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

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 Using newly translated and unpublished materials, it examines what led Foucault to take on the question of power in the early 1970s and subsequently refine his thinking, working through different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. 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 Using Newly Translated And Unpublished Materials, It Examines What Led Foucault To Take On The Question Of Power In The Early 1970s And Subsequently Refine His Thinking, Working Through Different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 (sovereign, Disciplinary, Biopolitical, Pastoral And Governmental). Looking At Foucault's Political Trajectory, From His Involvement With The Prisoner Support Movement And Solidarity To His Controversial Engagement With The Iranian Revolution, 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-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Acknowledgements1. Foucault: Militant Analyst Of Power 2. Foucault, The Prisoner Support Movement And Disciplinary Power3. Beyond The Bellicose Model Of Power?4. People Versus Population: Foucault On The Iranian Revolution 5. Foucault, Poland And Parhessia 6. Conclusionappendix: Investigation In 20 Prisons By The Information Group On Prisonsbibliographyindex. Marcelo Hoffman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 9 Chapter 1 Foucault: Militant Analyst of Power 12 Foucault鈥檚 militant life 13 Overview of the book 20 Notes 23 Chapter 2 Foucault, the Prisoner Support Movement, and Disciplinary Power 26 Generating intolerance: Foucault and the GIP 29 Strangeness of prisons 35 Disciplinary power 37 Theoretical lessons of the GIP 45 Notes 50 Chapter 3 Beyond the Bellicose Model of Power? 58 War as a matrix for power relations in theory and practice 59 Nietzsche鈥檚 hypothesis 65 Nietzsche鈥檚 hypothesis in question 70 The transformation of the war of races into state racism 73 Boulainvilliers as Foucault 86 Foucault beyond the war model? 88 Notes 97 Chapter 4 People versus Population: Foucault on the Iranian Revolution 104 Population as object 106 Population as subject-object 112 Adieu biopolitics 119 Iran: People versus population 121 Notes 128 Chapter 5 Foucault, Poland, and Parrhesia 134 Double bonds of Parrhesia 137 Parrhesia in practice: Foucault on Poland 140 Provocations of the militant lives of Cynics 146 Notes 154 Chapter 6 Conclusion 160 Notes 165 Appendix 166 Introductory note 166 Introduction 166 Notes 215 Bibliography 216 Published works by Michel Foucault 216 Unpublished works by Michel Foucault 219 Other works 220 Index 224 "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 (sovereign, disciplinary, biopolitical, pastoral and governmental). Looking at Foucault's political trajectory, from his involvement with the prisoner support movement and Solidarity to his controversial engagement with the Iranian revolution, 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"-- Provided by publisher "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 (sovereign, disciplinary, biopolitical, pastoral and governmental). Looking at Foucault's political trajectory, from his involvement with the prisoner support movement and Solidarity to his controversial engagement with the Iranian revolution, 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."--Bloomsbury Publishing