Foucault and left conservatism

Abstract

The consequences of Foucault s work for political theory have been subject to much reinterpretation. This article examines the reception of Foucault s work by the political left, and argues that the use made of his work is overly negative and lacks a positive political dimension. Through a discussion of the work of Judith Butler and other interpreters of Foucault I argue that the problem facing the poststructuralist left is formulated in a confusing and unhelpful manner, what I will call the dilemma of the left libertarian. Once we get around this formulation of the problem a more progressive political response becomes possible. I end by discussing the political possibilities of Foucault s work in terms of an account of autonomy derived from Foucault s later work on the Enlightenment. © Jeremy Moss, 2004.