This research cluster aims to study and apply radical theories of politics to generate new understanding of significant social, cultural and technical objects. We draw inspiration from the work of philosopher and historian Michel Foucault, who coined the malleable term ‘political technology’ to describe a variety of social and cultural phenomena ranging from prison design to the practice of confession. Our objective is to foster understanding of critical and activist work on the following types of political technology in particular, within and across different national, cultural and linguistic areas:

• emancipatory political theory and practice (in particular around ‘race’/ethnicity, gender, sexuality and social class);
• sociogenesis and decolonial practice, in particular psychosocial questions of decolonisation or ‘disenclosure’ (Mbembe);
• ‘somatechnics’ and practices of embodiment;
• techniques of the self and ‘anthropotechnics’ (Sloterdijk), including biomedical technologies;
• bureaucracy, administrative rationality and the passion for order;
• conspiracy theory and misinformation/disinformation;
• digital technologies of surveillance and governance.

Our understanding of politics is broad: we believe it extends far beyond political parties, systems and electoral cycles and that many of the most significant political technologies of the Modern and contemporary eras have been developed and taken effect transnationally.

To join the cluster or for more information about our activities please email Oliver Davis at odavis@ucc.ie 

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