Lecture 10: Governance Law and Social Order Flashcards
1
Q
The Prince & Machiavelli
A
- Better to Be Feared Than Loved: Rulers should prioritize fear to maintain order but avoid being hated
- The Ends Justify the Means: Leaders should do whatever is necessary to maintain power
- Political Power is Not Based on Morality: Effectiveness matters more than ethics
- Fortune vs. Virtù: Success requires both luck (fortune) and skill (virtù)
- Rulers Must Appear Good, But Be Willing to Act Badly: Leaders should be pragmatic, not idealistic
2
Q
Machiavelli vs. Foucault on the shift from sovereign power to governmentality
A
- Machiavelli’s The Prince: focuses on how rulers maintain power through strategic manipulation, deception, and control
- Foucault’s governmentality: shows that modern power is no longer just about rulers: it’s about managing populations through knowledge, norms, and institutions
- Ex. instead of a king making direct laws, power today works through bureaucracies, surveillance, and self-regulation
3
Q
The Prince vs. The Art of Government
A
- Before the 16th century, political thought was often “advice to the prince,” instructing rulers on personal conduct
- By the 16th-18th centuries, discussions on governance shifter to the “art of government,” addressing how to govern entire populations
- Foucault argues that modern governance is about controlling individuals
4
Q
Machiavelli vs. Foucault on rulers and systems of power
A
- Machiavelli: power is personal, focused on the ruler’s ability to manipulate and control subjects
- Foucault: power is systemic, embedded in institutions, policies, and discipline
- Ex. today’s governments don’t just punish crime: they predict it using data, regulate behaviour through public policies, and enforce norms through social pressure
5
Q
Governmentality and the role of the economy
A
- The art of government is characterized by a continuity of governance moving both upward and downward within society
- Governance is not just about the state; it extends to self-governance, family, and economic management
6
Q
Upward continuity: governing from self to state
A
- A good ruler must first govern himself (morality), then his household (economy), before effectively governing the state (politics)
- The pedagogy of the prince ensures rulers are properly trained in governance at all levels
7
Q
Downward continuity: governance spreading to society
A
- When a state is well-governed, individuals and families model their behaviour accordingly
- Governance principles trickle down to individuals, shaping how heads of household manage wealth, conduct, and discipline
- Police emerge as an institution that ensures state-level governance translates into individual obedience
8
Q
La Mothe La Vayer’s three fundamental types of government
A
- The art of self-government (morality)
- The act of governing a family (economy)
- The science of ruling the state (politics)
9
Q
The art of self-government (morality)
A
- How individuals regulate themselves, their behaviour, and their moral discipline
- A person must first govern themselves before they can govern others
- Ex. a ruler or leader must develop self-discipline and moral virtue before being fit to rule a state
10
Q
The act of governing a family (economy)
A
- Managing a household, resources, and relationships within a family
- A well-governed family ensures stability, order, and resource management, forming the foundation of a well-run society
- Just as a father manages his home, wealth, and dependents, a ruler must manage the economy, trade, and population
11
Q
The science of ruling the state (politics)
A
- How to govern the entire population through policies, laws, and institutions
- Establishing order, security, and governance at the level of the nation
- The state must function like a well-managed economy, ensuring citizens follow laws and contribute to the common good
12
Q
postmodernity and social control (Bauman)
A
- Modern societies no longer aim to rehabilitate criminals; instead they focus on excluding and containing “undesirable” populations
- He critiques the rise of mass incarceration, arguing that prisons are not about reintegration but about removing marginalized groups from society
13
Q
The paradigm of exclusion
A
- Contemporary punishment strategies don’t correct behaviour: they are about keeping certain people out of sight and out of mind
- Bauman argues that social control is based on exclusion rather than correction
- Criminals: mass incarceration replaces rehabilitation
- Migrants and refugees: border policies and detention centres isolate them
- The poor: homelessness laws and policing keep them out of sight
- The unemployed: welfare cuts and job worthiness requirements punish them.
14
Q
Crime, fear, and social anxiety
A
- Modern societies exchange personal freedom for security, leading to policies that focus on policing, surveillance, and imprisonment
- Fear of crime is used politically to justify greater state control and exclusionary policies
15
Q
Foucault vs. Bauman on governance, law, and power
A
- Foucault: disciplinary power (self-regulation through norms and surveillance)
- Bauman: modern punishment and exclusion as tools of social control
16
Q
Power relationship
A
direct rule over subjects
17
Q
Power structure
A
organized groups with a hierarchy
18
Q
Power system
A
multiple power structures in society
19
Q
Imperative coordination & law
A
- Behaviour is shaped by dominance and submission
- Many self-proclaimed leaders fail without willing followers
- Law as a form of social coordination
- Balance between rulers and the ruled
20
Q
Dominance & submission
A
- Power needs both a will to dominate and willingness to obey
- Leaders fail without followers
- Mutual dependence in power dynamics
21
Q
Power as social interaction
A
- Unequal influence between rulers and subjects
- Orders flow one way; rulers do not obey
- Rulers may be petitioned buy never beg
22
Q
Impact of power
A
- Shapes behaviour of the submissive
- Creates a unified system of control
23
Q
what is modern governmentality about?
A
state control, personal discipline, economic management, and biopolitics
