Democratic Biopolitics: Popular Sovereignty and the Power of Life

Sergei Prozorov

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2019

Democratic Biopolitics

Popular Sovereignty and the Power of Life

Sergei Prozorov

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474449366

Overview
Contents

About this book

Develops the first positive synthesis of democracy and biopolitics

Contemporary studies of biopolitics assume that the rise of biopolitical governance entails the eclipse of democracy. The abstract egalitarianism of democratic government appears to be incompatible with the concrete, particularist and individualising operations of biopower.

Sergei Prozorov challenges the assumption that the biopolitical governance means the end of democracy, arguing for a positive synthesis of biopolitics and democracy. He develops a vision of democratic biopolitics where diverse forms of life can coexist on the basis of their reciprocal recognition as free, equal and in common. He demonstrates how this vision can be realised and sustained by using examples of our lived experience.

Key Features

Critically re-engages with the canonical theories of biopolitics from Foucault, Agamben and Esposito
Introduces new philosophical voices into the discussion of biopolitics: Nancy, Badiou and Lefort
Explicates the historical background of the contemporary critique of biopolitics
Interprets the current crisis of liberal democracy through a biopolitical lens, and suggests possibilities for overcoming it

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Prologue: Towards an experimental analytics of government Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
PART 1: ROUSSEAU AND THE CRITIQUE OF BIOPOLITICS
1. Rousseau’s aporia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	21
2. The community of solitary walkers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	55
PART 2: FREEFORM LIFE
3. Biopower and the politics of contingency Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	95
4. Is there a democratic form of life? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	117
5. Demos distracted Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	142
6. How to enjoy democracy again (and again) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
Epilogue: Why democracy is good for life Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	204
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	210

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 224
Keywords: Politics

eBook

Published: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 9781474449366