Analyzing power requires abandoning the juridical-representation model entirely

Evidence

Foucault wanted to rid us of a juridical representation of power, conceived of in terms of law, prohibition, and sovereignty, a clearing away that raises the question of how we are to analyze what has taken place in history without the use of this system of representation. On the other hand, Foucault wanted to carry out a more meticulous historical examination in order to show that in modern societies power has not in fact functioned in the form of law and sovereignty, a historical analysis that forces one to find another form of representation that does not depend on the juridical system. Therefore, one must, at one and the same time, while grving oneself another theory of power, form another grid of historical decipherment, and, while looking more closely at an entire historical material, advance little by little toward another conception of power. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 17

Categorization

• XREF: The two-way ‘circular’ project — theory of power and grid of historical decipherment advancing together — is the methodological template the reader needs for how later critical-theory texts frame their own arguments against juridical models. — connects to: Western thought has no representation of power outside the legal model; The juridical discourse of sovereignty has dominated Western analysis of power. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 13; Power analysis must begin from techniques of domination, not sovereignty — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 52 (+2 more)

Related

• Western thought has no representation of power outside the legal model (similarity 0.93)
• The juridical discourse of sovereignty has dominated Western analysis of power. (similarity 0.89)
• The West has only ever theorized power through the legal-juridical lens (similarity 0.86)
• Power analysis must shift from sovereignty to relations of domination. (similarity 0.84)
• Juridical theory treats power as a commodity owned and alienable by contract. (similarity 0.84)
• Power analysis must begin from techniques of domination, not sovereignty (similarity 0.84)
• A new power mechanism, incompatible with sovereignty, was invented in the 17th-18th centuries (similarity 0.82)
• Resistance to disciplinary power requires a new right, not a return to sovereignty. (similarity 0.82)
• Foucault proposed war as the model for understanding political power (similarity 0.81)
• Domination and relations of force replace juridical sovereignty as the lens on power (similarity 0.81)
• Power should be studied at its effects, not its intentions (similarity 0.81)
• Power mechanisms must be analyzed from below, at their lowest concrete operators (similarity 0.80)
• Foucault sought to break thought free of the sovereign-model of power (similarity 0.80)
• Foucault’s notion of power erases class and revolution (similarity 0.79)
• Economic dominance does not automatically translate into political rule (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Power analysis must begin from techniques of domination, not sovereignty #expands (0.85) — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 52
• Juridical theory treats power as a commodity owned and alienable by contract. #expands (0.82) — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 32