Foucault's Political Challenge: From Hegemony to Truth (International Political Theory)

This book examines Foucault's political framework for connecting political authority with practices of freedom. It starts from the older Foucault's claim that where there is obedience there cannot be government by truth. Then it shows how this claim runs like a red thread through his entire life project. Tracing increasing distrust of politicians and democratic institutions back to the negative idea of political power and freedom as always being a 'power over' and 'freedom from', this text examines Foucault's alternative conception of the politician as one who has the courage to tell people the truth about what has to be done in the face of the dangers they confront. Telling the truth is not sufficient, but must be complemented with empowering people to actively help in overcoming the dangers themselves. Breaking with conceptions of politics as hierarchy and anarchy, Foucault contended that where there is obedience, there cannot be truth and genuine freedom. This book offers a redefinition of power and freedom within a circular logic of true authority and self-governance. It argues that democracy cannot survive without being innovated along these lines, and considers what can be done to reconnect politicians and laypeople in order to rebuild their mutual trust in each other's political capacities. -- from back cover. Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi Front Matter....Pages 1-7 Foucault’s Political Legacy....Pages 9-38 Political Authority at the Core of the Political....Pages 39-62 Foucault’s Postfoundationalism....Pages 63-86 Front Matter....Pages 87-89 The Alliance between Science and Hierarchy....Pages 91-112 Class Rule in the Name of Democracy....Pages 113-124 Recoding Sovereignty and Discipline....Pages 125-138 From Discipline to Biopower....Pages 139-153 Front Matter....Pages 155-157 Toward a Notion of Unlimited Statist Hegemony....Pages 159-179 From Sovereignty to Security and Police....Pages 180-189 Security and Neoliberalism....Pages 190-210 Why Foucault Is Not a Neoliberalist....Pages 211-228 Back Matter....Pages 229-251