6/18/2014

Pastoral Power - Geography

Pastoral Power
From Geography

Contents
1 Definition
2 Pastoral Power and the state
3 References
4 Contributors

Definition
Regarding Michel Foucault (1983) Pastoral Power is power which is:
Salvation oriented
It is a form of power which aims at assuring of salvation of the individual in the next world
Oblative
The pastoral needs also to be prepared to sacrifice itself for the life and salvation of the flock.
Coexistence and continuous with life
It is looking after each individual during his entire life
Production of the truth of individual himself
It is exercised with the knowledge of conscience of the people and the ability to direct the conscience.

Pastoral Power and the state

Regarding Foucault Pastoral Power is now used by the modern state. The pastoral power originated from the
Christian Institutions. But the state has actually copied the pastoral power technique in a new political shape. In
the modern state the individual can be integrated under the condition that he will be shaped in a new form. Also
he is submitted to a set of patterns. The state can be seen as a new form of pastoral power:
The state has ensure salvation in this world as the church had to ensure salvation in the world after.
Concrete examples are health care, security and protection against accidents
In the new the state the officials of pastoral power have increased. For example, the pastoral power is
exercised by the police.
The multification of the aims and agents of pastoral power focuses the development of man around two
roles: one, globalizing and quantative, concerning the population; the other analytical, concerning the
individual.
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Pastoral Power - Geography

References
Foucault, M. (1983). Afterword: the subject and power. In: Dreyfus, H.L. & Rabinow, P. (Eds.) Michel
Foucault: beyond structuralism and hermeneutics (pp. 208-226). Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.

Contributors
Page created by--HennyLi 05:06, 25 October 2012 (CEST)
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