The normative stakes of Foucault's engagement with neoliberalism: Seduction, invention, and normalization.

This article critically examines Foucault's engagement with neoliberalism. While Foucault declares that his analysis of this tradition is primarily descriptive, I argue that he continually questions whether neoliberalism is less disciplinary and biopolitically normalizing than traditional forms of l...

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Publicado en:Southern Journal of Philosophy Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 340 - 359
Autor principal: D'Cruz, Leonard
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Sep2025
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: The normative stakes of Foucault's engagement with neoliberalism: Seduction, invention, and normalization.
      aug:
        au: D'Cruz, Leonard
        affil: School of Historical and Philosopical Studies, University of Melbourne, Melbourne Victoria, , Australia
      su:
        Neoliberalism
        Political philosophy
        Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984
        Governmentality
        Philosophers
        Biopolitics (Philosophy)
        Conformity
        Liberalism
        Liberty
      sug:
        subj:
          Neoliberalism
          Political philosophy
          Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984
          Governmentality
          Philosophers
          Biopolitics (Philosophy)
          Conformity
          Liberalism
          Liberty
      ab: This article critically examines Foucault's engagement with neoliberalism. While Foucault declares that his analysis of this tradition is primarily descriptive, I argue that he continually questions whether neoliberalism is less disciplinary and biopolitically normalizing than traditional forms of liberalism. Although Foucault does not endorse neoliberalism as a prescriptive solution to these problems of normalization, his interest in such problems is consistent with his tendency to privilege freedom over other values like justice and equality. This helps to clarify the normative stakes of Foucault's analysis while rejecting any suggestion that he was invested in neoliberalism as a comprehensive political program. Indeed, I repudiate the claim that he was "seduced" by neoliberalism. Furthermore, I reject the idea that he was trying to "invent" a distinctively socialist governmentality through the prism of neoliberalism. Finally, I consider the broader significance of this discussion for normative political philosophy.
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    language: English
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