Foucault News

Shahidullah, A. K. M., & Mohiuddin, H. (2025). Indoctrinated Developmentalism and Local Sustainability: A Social–Ecological Model for Community-Based Enterprises. Sustainability, 17(9), 4181.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094181

Abstract
Developmental approaches over time have been largely economistic and overlooked local sustainability preconditions. They were greatly influenced by a host of doctrines, theories, and strategies argued through macro-level, macro-scale policies. This research retrospectively views these approaches as they have evolved post-WWII and their effect on sustainability at a community level. It eventually focuses on a specific community-level developmental strategy, i.e., “microfinance”, which has led to the establishment of millions of microenterprises. In recent decades, community-based enterprise (CBE) development has been a widely practiced mode of developmental intervention to develop underdeveloped communities in developing countries. The primary goal of CBEs is to generate profit for people’s livelihood. This research indicates that CBEs offer potential. They can be ecologically sustainable and socially responsible too. A shift in the present model to encourage CBEs’ pursuit of ecological principles is tenable. Foucault’s notion of “dispositif” allows such a shift with incorporation of environmental alongside economic and social goals as a new strategic disposition (model). Therefore, this study presents a social–ecological model of CBE and asserts that it embeds the necessary components to bring about sustainability at a community level.

Keywords:
developmentalism; community-based enterprise; sustainability; dispositif; microfinance

Michel Senellart, Oikonomia et regimen. À propos d’une critique de M. Foucault par G. Agamben, Laval théologique et philosophique, Volume 79, Number 3, 2023, p. 355–368

https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1107500ar
https://doi.org/10.7202/1107500ar

Résumé
Cet article propose une réponse à la critique adressée par G. Agamben, dans Le Règne et la Gloire (2008), à la généalogie foucaldienne de la gouvernementalité. En cherchant dans la pensée chrétienne des premiers siècles la matrice d’une conception nouvelle du pouvoir comme gouvernement des hommes — « économie » ou conduite des âmes —, Foucault aurait méconnu la signification proprement théologique, au sein du dispositif trinitaire, du mot oikonomia. Nous voudrions montrer, à partir d’une relecture du 2e Discours (362) de Grégoire de Nazianze (329-390), dont Foucault tire le concept d’une « économie des âmes », que cette idée ne présuppose nullement la référence au schéma trinitaire et renvoie bien davantage au modèle du « patronage » romain, couplé à la figure sacerdotale du bon berger. Cette analyse conduira, en outre, à rappeler le lien de la « direction des âmes » avec le paradigme médical.

Abstract
This article proposes a response to the criticism addressed by G. Agamben, in Le Règne et la Gloire (2008), to the Foucaldian genealogy of governmentality. In seeking in the Christian thought of the first centuries the matrix of a new conception of power as the government of men — “economy” or the guidance of souls —, Foucault would have ignored the properly theological meaning, within the Trinitarian system, of the word oikonomia. We would like to show, from a re-reading of the 2nd Discourse (362) of Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390), from which Foucault derives the concept of an “economy of souls”, that this idea does not presuppose any reference to the Trinitarian scheme and refers much more to the model of Roman “patronage”, coupled with the priestly figure of the good shepherd. This analysis will lead, moreover, to recall the link of the “direction of souls” with the medical paradigm.

With thanks to Colin Gordon for this reference

Prozorov, S. (2023). Foucault and Agamben on Augustine, Paradise and the Politics of Human Nature. Theory, Culture & Society, 41(1), 23-37.

https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764221140811 (Original work published 2024)

Abstract
This article focuses on Foucault’s and Agamben’s readings of Augustine’s account of human nature and original sin. Foucault’s analysis of Augustine’s account of sexual acts in paradise, subordinated to will and devoid of lust, highlights the way it constitutes the model for the married couple, whose sexual acts are only acceptable if diverted by the will away from desire and towards the tasks of procreation. While Agamben rejects Augustine’s doctrine of original sin and reclaims paradise as the original homeland of humanity, his reappropriation of paradise remains conditioned by our turn towards our true nature, from which we have been estranged by sin. Agamben’s politics of reclaiming paradise necessarily involves the demand for obedience to this originary model of human nature. It therefore follows to the letter Augustine’s description of paradisiacal sex, in which the will prevails over desire by applying itself to and curtailing itself.