Problematics of Military Power: Government, Discipline and the Subject of Violence

by Michael S. Drake

Overview

This book traces the relations between the organization of violence and social and political order from ancient Rome to early modern Europe. Following the work of Michel Foucault, the author studies the ways authority, obedience and forms of self-conduct were produced by the micro-techniques used to govern the bodies of violence deployed in different forms of warfare.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415865296
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/25/2013
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Drake is a teaching fellow at the School of Economic and Social Studies, University of East Anglia. He was awarded his PhD in 1998, on which this book is based.

Table of Contents

Part one Ancient 1. Ancient Rome and historical sociology 2. The Roman Republic 3. The Imperial Order 4. From Pax Romana to the order of feud Part two Medieval 5. Medieval history and historical sociology 6. Encastellation 7. Three orders of violence 8. Medieval formations war-state and law-state Part three Late medieval 9. The Hundred Years' War 10. A military domain Part four Early modern 11. Two sources of military modernity Burgundy and the Swiss 12. Republic and monarchy two texts on government discipline and the subject of violence 13. The early modern army and historical sociology 14. Military reformations 15. Military and civil society 16. Reflections.

Editorial Reviews

Drake's work attempts a broad overview of military action, organization, and strategy from the Roman era through the 17th century in Europe, basing his analysis on descriptions of war as well as theoretical treatises on war and statecraft. The study derives from the work of Foucault, and readers who are familiar with the French philosopher's thought and style of language will be the best equipped to appreciate the present volume. Drake (U. of East Anglia, UK) describes his work as one of historical sociology. He lays out the state of research for the field and the theoretical confines of this study, which is a revision of his doctoral thesis, in the preliminary chapter. The book is distributed by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This innovative book will be of significant interest to those studying past and present transformations of military power and their shaping of societies and international relations - Choice

From the Publisher