Foucault and rational choice

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Hello,

My name is Richard Levesque. I am a PhD student. In my thesis =
project, I try to integrate and develop Foucault's ideas concerning the =
productive aspect of power in a rational choice context.=20

=20

Thus far, I have not been able to convince anyone who is knowledgeable =
of Foucault's work that it is either possible or, for that matter, =
worthwhile to transpose Foucault's ideas concerning the productive =
aspect of power in a rational choice context. I explain my lack of =
success in that regard by the fact that the vast majority of people who =
know Foucault happen to be rather critical of rational choice theories =
and, more particularly, of the methodology on which they rely to study =
social phenomena. Thus far, only economists have displayed an interest =
in my work and positive comments about it (which has quite surprised me =
since, at the outset, I thought that it would be the other way around).

=20

In a short piece (less than 10 pages long) that is available on my =
website, I explain how it is possible to integrate Foucault's ideas =
concerning the productive aspect of power within a rational choice =
context and, more particularly, I explain how Foucault's views on =
productive power can be used to study in a whole new way policy =
processes from a rational choice perspective.=20

=20

I would really appreciate it if some people that have a good knowledge =
and understanding of Foucault' work would take the time to take a look =
at it and give me some comments. To see and read it, just click on the =
following link:

=20

http://rideau.carleton.ca/~rlevesqu/introduction.htm

=20

I would especially appreciate comments concerning the section (pages 5 =
to 8) in which I discuss and explain how Foucault conceives power =
relationships. I want to make sure that I got Foucault right and also =
that I do not stretch his ideas too far to make them fit in a rational =
choice context.=20

=20

Thanks.

=20

Richard Levesque

=20

P.S.: the piece posted on my website is totally different from the one I =
posted on this list two years ago.=20

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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Hello,<?xml:namespace =
prefix =3D o=20
ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
/><o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">         =20
My name is Richard Levesque. I am a PhD student. In my thesis =
project, I=20
try to integrate and develop Foucault=92s ideas concerning the =
productive aspect=20
of power in a rational choice context. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Thus far, I have not =
been able to=20
convince anyone who is knowledgeable of Foucault=92s work that it is =
either=20
possible or, for that matter, worthwhile to transpose Foucault=92s ideas =

concerning the productive aspect of power in a rational choice context. =
I=20
explain my lack of success in that regard by the fact that the vast =
majority of=20
people who know Foucault happen to be rather critical of rational choice =

theories and, more particularly, of the methodology on which they rely =
to study=20
social phenomena. Thus far, only economists have displayed an interest =
in my=20
work and positive comments about it (which has quite surprised me since, =
at the=20
outset, I thought that it would be the other way=20
around).<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">In a short piece (less =
than 10=20
pages long) that is available on my website, I explain how it is =
possible to=20
integrate Foucault=92s ideas concerning the productive aspect of power =
within a=20
rational choice context and, more particularly, I explain how =
Foucault=92s views=20
on productive power can be used to study in a whole new way policy =
processes=20
from a rational choice perspective. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">I would really =
appreciate it=20
if some people that have a good knowledge and understanding of =
Foucault=92 work=20
would take the time to take a look at it and give me some comments. =
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> To see and read it, just click =
on the=20
following link:<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><A=20
href=3D"http://rideau.carleton.ca/~rlevesqu/introduction.htm";><FONT=20
size=3D3>http://rideau.carleton.ca/~rlevesqu/introduction.htm</A><=
o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">I would especially =
appreciate=20
comments concerning the section (pages 5 to 8) in which I discuss and =
explain=20
how Foucault conceives power relationships. I want to make sure that I =
got=20
Foucault right and also that I do not stretch his ideas too far to make =
them fit=20
in a rational choice context. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT=20
size=3D3>Thanks=85<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Richard=20
Levesque<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT=20
size=3D3> </o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-ansi-language: EN-US">P.S.: the piece posted =
on my=20
website is totally different from the one I posted on this list two =
years ago.=20
<o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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