Biosecurity, Economic Collapse, the State to Come: Political Power in the Pandemic and Beyond

— —

Christos Boukalas (Professor at Northumbria Law School, UK.)

Biosecurity, Economic Collapse, the State to Come

Political Power in the Pandemic and Beyond

Christos Boukalas (Professor at Northumbria Law School, UK.)

$77.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Routledge
27 May 2024

Social & political philosophy; Illness & addiction: social aspects; Government powers; Criminal law & procedure; Health systems & services

Series: Directions and Developments in Criminal Justice and Law

What kind of state emerges from the pandemic? The pandemic caused two crises, in biosecurity and in the economy. The state was forced to tackle both; but subduing one inevitably exacerbated the other. Emerging from the impossible task of handling two conflicting crises is a new form of state, the state to come.

To outline the emerging state, this book offers an in-depth critical account of the state's responses to the biosecurity and the economic crises. It is thus the first study to address both crises ensuing from the pandemic, and to synthesise the responses to them in a comprehensive account of political power. Addressing biosecurity, the book deciphers its key modalities, epistemic premises, its law, the threat it aims to oppose and the ways in which it relates to public health and society — especially its extraordinary power to suspend society. Addressing the economic crisis, the book deciphers the actuality and prospects of both the economy and the state's economic policy. It claims that economic policy is now dual: it adopts countercyclical measures to serve and entrench a neoliberal economy. The responses to the twin crises inform the outline of the emerging state: its structure, logic and legality; its power and its relation to society. This is a state of extraordinary power; but its only purpose is to preserve the social order intact. It is a despotic state: powerful, and set to impose social stasis.

This work offers ground-breaking analysis based on our pandemic experience. It is indispensable for critical scholars and students in Politics, Security Studies, Sociology, Law, Political Economy and Public Health.

By: Christos Boukalas (Professor at Northumbria Law School UK.)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 420g
ISBN: 9781032300023
ISBN 10: 1032300027
Series: Directions and Developments in Criminal Justice and Law
Pages: 214
Publication Date: 27 May 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction: the twin crises and the capitalist state Part I. Biosecurity 2. Medical power 3. The threat 4. Biosecurity law 5. Protect the NHS (the spectacle of public health) 6. Cancel society 7. The knowledge of biosecurity Part II. Economic Collapse 8. Fear vs fear 9. This is not a normal crisis 10. The great mothball 11. Sacrificial labour 12. Workfare 13. Pandemic distribution 14. Towards a dual economy: welfare for capital, workfare for everyone else Part III. The State to Come 15. Biopolitics and threat governmentality 16. From there is no alternative to whatever it takes 17. The rule of law and endless pseudo-necessity 18. Personal responsibility and the irresponsible state 19. Neoliberal despotism 20. Overcoming the order of fear 21. Postscript: Pericles and the plague

Christos Boukalas is a senior lecturer in Northumbria Law School. He develops a political theory of law, based on legal and state theory. His research focuses on the advent of a new form of law and state in the course of the 21st century. He has widely published critical accounts on British and American security law and policy, including the monograph Homeland Security, its Law and its State.