Governmentality: Power and Rule in Modern Society

by Mitchell M Dean

Overview

Originally published in 1999 this exceptionally clear and lucid book quickly became the standard overview of what are now called 'governmentality studies'. In this timely Second Edition, Mitchell Dean engages with the full textual basis of Foucault's lecturers and once again provides invaluable insights into the traditions, methods, and theories of political power identifying the authoritarian as well as liberal sides of governmentality.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847873842
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/01/2009
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	294
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Mitchell Dean is Professor of Public Governance, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, and Professor of Sociology at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His previous books include Governmentality: Power and Rule in Modern Society (1999, revised second edition, SAGE, 2010),The Constitution of Poverty: Toward a Genealogy of Liberal Governance (Routledge, 1991/2012), Critical and Effective Histories: Foucault's Methods and Historical Sociology (Routledge, 1994), and Governing Societies: Political Perspectives on Domestic and International Rule (Open University Press, 2007).

His publications range across a large number of fields focusing on problems of government, sovereignty and power, liberalism and neoliberalism, political and social thought, historical sociology, and social and public policy. However he has also published on topics as diverse as risk management, e-government, political mythology, ancient societies, war and peace, contemporary art, cinema and fashion.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Second Edition
Basic Concepts and Themes
Government and Governmentality
An Analytics of Government
Analyzing Regimes of Government
Genealogy and Governmentality
Genealogy and Government
Liberalism, Critique and 'the Social'
Neo-Liberalism and Foucault
Dependency and Empowerment: Two Case Studies
Dependency
Empowerment
Conclusion
Pastoral Power, Police and Reason of State
Pastoral Power
Reason of State and Police
Conclusion
Bio-Politics and Sovereignty
Bio-Politics
Sovereignty and the Governmentalization of the State
Liberalism
Economy
Security
Law and Norm
Society and Social Government
Authoritarian Governmentality
The Illiberality of Liberal Government
Bio-Politics, Race and Non-Liberal Rule
Neo-Liberalism and Advanced Liberal Government
Society, Freedom and Reform
Advanced Liberal Government
A Post-Welfarist Regime of the Social
Risk and Reflexive Government
Two Approaches to Risk
Risk and Reflexive Modernization
Insurance and Government
Reflexive Government
International Governmentality
Foucault and the International
Building on Foucault
Conclusion: 'Not Bad... but Dangerous'
Postscript to the Second Edition: The Crisis of Neo-Liberal Governmentality?

Editorial Reviews

This second edition thoughtfully extends and develops the original text, offers an illuminating new introduction and effectively outlines directions for further study and analysis. It will be welcomed and valued by teachers and students addressing Foucault's work on governmentality and by those interested in exploring its contemporary relevance. Undoubtedly it is the key text in its field.

Barry Smart

Mitchell Dean has written an outstandingly clear and scholarly introduction to the central theses and methods of the analysis of the mentalities and techniques of rule… He not only provides a guide to Foucault's own thought in this area, but he also draws upon other key thinkers in contemporary social theory to develop original and illuminating analysis of some principle formations of political power. Dean's book should become required reading not just for those interested in the work of Michel Foucault, but for all those who are concerned with the dilemmas of contemporary politics.

Nikolas Rose

Mitchell Dean has written an outstandingly clear and scholarly introduction to the central theses and methods of the analysis of the mentalities and techniques of rule... He not only provides a guide to Foucault′s own thought in this area, but he also draws upon other key thinkers in contemporary social theory to develop original and illuminating analysis of some principle formations of political power. Dean′s book should become required reading not just for those interested in the work of Michel Foucault, but for all those who are concerned with the dilemmas of contemporary politics.--Nikolas Rose

This second edition thoughtfully extends and develops the original text, offers an illuminating new introduction and effectively outlines directions for further study and analysis. It will be welcomed and valued by teachers and students addressing Foucault′s work on governmentality and by those interested in exploring its contemporary relevance. Undoubtedly it is the key text in its field.--Barry Smart

From the Publisher