Twenty-first century biopolitics and political realism
Twenty-first century biopolitics and political realism

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we will consider the concept of biopolitics as neoliberalism, i.e., the reflections of the fundamentals of Foucault’s theory and its structurally post-political character. The primary goal is to understand how this specific “regime of truth” turns out to be the foundation of the twenty-first century Realpolitik, from which Western government techniques derive. Biopolitics relevantly emerges as a process of fragmentation and dissolution of political sovereignty and subjectivity, and, as such, it is exacted through various postmodern and neoliberal forms. They defy a substantial portion of philosophical and legal traditions through politicization of life, the theory, and practices of biopolitics. In the second part of the paper – along with an overview of the contemporary phenomena of biopolitics – we articulate Foucault’s position of political realism as a potential answer to political-philosophical challenges on a global scale.

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