“‘The birth of bio-politics’” – Michel Foucault’s lecture at the Collège de France on neo-liberal governmentality
Abstract
This paper focuses on Foucault's analysis of two forms of neo-liberalism in his lecture of 1979 at the Collège de France: German post-War liberalism and the liberalism of the Chicago School. Since the course is available only on audio-tapes at the Foucault archive in Paris, the larger part of the text presents a comprehensive reconstruction of the main line of argumentation, citing previously unpublished source material. The final section offers a short discussion of the methodological and theoretical principles underlying the concept of governmentality and the critical political angle it provides for an analysis of contemporary neo-liberalism.
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In crisis situations, contact tracing apps contribute to self-disciplining, acting as a technology of the self in a neo-liberal world.
“In crisis situations, contact tracing apps contribute to self-disciplining.”
From Contact tracing apps and values dilemmas: A privacy paradox in a neo-liberal world (2020) · cites this paper as Lemke, 2001
Cites
Miller, P., & Rose, N. (1990) · Economy and Society · doi:10.1080/03085149000000001 · Cited by 2,877 · cited 1× · see citing works
“To be more precise: the transformation of structures of production is possible only if individuals ‘optimize’ their relation to themselves and to work (Miller and Rose 1990; Donzelot 1991).”
BackgroundPsychosomatic subjects and the ‘duty to be well’. personal agency within
Greco, M. (1993) · Economy and Society · doi:10.1080/03085149300000024 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
Lemke, T. (2000) · Politische Vierteljahresschrift · doi:10.1007/s11615-000-0003-8 · Cited by 198 · see citing works
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The age of responsibilization: on market-embedded morality
Shamir, R. (2008) · Economy and Society · doi:10.1080/03085140701760833 · Cited by 1,025 · see citing works
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Taylor, L. (2017) · Big Data & Society · doi:10.1177/2053951717736335 · Cited by 802 · see citing works
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Gabor, D., & Brooks, S. (2017) · New Political Economy · doi:10.1080/13563467.2017.1259298 · Cited by 796 · see citing works
Acar, F., & Altunok, G. (2013) · Women's Studies International Forum · doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2012.10.001 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
Contact tracing apps and values dilemmas: A privacy paradox in a neo-liberal world
Rowe, F. (2020) · International Journal of Information Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102178 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Brown, C. P., Weber, N. B., & Yoon, Y. (2016) · Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood · doi:10.1177/1463949116647286 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Lemke, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Wuppertal (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Lemke, Thomas
- ORCID
- Lemke, Thomas
- Venue
- Economy and Society
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2001-01
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 190-207
- ISSN
- 0308-5147 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-5766
- OpenAlex
- W1996322800
- Cited by
- 2,043
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 68 · 2023: 85 · 2022: 94 · 2021: 157 · 2020: 106 · 2019: 103 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 127 · 2016: 108 · 2015: 131 · 2014: 117 · 2013: 124 · 2012: 136
- FWCI
- 52.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Economy and Society (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Foucault, Power, and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Philosophy and Social Theory
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Globalization and political ideologies
- Keywords
- Michel Foucault, governmentality, neoliberalism, biopolitics, Chicago School, political economy, critical political theory
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