Governing Australia
Studies in Contemporary Rationalities of Government

This interdisciplinary collection addresses Foucault's concept of governmentality through a range of topics.

Mitchell Dean (Edited by), Barry Hindess (Edited by)

9780521583572, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 June 1998

288 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.56 kg

' … the book has much to commend it … it is effective in providing a credible alternative critique of neoliberalism.' Michael Di Francesco, University of Sydney

Inspired by Foucault's discussion of governmentality, this book makes a major contribution to our understanding of government. The book is interdisciplinary in approach, and combines theoretical discussion with empirical focus. It includes a substantial introduction by the editors, and contains work critiquing the central notion of governmentality. A range of topics are discussed, including regulation of the unemployed and people with HIV/AIDS, sexual harassment in the military, the corporatisation of education, new contractualism and governing personality. While their topics are varied, the contributors explore a range of shared concerns, including notions of problematisation, expert knowledge, rationality, freedom and autonomy, giving the volume focus and rigour. This book will be essential reading in political science, sociology, law, philosophy, education and economics.

1. Introduction: government, liberalism and society Mitchell Dean and Barry Hindess
2. Corporatising education Denise Meredyth
3. Ethics in the service of the state J. P. Minson
4. Bad habits or bad conscience? Sexual harassment in the Australian Defence Force Alison Smith
5. Administering asceticism: reworking the ethical life of the unemployed citizen Mitchell Dean
6. Dangerous individuals: government and the concept of personality David McCallum
7. The constitution of AIDS in Australia
Taking government at a distance seriously John Ballard
8. Governing queens: gay communities and the state in contemporary Australia Gary Dowsett
9. Indigenous governance Pat O'Malley
10. Governing material culture Laurajane Smith and Gary Campbell
11. 'The mutable minds of particular men': the emergence of 'economic science' and debates around contemporary economic policy David Burchell
12. Neo-liberalism and the national economy Barry Hindess
13. Interpreting contemporary contractualism Anna Yeatman
14 Uncivil society: Historical and methodological comments on liberal government Ian Hunter.

Subject Areas: Biography: historical, political & military [BGH]