Agamben’s Concept of ‘Stasis’ as an Element of Politics

This paper examines Agamben’s conception of ‘Stasis’(civil war) as a fundamental element of politics, placing it in the context of the state of exception. It explores how Agamben strives to connect with the inoperative community through the concept of civil war. In this analysis, it becomes evident that the concept of civil war can be understood as a crucial component of contemporary politics without endorsing real-life civil conflicts, terrorism, or violence. Civil war functions metaphorically as a tool for the sovereign to declare a state of exception, granting the power to perpetually maintain such a status. However, this declaration is always aimed at creating an operative community, reminiscent of the ideal envisioned by Nazism: a unified People overcoming internal divisions. Conversely, viewing civil war as a foundational element of politics leads us to consider an inoperative community─a community in constant division, lacking a fixed identity, akin to the refugee communities described by Arendt. This paper asserts that Agamben’s exploration of new communities encourages contemplation of civil war as a fundamental element, devoid of the endorsement of actualized violence.