Governing (through) religion: Reflections on religion as governmentality. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ali Nasir, Muhammad
• Is Part Of: Philosophy & social criticism. Volume 42:Number 9(2016)
• Page Start: 873
• Page End: 896
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: European human rights law -- Michel Foucault -- governmentality -- the right to freedom of religion; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; 300.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0191453715590177
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-4537

Abstract

This inquiry examines the question how the category of 'religion' generates a complex form of power oriented to the government of subjects. It does this through a critical reading of the right to freedom of religion, offered from the perspective of governmentality. It is argued that the right to freedom of religion enables the rational goals of government to relate to religiosity in such a manner that those subject to them (religious qua juridical) are made at once freer and more governable 'in this world'.