Foucault's Political Challenge From Hegemony to Truth

Tracing increasing distrust of politicians and democratic institutions back to the negative idea of political power and freedom as always being a 'power over' and 'freedom from', this text examines Foucault's alternative conception of the politician as one who has the courage to tell people the truth about what has to be done in the face of the dangers they confront. Telling the truth is not sufficient, but must be complemented with empowering people to actively help in overcoming the dangers themselves.

Breaking with conceptions of politics as hierarchy and anarchy, Foucault contended that where there is obedience, there cannot be truth and genuine freedom.

This book offers a redefinition of power and freedom within a circular logic of true authority and self-governance. It argues that democracy cannot survive without being innovated along these lines, and considers what can be done to reconnect politicians and laypeople in order to rebuild their mutual trust in each other's political capacities.

Henrik P. Bang is Professor of Governance at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Australia. He publishes extensively within the fields of political participation and governance. He is most well-known for his concepts of the everyday maker and culture governance.

List of Tables and Figures
Preface
Structure of the Book
PART I: THE CIRCLE OF PARRHESIA AND DEMOCRACY
1. Foucault's Political Challenge
2. Political Authority at the Core of the Political
3. Foucault's Postfoundationalism
PART II: PROBLEMATIZiNG MODERN SOVEREIGNTY AND DISCIPLINE
4. The 'Modern' Alliance Between Science and Hierarchy Anti-Psychiatry: Critiquing the Psychiatric Regime of Truth
5. Class Rule in the Name of Democracy
6. Recoding Sovereignty and Discipline
7. From Discipline to Biopower
PART III: THE POLITICAL BEYOND SOVEREIGNTY
8. The Notion of Unlimited Statist Hegemony
9. From Sovereignty to Security and Police
10. Security and Neoliberalism
11. Why Foucault is a not a Neoliberalist Beyond Neoliberal Hegemony
Bibliography
Index