Focault Genocide Analysis

Focault’s concept of biopower and the problem of genocide
Course: Michel Focault
Written by: Rauf Ahmed

From the readings of two texts of Focault, one is the part five (Right of Death and Power over Life) from the book “History of Sexuality: vol. 1 Introduction” and second text is the eleventh lecture from the book “Society Must be Defended, Lectures at the college de France, 1975- 76” I try to articulate the Focault’s concept of biopower and its main notions in this writing. “If genocide is indeed the dream of modern powers, this is not because of a recent return of the ancient right to kill, it is because power is situated and exercised at the level of life, the species, the race and the large scale phenomena of population.”[i], with claiming this Focault taking the account of biopower from sixteenth century to twentieth century to prove his claim. Focault describes that in ancient times the father of the Roman family have the
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[i] Focault,M.,(1976) The History of Sexuality, Vol.1,Introduction, Trans, Robert Hurley, New York, Pantheon Books. P-137
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid, p-139
[iv] Focault,M.,”Security Must Be Defended, Lectures At College De France 1975-76”, Trans, David Macey ,Ney York, Picador. p- 249
[v] Focault,M.,(1976) The History of Sexuality, Vol.1,Introduction, Trans, Robert Hurley, New York, Pantheon Books. P-142
[vi] Ibid, p-143
[vii] Focault,M.,”Security Must Be Defended, Lectures At College De France 1975-76”, Trans, David Macey ,Ney York, Picador. P-252
[viii] Focault,M.,(1976) The History of Sexuality, Vol.1,Introduction, Trans, Robert Hurley, New York, Pantheon Books. P-147
[ix] Ibid, p-150
[x] Focault,M.,”Security Must Be Defended, Lectures At College De France 1975-76”, Trans, David Macey ,Ney York, Picador. P-255
[xi] Ibid.
[xii] Ibid, p-258
[xiii] Focault,M.,(1976) The History of Sexuality, Vol.1,Introduction, Trans, Robert Hurley, New York, Pantheon Books.