Biopower in the age of the pandemic: the politics of COVID-19 in Denmark

IF 2.3 1区社会学 Q2 SOCIOLOGY

European Societies Pub Date : 2022-04-12 DOI:10.1080/14616696.2022.2061553

P. Triantafillou

引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT The exceptional forms of state power mobilized under COVID-19 have attracted scholarly attraction and created important insights on the pandemic politics. However, it seems that the current understanding tends to regard the states’ responses as a zero-sum game between two powers only, a game in which liberal rule in varying degrees is traded for raw sovereign power. Inspired by the notion of biopower, this article aims to provide a more nuanced account of the various powers invoked to handle the pandemic. Based on the case of Denmark, it is argued that three forms of power were mobilized: sovereignty, discipline and security mechanisms. Yet, indirect security mechanisms informed by epidemiological knowledge and modelling have played a far more comprehensive role than the two other power mechanisms. In a complex interaction with epidemiological expertize, liberal governmentalities limited the mobilization of sovereignty and discipline and, instead, tended to endorse indirect security mechanisms.

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大流行时代的生物力量:新冠肺炎在丹麦的政治

新冠肺炎疫情下国家权力动员的特殊形式吸引了学术界的关注，也为疫情政治研究提供了重要启示。然而，目前的理解似乎倾向于将国家的反应视为两个大国之间的零和游戏，一种以不同程度的自由统治换取原始主权权力的游戏。受“生物力量”概念的启发，本文旨在提供一种更细致入微的描述，说明为应对疫情而调用的各种力量。基于丹麦的案例，本文认为三种形式的权力被动员起来:主权、纪律和安全机制。然而，以流行病学知识和建模为基础的间接安全机制比其他两种权力机制发挥了更为全面的作用。在与流行病学专家的复杂互动中，自由主义政府限制了主权和纪律的动员，相反，倾向于支持间接的安全机制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Societies SOCIOLOGY-

CiteScore

15.70

自引率

1.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： European Societies, the flagship journal of the European Sociological Association, aims to promote and share sociological research related to Europe. As a generalist sociology journal, we welcome research from all areas of sociology. However, we have a specific focus on addressing the socio-economic and socio-political challenges faced by European societies, as well as exploring all aspects of European social life and socioculture. Our journal is committed to upholding ethical standards and academic independence. We conduct a rigorous and anonymous review process for all submitted manuscripts. This ensures the quality and integrity of the research we publish. European Societies encourages a plurality of perspectives within the sociology discipline. We embrace a wide range of sociological methods and theoretical approaches. Furthermore, we are open to articles that adopt a historical perspective and engage in comparative research involving Europe as a whole or specific European countries. We also appreciate comparative studies that include societies beyond Europe. In summary, European Societies is dedicated to promoting sociological research with a focus on European societies. We welcome diverse methodological and theoretical approaches, historical perspectives, and comparative studies involving Europe and other societies.