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Governance by Numbers: A Panopticon Reversed?
[journal article]
Abstract This commentary is concerned with a specific form of power and discipline that is exerted through governance by numbers. Because of its many parallels to classical Foucauldian panopticism, governance based on numbers can be coined 'numerocratic panopticism'. Yet, going beyond similarities between cl... view more
This commentary is concerned with a specific form of power and discipline that is exerted through governance by numbers. Because of its many parallels to classical Foucauldian panopticism, governance based on numbers can be coined 'numerocratic panopticism'. Yet, going beyond similarities between classical and numerocratic panopticism, the commentary suggests three features specific to numerocratic panopticism that actually reverse characteristic traits of classical panopticism: In contrast to classical panopticism, numerocratic panopticism is multi-centered, non-spatial and open-purpose. Research on governance by numbers can benefit from a heuristic of panopticism if it considers both similarities and differences between classical and numerocratic panopticism.... view less
Keywords
Foucault, M.; monitoring; governance; quantification; steering
Classification
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
Foucault; discipline; dispositif; numerocracy; panopticon; power; quantification; surveillance
Document language
English
Publication Year
2020
Page/Pages
p. 68-71
Journal
Politics and Governance, 8 (2020) 2
Issue topic
Quantifying Higher Education: Governing Universities and Academics by Numbers
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed