State Phobia and Civil Society : The Political Legacy of Michel Foucault

An examination of Foucault's work to determine the relationship between the state and civil society. State Phobia and Civil Society draws extensively upon the work of Michel Foucault to argue for the necessity of the concept of the state in political and social analysis. In so doing, it takes on not only the dominant view in the human sciences that the concept of the state is outmoded, but also the large interpretative literature on Foucault, which claims that he displaces the state for a de-centered analytics of power. Understanding Foucault means understanding all his interlocutors—whether Marxists, Maoists, neoliberals, or social democrats. It requires turning to Foucault's colleagues, including Deleuze and Guattari, François Ewald, and Blandine Kreigel, in relation to whom he carved out a position. And it entails an examination of his legacy in Hardt and Negri, the theorists of Empire, or in Nikolas Rose, the influential English sociologist. Foucault's own view is highly ambiguous: he claims to be concerned with the exercise of political sovereignty, yet his work cannot make visible the concept of the state. Moving beyond Foucault, the authors outline new ways of conceiving the state's role in establishing social order and in mediating between an inequality-producing capitalist economy and the juridical equality and political rights of individuals. Arguing that states and their cooperation remain of vital importance to resolving contemporary crises, they demonstrate the interdependence of state and civil society and the necessity of social forms of governance. Praise for State Phobia and Civil Society "I can only describe State Phobia in terms usually reserved for bestsellers: un-put-downable, a cause of sleepless nights." —Slavoj Žižek, University of Ljubljana "This important book will stand as a milestone in Foucault studies and social and political theory more generally." —Sanford Schram, Hunter College " State Phobia is a timely investigation of the state in a period of austerity packages, welfare cuts, pension restrictions and admonitions to citizens for self-maintenance." —Bryan S. Turner, The Graduate Center, CUNY "This strong and timely work is a valuable corrective to many of the excesses of Foucault scholarship that have emerged and taken root in recent decades." —Jeffrey Bussolini, City University of New York State Phobia and Civil Society draws extensively upon the work of Michel Foucault to argue that the concept of the state is crucial for political and social analysis. In so doing, it takes issue with the dominant view in the human sciences that the concept of the state is outmoded, as well as with the large interpretative literature on Foucault, which claims that he displaces the state for a decentered analytics of power. Understanding Foucault means understanding all his interlocutors-whether Marxists, Maoists, neoliberals, or social democrats. It requires turning to Foucault's colleagues, including Deleuze and Guattari, Francois Ewald, and Blandine Kreigel, in relation to whom he carved out a position. And it entails an examination of his legacy in Hardt and Negri, the theorists of Empire, or in Nikolas Rose, the influential English sociologist. Foucault's own view is highly ambiguous: he claims to be concerned with the exercise of political sovereignty, yet his work cannot make visible the concept of the state. Moving beyond Foucault, the authors outline new ways of conceiving the state's role in establishing social order and in mediating between an inequality-producing capitalist economy and the juridical equality and political rights of individuals Arguing that states and their cooperation remain vital to resolving contemporary crises, they demonstrate the interdependence of state and civil society and the necessity of social forms of governance "State Phobia" draws extensively upon the work of Michel Foucault to argue for the necessity of the concept of the state in political and social analysis. In so doing, it takes on not only the dominant view in the human sciences that the concept of the state is outmoded, but also the large interpretative literature on Foucault, which claims that he displaces the state for a de-centered analytics of power. Understanding Foucault means understanding all his interlocutorswhether Marxists, Maoists, neoliberals, or social democrats. It requires turning to Foucault's colleagues, including Deleuze and Guattari, Francois Ewald, and Blandine Kreigel, in relation to whom he carved out a position. And it entails an examination of his legacy in Hardt and Negri, the theorists of Empire, or in Nikolas Rose, the influential English sociologist. Foucault's own view is highly ambiguous: he claims to be concerned with the exercise of political sovereignty, yet his work cannot make visible the concept of the state. Moving beyond Foucault, the authors outline new ways of conceiving the state's role in establishing social order and in mediating between an inequality-producing capitalist economy and the juridical equality and political rights of individuals. Arguing that states and their cooperation remain of vital importance to resolving contemporary crises, they demonstrate the interdependence of state and civil society and the necessity of social forms of governance." Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1. State and Civil Society......Page 22 2. Empire Without State......Page 36 3. Politics of Life......Page 46 4. Saint Foucault......Page 60 5. Blood-Dried Codes......Page 80 6. The State of Immanence......Page 100 7. Virtual State-Making......Page 118 8. When Society Prevails......Page 134 9. Political and Economic Theology......Page 146 10. Foucault’s Apologia of Neoliberalism......Page 158 Conclusion......Page 178 Bibliography......Page 192 Index......Page 202 State And Civil Society -- Empire Without State -- Politics Of Life -- Saint Foucault -- Blood-dried Codes -- The State Of Immanence -- Virtual State-making -- When Society Prevails -- Political And Economic Theology -- Foucault's Apologia Of Neoliberalism. Mitchell Dean And Kaspar Villadsen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The book evaluates Michel Foucault's thought on the state and how it has shaped the widespread and dogmatic anti-statist thinking in the humanities, social sciences, public policy and governance.