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Full Idea
Foucault's analysis suggests that meaningful revolution, hence genuine liberation, is impossible: the only alternative to the modern net of micro-centres of power is totalitatian domination. Hence his politics, even when revolutionary, is always local.
Gist of Idea
Power is localised, so we either have totalitarian centralisation, or local politics
Source
report of Michel Foucault (Discipline and Punish [1977]) by Gary Gutting - Foucault: a very short introduction 8
Book Ref
Gutting,Gary: 'Foucault' [OUP 2005], p.88
A Reaction
It is hard to disagree with this.
| 22674 | In Europe it is thought that local government is best handled centrally [Tocqueville] |
| 7204 | The upholding of the military state is needed to maintain the strong human type [Nietzsche] |
| 23871 | No central authority can initiate decentralisation [Weil] |
| 21947 | Power is localised, so we either have totalitarian centralisation, or local politics [Foucault, by Gutting] |
| 22370 | Big central government only exists as a focus for anger - not to act [Fisher] |