Liberalism and neoliberalism, reinterpreted in the light of Foucault´s biopolitical theory

Abstract

Introducing the concepts of biopolitics and governmentality, Michel Foucault marked a turning point in contemporary philosophical and political thought. However, from the French philosopher´s point of view, both concepts are inseparable from liberalism and neoliberalism as political rationalities, while oriented to the redefinition of the art of governing. The present work discusses the relationship among biopolitics, liberalism and neoliberalism in the light of Foucault´s reflections and those of other four authors who have debated his work, by characterizing the self-limitation logic of classical liberalism government reason, pointing out its similarities and differences regarding neoliberalism and developing a comparative analysis of the main features of German ordoliberalism and American neoliberalism. This paper analysis how the rise of Liberalism from the eighteenth century determined that economy and, more specifically, the market, should cease to be the object of state intervention, as well as how neoliberalism sought to extend market rationality to extra-economic areas such as family, partner, retirement, the relationship of the individual with himself and criminality. It is concluded that if Foucault is right in his thesis that "desinterested interests" -instinct, friendliness, feeling, benevolence, compassion, etc. - are what ultimately bind individuals in civil society, under neoliberal biopolitics these bonds would be threatened.