Power, domination and human needs

I elicit some of Foucault’s insights to provide a more realistic picture than is the norm in social and political theory of how best to identify and overcome domination. Foucault’s vision is realized best, I argue, by combining his account with two related conceptions of domination based on human ne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThesis eleven Vol. 119; no. 1; pp. 47 - 62
Main Author Hamilton, Lawrence
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2013
Sage Publications Ltd
Subjects
Basic needs
Citizens
Districts
Dominance
Domination
Foucault, Michel
Genealogy
Institutions
Legislation
Philosophers
Political Theories
Political theory
Politics
Power
Referendum
State Power
Veto
Domination
institutions
needs
power
Foucault
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Summary:I elicit some of Foucault’s insights to provide a more realistic picture than is the norm in social and political theory of how best to identify and overcome domination. Foucault’s vision is realized best, I argue, by combining his account with two related conceptions of domination based on human needs and realistic accounts of politics that focus on agency, power and interests. I defend a genealogical, inter-subjective account of how the determination of needs and interests forms the basis of ascertaining, on a continuum, the extent to which relations of power generate states of domination. To that end I propose institutional changes that would empower citizens in positive and negative ways: power over legislation in district assemblies and via veto and repeal; real control over representatives through various means; and decennial constitutional plebiscites.
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ISSN:0725-5136
1461-7455
DOI:10.1177/0725513613511308