WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Abstract: A common criticism of Michel Foucault’s works is that his writings on power relations over-emphasized the effects that technologies of power have upon the subjection of humans, rendering any attempt of resistance futile and reducing the subject to a mere passive effect of power.

Detailed explanation-2: -Though often cited as a structuralist and postmodernist, Foucault rejected these labels. His thought has influenced academics, especially those working in communication studies, anthropology, psychology, sociology, criminology, cultural studies, literary theory, feminism, Marxism and critical theory.

Detailed explanation-3: -Foucault challenges the idea that power is wielded by people or groups by way of ‘episodic’ or ‘sovereign’ acts of domination or coercion, seeing it instead as dispersed and pervasive. ‘Power is everywhere’ and ‘comes from everywhere’ so in this sense is neither an agency nor a structure (Foucault 1998: 63).

Detailed explanation-4: -Thus, Foucault gives us-or at least demands of us-a critical theory and, in particular, a critical ethics. It is a presupposition of my reading of his work that Foucault is best understood as a critical theorist.