Power, alienation and performativity in capitalist societies

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2397900
AutoresColin Tyler (0000-0003-0338-9181, University of Hull, autor correspondente)
Ano2011
Volume14
Fascículo2
Páginas161-179
Data de publicação2011-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEuropean Journal of Social Theory (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1368-4310 • E-ISSN: 1461-7137
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1368431011403460
OpenAlexW2163690438
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas7
Referências citadas45

The article presents a model of performative agency in capitalist societies. The first section reconsiders the problem of third-dimensional power as developed by Steven Lukes, focusing on the relationships between universal human needs and social forms. The second section uses the concepts of the 'self', 'I' and 'person' to characterize the relationships between human nature, affect, individual alienation, social institutions and personal judgement. Alienation is argued to be inherent in human agency, rather than being solely created by capitalism. The next section applies this analysis within an agonal theory of civil society that is driven by the individual's performative participation in associations that compete within institutional settings. Finally the article considers the political ramifications of this model, rejecting contemporary constitutionalist approaches in favour of a revised form of pluralist associationalism. Throughout, the article warns of the dangerous marginalization of emotions (or 'affect') by excessively self-conscious, rationalist approaches such as Mead's social theory, liberal universalism and even some performative theories

Agency (philosophy · Alienation · Capitalism · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Performative utterance · Performativity · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Social science · Sociology · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Foucault, Power, and Ethics · Gender Studies · Hannah Arendt's Political Philosophy · Law · Philosophy