Governing societies : political perspectives on domestic and international rule

What structures of power are involved in governing societies and how are they connected? How is the liberal idea of governing through freedom linked to the increasing control of marginalised populations? Have we reached the end of history in which governing largely concerns self-governing individuals, networks and communities? Should we dispense with the 'container view of society' and contemplate the 'death of the social'? Today, many people in academia, politics and business, question the idea of being able to govern society. The nation state and sovereign government are displaced by globalization and individualization. Mitchell Dean focuses on 'governing societies' as a distinctive project that continues to define political life today. The book offers a critical analysis of contemporary liberal approaches to governing societies both in domestic and international affairs. "Governing Societies" provides an overview of current perspectives and theories and examines recent transformations in techniques and rationalities of rule. It presents a new argument for the importance and transformation of sovereignty and powers of life and death and how they are integral to governing liberal-democratic societies. The book is key reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of sociology and politics, as well as researchers and academics. Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Series editor’s foreword 8 Acknowledgements 12 Introduction: setting the scene 14 The ‘long twenty-first century’ 15 Political projects 19 Meaning of the political 22 This book 27 Part One: Dilemmas 34 Chapter 1 Zombie categories? 36 Historical conditions of ‘governing societies’ 38 The concept of ‘governing societies’ 48 Conclusion 55 Chapter 2 Ungoverning societies 57 From ungovernability to governance 57 Post-societal governance 65 Conclusion 72 Chapter 3 Individualization 73 Individualization and modernity 76 Criticizing individualization 82 Dividing practices: truth, norms and power 86 Conclusion 90 Part Two: Diagnostics 92 Chapter 4 Life and death 94 Governmentality 94 Normative and analytical dilemmas 97 Governing without society? 101 Heterogeneous and indistinct powers 104 Liberal democracies 109 Transformations of contemporary government 114 Conclusion 120 Chapter 5 Authoritarian liberalism 121 Genealogy of liberalism 125 Liberalism as a legal and political order 131 Liberal police 135 Conclusion 141 Part Three: Departures 144 Chapter 6 Sovereignty and violence 146 The concept of sovereignty in recent thought 146 Sovereignty as supreme power 152 Sovereignty and violence 159 Conclusion 169 Chapter 7 State of exception 171 Sovereign exception 172 Agamben and the exception 177 Giorgio in Guanta ́namo 180 Conclusion 187 Chapter 8 Contemporary liberal exceptionalism 189 Assemblage and decision 191 The annihilation of sovereignty and liberalism 199 Sovereignty, security and governing societies 204 Conclusion 208 Conclusion 209 Notes 217 References 223 Index 234

• What Structures Of Power Are Involved In Governing Societies And How Are They Connected?
• how Is The Liberal Idea Of Governing Through Freedom Linked To The Increasing Control Of Marginalised Populations?
• have We Reached The End Of History In Which Governing Largely Concerns Self-governing Individuals, Networks And Communities?
• should We Dispense With The 'container View Of Society' And Contemplate The 'death Of The Social'?

today, Many People In Academia, Politics And Business, Question The Idea Of Being Able To Govern Society. The Nation State And Sovereign Government Are Displaced By Globalization And Individualization.

mitchell Dean Focuses On ‘governing Societies’ As A Distinctive Project That Continues To Define Political Life Today. The Book Offers A Critical Analysis Of Contemporary Liberal Approaches To Governing Societies Both In Domestic And International Affairs.

governing Societies Provides An Overview Of Current Perspectives And Theories And Examines Recent Transformations In Techniques And Rationalities Of Rule. It Presents A New Argument For The Importance And Transformation Of Sovereignty And Powers Of Life And Death And How They Are Integral To Governing Liberal-democratic Societies.

the Book Is Key Reading For Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students Of Sociology And Politics, As Well As Researchers And Academics.

Many people in academia, as in politics and business, today question the idea of being able to govern society. Theories of globalisation and individualisation, and ideas of governance and governmentality, present a story of the displacement of the nation state and sovereign government by the polycentric networks of governance. Social scientists urged us to dispense with the 'container view of society' and contemplate the 'death of the social'. But should we? Is it really possible to discard such notions if we wish to analyse how to attain security, prosperity and welfare? Have we reached the end of history in which governing largely concerns self-governing individuals, networks and communities? This book radically re-examines these ideas. It provides an overview of current perspectives and theories, and examines recent transformations in techniques and rationalities of rule. It presents a new argument for the importance and transformation of sovereignty and powers of life and death and how they are integral to governing liberal-democratic societies "Mitchell Dean focuses on 'governing societies' as a distinctive project that continues to define political life today. The book offers a critical analysis of contemporary liberal approaches to governing societies both in domestic and international affairs." "Governing Societies provides an overview of current perspectives and theories and examines recent transformations in techniques and rationalities of rule. It presents a new argument for the importance and transformation of sovereignty and powers of life and death and how they are integral to governing liberal-democratic societies." "The book is key reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of sociology and politics, as well as researchers and academics."--BOOK JACKET Mitchell Dean. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [210]-220) And Index.