trajectory, from his immersion in the prisoner support movement to his engagements with the Iranian revolution and Solidarity in Poland, the book shows the militant underpinning of his interest in the question of power and its various shifts and mutations. This thorough account, which includes the first translation of a report edited by Foucault on prison conditions, will provide students in contemporary political theory with a better understanding of Foucault’s thinking about power and of the interplay between political activities and theoretical productions. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Foucault: Militant Analyst of Power Foucault’s militant life Overview of the book Notes Chapter 2 Foucault, the Prisoner Support Movement, and Disciplinary Power Generating intolerance: Foucault and the GIP Strangeness of prisons Disciplinary power Theoretical lessons of the GIP Notes Chapter 3 Beyond the Bellicose Model of Power? War as a matrix for power relations in theory and practice Nietzsche’s hypothesis Nietzsche’s hypothesis in question The transformation of the war of races into state racism Boulainvilliers as Foucault Foucault beyond the war model? Notes Chapter 4 People versus Population: Foucault on the Iranian Revolution Population as object Population as subject-object Adieu biopolitics Iran: People versus population Notes Chapter 5 Foucault, Poland, and Parrhesia Double bonds of Parrhesia Parrhesia in practice: Foucault on Poland Provocations of the militant lives of Cynics Notes Chapter 6 Conclusion Notes Appendix Introductory note Introduction Notes Bibliography Published works by Michel Foucault Unpublished works by Michel Foucault Other works Index