Examining questions of statehood, biopolitics, sovereignty, neoliberal reason and the economy, Governmentality explores the advantages and limitations of adopting Michel Foucault's concept of governmentality as an analytical framework. Contributors highlight the differences as well as possible convergences with alternative theoretical frameworks. By assembling authors with a wide range of different disciplinary backgrounds, from philosophy, literature, political science, sociology to medical anthropology, the book offers a fresh perspective on studies of governmentality.

Contents

1. From Foucault’s Lectures at the Collège de France to Studies of Governmentality: An Introduction Ulrich Bröckling, Susanne Krasmann and Thomas Lemke 2. Relocating the Modern State: Governmentality and the History of Political Ideas Martin Saar 3. Constituting Another Foucault Effect: Foucault on States and Statecraft Bob Jessop 4. Governmentalization of the State: Rousseau's Contribution to the Modern History of Governmentality Friedrich Balke 5. Government Unlimited: The Security Dispositif of Illiberal Governmentality Sven Opitz 6. The Right of Government: Torture and the Rule of Law Susanne Krasmann 7. Foucault and Frontiers: Notes on the Birth of the Humanitarian Border William Walters 8. Beyond Foucault: From Biopolitics to the Government of Life Thomas Lemke 9. Coming Back to Life: An Anthropological Reassessment of Biopolitics and Governmentality Didier Fassin 10. The Birth of Lifestyle Politics: The Biopolitical Management of Lifestyle Diseases in the United States and Denmark Lars Thorup Larsen 11. Biology, Citizenship and the Government of Biomedicine: Exploring the Concept of Biological Citizenship Peter Wehling 12. Human Economy, Human Capital: A Critique of Biopolitical Economy Ulrich Bröckling 13. Decentring the Economy: Governmentality Studies and Beyond? Urs Stäheli 14. Economy beyond Governmentality: The Limits of Conduct Utnn 15. Constructing the Socialized Self: Mobilization and Control in the "Active Society" Stephan Lessenich

Author Bio

Ulrich Bröckling is Professor for Ethics, Politics and Rhetorics at the University of Leipzig.

Susanne Krasmann is Associate Professor at the Institute for Criminological Research at the University of Hamburg.

Thomas Lemke is Heisenberg Professor for Sociology with Focus on Biotechnology, Nature and Society at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.