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This is a blog for a community of students in Mike Levien's sections of Sociology 101B: "Sociological Theory," in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, Spring 2009.
Theory Rocks!
This is the informal blog spot for Mike Levien's section of Sociology 101B. For the rest of the semester, we'll use this blog to clarify the work(s) of Durkheim, Weber, Foucault, de Beauvoir, MacKinnon, and Collins. Feel free to endlessly post, and don't forget: Theory Rocks!
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2009
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March
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- Warning over narcissistic pupils
- Spirit of Capitalism in America
- Foucault's Sovereign and Disciplinary power in Mar...
- Sovereign Power Vs. Disciplinary Power
- Foucault on the Human Rights Campaign
- Foucault: Discipline, Sovereignty, and Coops
- Disciplinary Power and Welfare
- Memo #2
- Sovereign and Disciplinary Power
- Sovereign vs. Disciplinary Power
- Possibilities of Sovereign and Disciplinary Power ...
- Foucault, Sovereign v. Disciplinary Power and the ...
- Power and discipline in the slums of Guatemala
- Foucault: Sovereign and Disciplinary Power
- Sovereign and Disciplinary Power
- Sovereign and Disciplinary Power and Dictatorship
- Sovereign and Disciplinary Power in the inner-work...
- Foucault in the Classroom (frightening thought)
- Foucault on Sovereign Power vs. Disciplinary Power
- Sovereign versus Disciplinary Power
- Foucault!!!
- Foucault Paper
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March
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Foucault
ReplyDeleteThere are two main differences between sovereign, and disciplinary Powers, they are the forms of punishment, and the purpose of the punishment. Foucault uses Damiens as an example of punishment under sovereign power, which was public, passionate and savagery (3-9). This punishment was carried out by an executioner, who tore Damiens flesh apart, in a seemingly slow, and timely fashion that was both vivid, and brutal to those that had gathered to see the spectacle (3-9). This form of punishment on an individual, was a public display with the intent to instill fear in the in the observers. The purpose of the public execution in those times was to maintain the sovereign power.
However, under disciplinary power, punishment was no longer a public and passionate spectacle. Foucault states that the actual punishment of the crime became the most hidden part of the penal process (9). We saw the change with the young prisoners in Paris. Their entire lives were regimented form the minute they woke up, until the minute they were put to sleep. Under this form of punishment, there was no need for an executioner, who was replaced in this instance by supervisors (7). The intent of this regimented form of punishment was to restore and cure the individual (10). Foucault stressed that physical pain was no longer a part of the penalty, and that the suspension of one’s rights was more than sufficient (11).
ABC concrete maintains their dominance through a healthy combination of both sovereign, and disciplinary powers. Most forms of punishment, although not physically brutal, were of the sovereign nature where it was still a public spectacle. Although most of the workers had been working in their respective trades (concrete mixer drivers, mechanics and even the office workers) for many years and therefore knew when they had made a mistake, the owners looked to make an example of the situation. All the workers from the same section as the offenders were brought into the office, (off the clock) and we had what they called safety meetings that were organized by the owners. But the main purpose of the meetings was to let all the workers know that they could be next if they stepped out of line, and this put fear in the most experienced of workers.
The company itself however, was run exactly like the youth prison Foucault describes for disciplinary power. From the moment each worker clocked in at the plant, they were to log in their every move. There was an accepted amount of time allotted to each part of their daily routines, and if there were gaps in their time cards that were unaccounted for, they were brought up to the office and had to explain these gaps. If a valid reason was not given, then the driver was not paid for this time. These timecards worked as a form of surveillance over the workers who were always under pressure to explain these gaps. The timecards gave the workers the feeling that they were always being observed, and kept them feeling like they were on their own.
I liked the way you analysed your workplace.
ReplyDeleteEspecially interesting is it that you say that even though people knew they had made a mistake, they were punished publicly. This use of sovereign power is used to instill fear. The question is if this fear actually keeps people form making mistakes. Maybe disciplinary power has evolved simply because it is more efficient.
You also mention how surveillance effectively separates people, if not physically, to make them fell "like they were on their own". This is obviously an exercise of power that prevents many mass revolts.
It would be interesting to see what effects surveillance has on people in general. Maybe disciplinary power and descending indivualisation has been the cause of the lack of unity many people seem to feel in the "modern times". That seems to be what Durkheim tried to fix with introducing Organic Solidarity.
ABC construction seems to also have a high level of normalization. Another purpose of the safety meetings could be to make everyone aware of the norms and if they are violated the workers are labeled as deviant to some degree. If the workers stepped out of line or disobeyed the rules they would be subjected to public humiliation (sovereign power) and an increase in surveillance and regimentation of their work (disciplinary power).
ReplyDeleteAccounting for gaps in their time cards is also a form of normalization. The time cards and having to log in every minute of their day is a way to measure each worker’s performance according to the other workers and the norm. Accounting for the gaps if one fails to follow the norm is a way of attempting to correct and normalize their behavior. Time cards also seem to work as a form of examination not just surveillance. They can keep a record of all their time cards and know exactly how well one performs at work. They are building a body of knowledge and documentation about each worker.