Foucault and governmentality : living to work in the age of control

Using empirical research, this book aims to critically analyse the dynamics, culture and forms of subjectivity of neo-liberalism. It draws upon existing historical, sociological and cultural studies to excavate the geneaology of the capitalist subject with specific emphasis on the neo-liberal govern-mental context of the last four decades. Michel Foucault’s notion of governmentality, which he developed in his Collège de France lectures of 1978 and 1979, will be employed as an hermeneutic key to historically situate and critically analyse the regimes of subject-formation characteristic of neo-liberal capitalism. The current crisis in capitalism is surveyed, along with earlier forms of capitalism, and the transition in power from discipline to control is explored. The study concludes by tracing the changing face of Homo Economicus in relation to resistance levelled against neo-liberal capitalism and the resultant metamorphises it has undergone. Drawing upon political philosophy and political economy, Benda Hofmeyr presents a comprehensive Foucaultian analysis and historical contextualisation of the rise of neo-liberal governmentality. Contents Acknowledgments C H A P T E R O N E Living to Work in the Age of Control C H A P T E R T W O Foucault’s Analyses of Neoliberal Governmentality C H A P T E R T H R E E Knowledge Work in the Age of Control C H A P T E R F O U R The Relation Between Work and Thumos C H A P T E R F I V E The Hinge Connecting Work Compulsion and Neoliberal Governmentality C H A P T E R S I X The Feasibility of Resistance in the Workplace References Index Living to work in the age of control -- Foucault's analyses of neoliberal governmentality : past investigations and present -- Knowledge work in the age of control -- The relation between work and thumos : a critical interrogation of what motivates the knowledge work compulsion -- The hinge connecting work compulsion and neoliberal governmentality -- The feasibility of resistance in the workplace : a Foucauldian investigation "Drawing upon political philosophy and political economy, Benda Hofmeyr presents a Foucaultian analysis and historical contextualisation of the rise of neo-liberal governmentality. Historical, sociological and cultural studies help excavate the geneaology of the capitalist subject within the neo-liberal governmental context of the last four decades"-- Provided by publisher.