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From: "S. Legg" <sil21@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: 05 Jun 2006 09:17:41 +0100
Hi,
In the geographical discipline there is a long tradition of discussing
Foucault's work; Driver's (1985) paper on D+P is an early marker. These
discussions have not just focused on how Foucault discussed space, but also
how a Foucauldian inspired epistemology would influence geographical study;
from the role of discourse and power-knowledge in previously more
positivistic elements of the discipline, to what a general or total
historical geography would look like, to how subjectivisation and
performativity must impact on our considerations of cultural geographies.
In terms of discussion of Foucault's work itself, due attention has been
paid to his consideration of space as an active agent in subject formation,
not just through disciplinary institutions, but also through the government
of territory (Hannah, 2000) or the conditioning milieus of security
mechanisms. In terms of criticisms, a Foucauldian approach can lead to an
over-emphasis on the microphysics of space (Foucault as the "geometer of
power") and a lack of attention to the intricacies of local place (Philo,
1992). These criticism are inline with discussions of resistance and the
messy actuality of rule that have been articulated elsewhere (O'Malley,
1996, , O'Malley, Weir and Shearing, 1997). Elden and Crampton's (in press
2007) forthcoming book should cover a lot of this?
Steve
Crampton, J. and Elden, S. (Eds.) (in press 2007) Space, Knowledge, and
Power: Foucault and Geography, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Driver, F. (1985) Power, Space, and the Body - a Critical-Assessment of
Foucault's Discipline and Punish Environment and Planning D-Society & Space
3, 425-446.
Hannah, M. (2000) Governmentality and the mastery of territory in
nineteenth- century America. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge
O'Malley, P. (1996) Indigenous governance Economy and Society 25, 310-326.
O'Malley, P., Weir, L. and Shearing, C. (1997) Governmentality, criticism,
politics Economy and Society 26, 501-517.
Philo, C. (1992) Foucault's geography Environment and Planning D-Society &
Space 10, 137-161.
