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Examines the theoretical achievements and the political impact of the new materialisms
Materialism, a rich philosophical tradition that goes back to antiquity, is currently undergoing a renaissance. In The Government of Things, Thomas Lemke provides a comprehensive overview and critical assessment of this “new materialism”. In analyzing the work of Graham Harman, Jane Bennett, and Karen Barad, Lemke articulates what, exactly, new materialism is and how it has evolved. These insights open up new spaces for critical thought and political experimentation, overcoming the limits of anthropocentrism.
Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of a “government of things”, the book also goes beyond new materialist scholarship which tends to displace political questions by ethical and aesthetic concerns. It puts forward a relational and performative account of materialities that more closely attends to the interplay of epistemological, ontological, and political issues.
Lemke provides definitive and much-needed clarity about the fascinating potential—and limitations—of new materialism as a whole. The Government of Things revisits Foucault’s more-than-human understanding of government to capture a new constellation of power: “environmentality”. As the book demonstrates, contemporary modes of government seek to control the social, ecological, and technological conditions of life rather than directly targeting individuals and populations. The book offers an essential and much needed tool to critically examine this political shift.
— Bruce Braun, co-editor of Political Matter: Technoscience, Democracy, and Public Life
"The Government of Things is an invaluable exploration and appraisal of new materialist approaches, advancing the argument that, while such approaches have much to offer, they also have distinctive weaknesses in handling questions of history and politics. Thomas Lemke proposes to remedy these shortcomings by drawing from Michel Foucault’s 'tool-box,' thus situating the book's analysis at the vital intersection between science and technology studies and the study of governmental rationality. Particularly for those of us who share Lemke’s ambivalence about new materialism, this book is an essential guide to the limits of this approach—and to avenues for productively combining it with other modes of inquiry."
— Stephen J. Collier, co-author of The Government of Emergency: Vital Systems, Expertise, and the Politics of Security
"In that Thomas Lemke’s book, The Government of Things: Foucault and the New Materialisms, supports my view for a materialist reading of Foucault, it constitutes a welcome addition to the literature."
— Mark Olssen
"The Government of Things allows for a very fruitful encounter between Foucault and new material concerns. While the ultimate trajectory of Lemke's analytic of the government of things is a bit unclear, it should not be doubted that he has produced a remarkable piece of scholarship that will continue to generate innovative readings of Foucault."
— Conor Bean