Methodological reflections on Foucauldian analyses: Adopting the pointers of curiosity, nominalism, conceptual grounding and exemplarity. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hansen, Magnus Paulsen; Triantafillou, Peter
• Is Part Of: European journal of social theory. Volume 25:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 559
• Page End: 577
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Critique -- genealogy -- method -- Michel Foucault -- relativism; Social sciences -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 301.01
• DOI: 10.1177/13684310221078926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4310

Abstract

This article seeks to provide a set of pointers for methodological reflections on Foucauldian-inspired analyses of the exercise of power. Michel Foucault deliberately eschewed methodological schemata, which may be why so little has been written on the methodological implications of his analyses. While this article shares the premise that we should refrain from a standardized methodology, it argues that providing broad pointers for analyses informed by the critical ambition and conceptual framework offered by Foucault is both desirable and possible. The article then offers some reflections and general guidelines on how to strengthen the methodological quality of Foucauldian analyses. We argue that the quality of Foucauldian-inspired analysis of modern power may gain from methodological reflections around four pointers: curiosity, nominalism, conceptual grounding and exemplarity.