The Penitent State: Exposure, Mourning and the Biopolitics of National Healing

The book explores the growing trend of sovereign acts of repentance and redress, particularly apologies, and argues that these gestures carry implications for the exercise of power. It suggests that these acts are driven by an interest in healing and testify to a new biopolitical raison d'état in which the management of trauma emerges as a critical expression of attempts to regulate the life of the population. The key question is whether these political measures deserve to be regarded as restorative or just.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This book delves into a thought-provoking inquiry, posing a deceptively straightforward question: what are states actually accomplishing when they engage in penance for past injustices? Why are these penitential gestures, particularly the act of apology, becoming increasingly prevalent, and what profound implications do they hold for the exercise of power?

Drawing upon the insightful perspectives of Schmitt, Foucault, and Agamben, the book presents a compelling argument that there is far more at stake in sovereign acts of repentance and redress than mere recognition of victims or the legitimacy of the state. It suggests that these acts are driven by an underlying interest in healing, revealing a new biopolitical rationale where the management of trauma emerges as a critical expression of efforts to govern and regulate the lives of the population.

In The Penitent State, the author aims to shed light on the central concern arising from the age of apology: rather than questioning the sincerity or insincerity of these acts, the focus shifts to assessing whether the political measures authorized in the name of healing truly deserve to be regarded as restorative or just. Through meticulous analysis and thoughtful exploration, the book offers a profound examination of the complex dynamics at play, challenging readers to reassess their understanding of the role of repentance, justice, and power in shaping the world we inhabit.

Weight: 642g
Dimension: 240 x 160 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198831624