Power of institutions: Foucault

From Geography

Latest revision as of 18:35, 13 October 2011

Michel Foucault had a strong opinion about the power of institutions and governments. The main point in Foucault's reading is that social structures effectively shape norms where individuals grasp to (Caputo & Young, 1993). According to Foucault, political institutions exist to transmit and apply orders to citizens and punish the citizens who don´t obey these institutions. In this context he uses the police and the army as examples. On the other hand Foucault also considers that there are more independent and powerless political institution: eg. the educational institution, the justice system and psychiatry. Foucault, however is convinced that also these institutions are exercising power over human beings. In his view the educational system has the power to both include and exclude certain classes and groups of people from knowledge. The point Foucault makes is that institutions appear neutral and independent, yet they do exercise political power.

Noah Chompsky is a criticizer of Foucault's idea of power of institution. In a television show the two men debate about the power of institutions. The television show, which was recorded in 1971 was called: Human Nature: Justice Vs. Power. Two links of the debate are added.

In the discussion Chompsky, an American philosopher and politican, clarifies that human beings, because of the setting of our society are able to use their creativity at free will. Thus, Chompsky claims that human beings are able to reach self prepared goals. Foucault, as described in the first segment of this article, disputes differently. He argues that in our society, power is exercised through the state (political power), not by human beings themselves but through local governments and other institutions.

Watch this video:

Part 1 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj2VJ7oexKc

Part 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdMEn2vXoCM

Another useful link is [1], where the debate between Noam Chompsky Michel Foucault about Human Nature: Justice versus Power is fully registered.

References

• Caputo, J. & Young, M. (1993). Foucault and the critique of institutions. Pennsylvania State University Press, USA.

• Chomsky, N. (1971). Human Nature: Justice versus Power. Visited on 1 oktober 2011, on http://www.chomsky.info/debates/1971xxxx.htm.

Contributors

• Published by Sabrina Willems

• Edited and link added by Peter de Boer (4119711) Oktober 2011.