Pastoral Power
From Geography
Definition
Regarding Foucault (1983) Pastoral Power is power which is:
- Salvation oriented
It is a form of power which aims at assuring of salvation of the individual in the next world
- Oblative
The pastoral power needs also to be prepared to sacrifice itself for the life and salvation of the flock.
- Coexistence and continuous with life
It is looking after each individual during his entire life
- Production of the truth of individual himself
It is exercised with the knowledge of conscience of the people and the ability to direct the conscience.
Pastoral Power and the state
Regarding Foucault Pastoral Power is now used by the modern state. The pastoral power originated from the Christian Institutions. But the state has actually copied the pastoral power technique in a new political shape. In the modern state the individual can be integrated under the condition that he will be shaped in a new form. Also he is submitted to a set of patterns. The state can be seen as a new form of pastoral power:
- The state has ensure salvation in this world as the church had to ensure salvation in the world after. Concrete examples are health care, security and protection against accidents
- In the new the state the officials of pastoral power have increased. For example, the pastoral power is exercised by the police.
- The multification of the aims and agents of pastoral power focuses the development of man around two roles: one, globalizing and quantative, concerning the population; the other analytical, concerning the individual.
