Necropolitics

Necropolitics

Necropolitics is a term coined by the philosopher Achille Mbembe in his seminal work, "Necropolitics," which explores the relationship between sovereignty and the power over life and death. This concept is a critical framework for understanding how political power is exercised in contexts where the state or other authorities determine who may live and who must die. Necropolitics extends the ideas of biopolitics, a term introduced by Michel Foucault, by focusing on the ways in which death and the management of mortality are used as instruments of political control.

Origins and Theoretical Background

The term "necropolitics" was first introduced by Achille Mbembe in his 2003 essay "Necropolitics," published in the journal "Public Culture." Mbembe's work builds on Foucault's concept of biopolitics, which examines how modern states regulate their populations through "biopower," a form of power that focuses on the management of life. While biopolitics is concerned with the administration of life, necropolitics shifts the focus to the administration of death.

Mbembe argues that in certain political contexts, the sovereign power is not only about fostering life but also about deciding who is expendable. This power over death is exercised through various means, including warfare, colonialism, and state-sanctioned violence. Necropolitics is particularly relevant in understanding the dynamics of colonial and postcolonial states, where the lives of certain groups are systematically devalued.

Key Concepts

Sovereignty and Death

In necropolitics, sovereignty is defined by the ability to dictate who may live and who must die. This power is not only about the physical act of killing but also about the symbolic and structural mechanisms that render certain populations "killable." This includes the creation of "death worlds," spaces where life is precarious and populations are subjected to conditions that lead to their eventual demise.

Death Worlds

Mbembe introduces the concept of "death worlds" to describe environments where the state of living is akin to a state of death. These are spaces where individuals are subjected to extreme violence, deprivation, and marginalization. Examples include war zones, refugee camps, and areas affected by systemic racism and poverty.

Colonialism and Necropolitics

Colonialism is a central theme in Mbembe's analysis of necropolitics. He argues that colonial regimes have historically exercised necropolitical power by treating colonized populations as expendable. The colonial state often justified its actions through a civilizing mission, while simultaneously subjecting indigenous populations to violence and exploitation.

Applications and Implications

Necropolitics has been applied to various contemporary issues, including:

• War and Conflict: The use of drones and other remote warfare technologies exemplifies necropolitical strategies, where decisions about life and death are made from a distance.
• Racial Injustice: Necropolitics is evident in the systemic devaluation of Black lives, as seen in police violence and mass incarceration.
• Public Health: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted necropolitical dynamics, where certain populations are disproportionately affected by the virus due to pre-existing social and economic inequalities.

Criticisms and Debates

While necropolitics provides a powerful framework for analyzing power and violence, it has also faced criticism. Some scholars argue that the concept is too broad and can obscure the nuances of different forms of violence. Others suggest that it may overemphasize the role of death, neglecting the ways in which life is also managed and controlled.

Also see

• Biopolitics
• Sovereignty
• Achille Mbembe
• Michel Foucault
• Colonialism
• Racism

Template:Political Science