Key Concepts Michel Foucault Key Concepts Theatr Adore: Key Concepts Martin Heeger Key Concepts Edited by Deborah Cook Edited by Bret Davis Edited by Dianna Taylor Alain Bacio: Rey Concepts Tomanutl Kant: Key Concepts iced by Ader Barew and ‘Ed by Wil Duley 8 Justa Clemens Kesina Baglehard i ire Bourdieu Key Concepts Meresusonty: Key Concepts | Edtedty Michael Grenfell Edted by Romlyn Dipcose and | sek Reynolds Gilles Deleuze: Key Concepts diced by Charles JS Tacqus Rancid: Key Coneges | edited by Jean-Philippe Deranty | Michel Foucault Key Concepts diced by Diana Taye Wingenstein: Key Concepts ied by Kelly Dean Jolley [ingen Hobormas: Key Concete * Edited by Barbara Flt ACUMENBiopower Chloé Taylor ‘Freeh pilosopher Michel Foucaultspshapsbest known satheorist of pomer. Foucault analysed several diferent spe of poser, inelad Ingooverciga power, displnary power and the subject ofthe cueeeat hapter:biopower. a what ellows, wil est peovie an overview of biopower a Foscauleconesiver of. Ths overview wil distngush bopower from sovereign and disciplinary power, ideaty and dsciss Entoctve characedates of blopower and provide examples which uscate these characteris, The ina section ofthe chapter under tikes an extended example of a particular occurrence of biopower ‘titin modem and contemporary Wesem scien, Powers of life and death: rom sovereign powerto biopower 1 Toe History of Sexuality: st Isroduction (1990s) and in is 1975: 76Caligede France couse, Society Must e Defended (2003) Foucault Aascibe biopower asa power which aks hold of human if, Inbox these works Foucsule trace the shift rom elas, urdico-legal ot sovereign power to nwa npiealy modem forme of pore, dsiline tnd biopowe, asa shi rom aright of death oa power overlfe “in the casical theory of sovereignty the ight of life and death ws one of sovereignty’ basic abate The right of sovereigny was the ‘eho take feo letlive. And ten thie new eg i esalished: the "ahr to make ive and ro let die" (2003: 24041), Sovereign pow is 2 power which dedaces Iris the right wo ake away nar only fe bat wealth services, labour and prone. Is enly power overlie is> ssn that if to end, impoversh or enslave i what i doesnot leaves alone. Soverign powers right ovr itis merely she sah subtraction, not of egulaton or control. As Foucslt aren ined he” Hees a at Lawes rf power si er inketndsolsmncrnentocnoe bere einen eaten ‘ads “gh oll ory etinng om legs hecnogeet ns Creoui hugh eee arse re ome ‘in reality che right co take life o let live. Its symbol, afterall, was the sword. (1990a: 136, emphasis added) "gl be assumes tar concerns such as dwelng, dit and cideare | 4018 Ser warrant the widig of a ord othe exec fl regen yo: he, for Hobbes 8 for Foncasl ajo eal Sore Fn which leaves the daly eof the body alone, ad fs Fone eso th hen of death In thot el where oe enti aon oh re of ne fe rea joes in partis, Hobbes think that car die ae fee, ot | Eee “cnporal Lier” ules the sovereign bas ws tery _Theseventecnti-century those of sovereign powse Thomes Hoh es llastates Foucale’s points, wating sacha Sfeonest to sovereign power which could “take ie or lt lie", bbopowe ithe power fester if or dsalow cto the point of deat {feuenlt 19908: 138, emphasis aed). Foueslt writs, Focserng tao Common-ves te bes couch ard ren pang cathe ek Sorcofmen tntemgathinsinpaatie lees ‘ily, that in all kinds of actions, by the laws praetermi red ae have sh Ley of doing what owe enol sx proin mie Goketes ower wauld no longer be dealing simply with egal subjects over om theultimate dominion wae death, bat with ving begs {he marey would be able ro exercise over them would have tobe applied athe level of if tel fewas the aking charge of life sore herent deat, that gave powers access even tothe body. bids 142-3) With respect ro which there are-no covenants with the saver ‘ut as lberry over ones body and private ite, being the subject of 0 the king or to the commonveaeh, ar mechanisms of power which | Hobbes deems corporeal aspects of life such as dveling (abode), testes what we want co purchase and consume), the care of he body (Gn) aud cildeate nd edvaton tobe ouside ofthe interests of ‘he siveteign and hence fee. Yet foe Fouel these aspects become Some ofthe privileged loci ofthe mechanisms of biopowe, ndiating {Nesosfomation of power which Hobbes woul have deemed "a thing inposible’ Biopower ie able to aces the body because it functions throosh norms esther then ls, because itis inceralzed by subjects tater than exered (rom above through acs or thea of violence, tnd because i is dispersed throughout society eather than located in {Single individual or goveramear body. While the sore ‘which Hobbes describes coud only sie if or kl, Foucaale wr "very profound transformation ofthese mechani of power” stich deduction” would be replaced by a power “working to inc {eiforce, contol monitor, optimize ad organize the forces wader ‘a power bent on generating Fosces making them gro and order lng them, eather than one dedicated to impeding shes, making ‘nba, or estoy thers” Ud: 136) ‘The Liber ofa Subject, lech therefore only in thoe things, wich in regulating ther ations, the Soversign hath peactern ted: suchas isthe Liberty coy andsel, and oterwhe conta with one another to choose thelr own aboad, el own de thee own tade of life, and insite the cideen as ey theaeloc,