Power, domination and human needs

Bibliographic Data

ID4480989
AuthorsLawrence Hamilton (0000-0001-9074-6591, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and University of Cambridge, UK, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume119
Issue1
Pages47-62
Publication date2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThesis Eleven (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0725-5136 • E-ISSN: 1461-7455
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0725513613511308
OpenAlexW2022303814
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited27

I elicit some of Foucault's insights to provide a more realistic picture than is the norm in social and political theory of how best to identify and overcome domination. Foucault's vision is realized best, I argue, by combining his account with two related conceptions of domination based on human needs and realistic accounts of politics that focus on agency, power and interests. I defend a genealogical, inter-subjective account of how the determination of needs and interests forms the basis of ascertaining, on a continuum, the extent to which relations of power generate states of domination. To that end I propose institutional changes that would empower citizens in positive and negative ways: power over legislation in district assemblies and via veto and repeal; real control over representatives through various means; and decennial constitutional plebiscites

Agency (philosophy) · Economics · Epistemology · Law and economics · Legislation · Norm (philosophy) · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Power (physics) · Repeal · Social science · Sociology · Veto · Foucault, Power, and Ethics · Law · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Political Theory and Influence

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