Neoliberalism and Cyberpunk Science Fiction: Living on the Edge of Burnout

Caroline Alphin's book explores biopolitics through the lens of cyberpunk science fiction, examining themes of biopolitics, intensity, resilience, and accelerationism. It introduces the self-monitoring cyborg as a neoliberal subject and problematizes notions of neoliberal resilience by drawing from William Gibson's Neuromancer, Neal Stephensons Snow Crash, Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon, and the film Blade Runner. The book is a valuable resource for those interested in security studies, political sociology, biopolitics, critical IR theory, political theory, cultural studies, and literary theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Caroline Alphin delves into the realm of biopolitics by exploring it through the captivating lens of cyberpunk science fiction. This thought-provoking work is structured into five chapters, each guided by four central themes: biopolitics, intensification, resilience, and accelerationism. In the initial chapters, Alphin examines the political potential of cyberpunk as a genre of science fiction, introducing a unique type of neoliberal subject: the self-monitoring cyborg. These individuals seamlessly integrate fitness/health tracking devices and applications into their bodies, engaging in a self-cultivation process. Alphin provides concrete examples of how fitness trackers operate as a strategy of neoliberal governmentality, masquerading as self-improvement tools.

As the narrative progresses, Alphin shifts focus from Foucault's biopolitics to explore themes of intensity and resilience. Drawing upon a diverse range of sources, including William Gibson's Neuromancer, Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon, and the iconic film Blade Runner, Alphin critically interrogates notions of neoliberal resilience. By intertwining these themes with biopolitics and intensity, Alphin establishes a profound connection between them, ultimately revealing accelerationism as a manifestation of resilience.

In the final chapter, Alphin returns to the core themes of biopolitics, intensity, and resilience, exploring their relationship with accelerationism. Here, she argues that a biohacker, in part, represents an intensification of the self-monitoring cyborg, while accelerationism can be seen as yet another form of resilience. Neoliberalism and Cyberpunk Science Fiction emerges as a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts engaged in security studies, political sociology, biopolitics, critical IR theory, political theory, cultural studies, and literary theory. Through its innovative approach, this work offers insightful perspectives on the complex interplay between technology, power, and the human body in the context of contemporary society.

Weight: 344g
Dimension: 156 x 237 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367490997