Governmentality and the Question of Origin - Pastoral Power and Processes of Inclusion and Exclusion

• The aim is to raise questions about possible links between nationalism, racism, Christian heritage and processes of inclusion and exclusion, and to explore the role of communication in these processes. I will first examine the problematic concepts of nation, state, nationalism, ethnie and race. My intention is to discuss different definitions and usages of these often-used concepts. A key aspect in the question of common ancestry is the nature-culture dichotomy, that is, to what extent the national character is the result of heredity (biology or nature), and to which extent it is molded by the social environment and upbringing (culture).Secondly, I will look into the different meanings of the adjective white and into the embodiments of whiteness. My intention is also to discuss the role of whiteness in the racial imagery and in the construction of normalcy. Does whiteness affect the formation of national identity and the ways Westerners are facing Otherness? What is the relationship between whiteness and pastoral power? Foucault speaks of the role of self-examination and consciousness-guidance. What about Augustine’s idea of natural hierachies? Are these aspects in turn linked to the rationality of state? Lastly, I will look into the role of visual communication, especially that of Christian iconography. To put it short, my focus will lie on the Foucauldian concept of governmentality, which I will try to develop further.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Internationell migration och etniska relationer (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- International Migration and Ethnic Relations (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

ethnie

nation and nationalism

race and racism

pastoral power

reason of state

different meanings of the adjective ”white” and the role of communication

Ethnicity

Etnicitet

journalistik

Journalism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)