Beyond histories of the present

A group of leading critical writers in the school of govenrmentality studies have recently called for a debate over the methoddological and political direction of studies of complex mode of government beyond confines of the State. This paper traces the divisions within the field to Foucault's a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economy and society 1998-11, Vol.27 (4), p.333-352
Main Author: STENSON, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Foucault, Michel
General studies. Ideologies
Governance
Governmentality
HEAVILY EMPHASIZES METHODOLOGY OR TECHNIQUE OF STUDY
LIBERALISM
Methodological Problems
Methodology
ORGANIZED COLLECTIVE ARGUMENT
Political sociology
Social theory
Sociological theory
Sociology
SOVEREIGNTY
State
STATES
STUDY OF HISTORY AS SUBJECT MATTER
Theoretical Problems
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Summary:A group of leading critical writers in the school of govenrmentality studies have recently called for a debate over the methoddological and political direction of studies of complex mode of government beyond confines of the State. This paper traces the divisions within the field to Foucault's ambiguous methodological legacy, in paraticular to an impoverished theorization of sovereignty. Rather, this paper emphasizes its centripetal function, within and between nation states, in maintaining hybrid forms of liberal rule in the effort to manage the centrifugal tendencies endemic in a pluralist liberal order. These modes of rule operate in tension with the role of liberalism as critique. On the basis of this analysis, it is argued that radical critique within this field is limited, erroneuously distances critique from liberlism and would be unduly restrictive for governmentality theorists who with to perform a more central role as public intellectuals. Liberalism could once more be the principal focus for a normatively comitted form governmentality studies, which in turn, could emerge as its principal vehicla for immanent critque and renewal.
ISSN:0308-5147
1469-5766
DOI:10.1080/03085149800000024