Biosecurity, economic collapse, the state to come : political power in the pandemic and beyond / Christos Boukalas.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Boukalas, Christos, author.

Series:

Directions and developments in criminal justice and law.

Directions and developments in criminal justice and law

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biosecurity.

COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023--Political aspects.

COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023.

Economic security.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (227 pages)

Place of Publication:

London ; New York, New York : Routledge, [2023]

Summary:

"What kind of state emerges from the pandemic? The pandemic caused two crises, in biosecurity and in the economy. The state was forced to tackle both; but subduing one inevitably exacerbated the other. Emerging from the impossible task of handling two conflicting crises is a new form of state, the state to come. To outline the emerging state, this book offers an in-depth critical account of the state's responses to the biosecurity and the economic crises. It is thus the first study to address both crises ensuing from the pandemic, and to synthesise the responses to them in a comprehensive account of political power. Addressing biosecurity, the book deciphers its key modalities, epistemic premises, its law, the threat it aims to oppose, and the ways in which it relates to public health and society -especially its extraordinary power to suspend society. Addressing the economic crisis, the book deciphers the actuality and prospects of both the economy and the state's economic policy. It claims that economic policy is now dual: it adopts countercyclical measures to serve and entrench a neoliberal economy. The responses to the twin crises inform the outline of the emerging state: its structure, logic, and legality; its power and its relation to society. This is a state of extraordinary power; but its only purpose is to preserve the social order intact. It is a despotic state: powerful, and set to impose social stasis. This book offers groundbreaking analysis based on our pandemic experience. It is indispensable for critical scholars and students in Politics, Security Studies, Sociology, Law, Political Economy and Public Health"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgement

List of abbreviations

Preamble

1. Introduction: The twin crises and the capitalist state

PART I: Biosecurity

2. Medical power

3. The threat

4. Biosecurity law

5. Protect the NHS (the spectacle of public health)

6. Cancel society

7. The knowledge of biosecurity

PART II: Economic Collapse

8. Fear vs fear

9. This is not a normal crisis

10. The great mothball

11. Sacrificial labour

12. Workfare

13. Pandemic distribution

14. Towards a dual economy: Welfare for capital, workfare for everyone else

PART III: The State to Come

15. Biopolitics and threat governmentality

16. From "there is no alternative" to "whatever it takes"

17. The rule of law and endless pseudo-necessity

18. Personal responsibility and the irresponsible state

19. Neoliberal despotism

20. Overcoming the order of fear

21. Postscript: Pericles and the plague

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-209) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781003302988

100330298X

9781000713251

1000713253

9781000713244

1000713245

OCLC:

1338646165