The Hegemony of Governmentality: Towards a Research Agenda

Year 2017, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 5 - 18, 10.05.2017

Jonathan Joseph

https://doi.org/10.20991/allazimuth.311383

Cited By: 2

Abstract

This contribution sets out a research agenda that explores the promises of

combining theories of hegemony and governmentality in the study of world

politics. It is argued that certain forms of governmentality are ‘strategically

selected’ and form part of hegemonic strategies while hegemonic strategies

are enhanced by techniques of governmentality. It is also important to look

at the underlying context that allows for micro practices to be ‘colonised’ by

macro actors and which drives such actors to use such techniques. The theory

of hegemony is seen as better at highlighting the context in which strategic

action takes place, while governmentality is better at showing the workings of

the technologies and techniques that are deployed by strategies of governing.

Hegemony and governmentality therefore form part of the back and forth

between macro and micro, structure and agency, institution and practice,

highlighting different aspects of this constant interaction.

Keywords

Hegemony, governmentality, international relations theory, critical realism, Gramsci, Foucault

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