Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence

Antisemitism is a hatred of Jews. Butler is concerned with the regularity of the charge of antisemitism against those who criticize the violent policies of the Israeli state in its seizure and occupation of Palestinian land, displacement of Palestinians, and human rights violations. While Butler is also concerned with the ongoing reality of antisemitism, they argue that it is in fact antisemitic to label valid criticism of Israel as antisemitic, as critical thinking in support of attempts to secure justice is a deeply Jewish value, and Jewishness is not identical to the state of Israel.

Governmentality and sovereign power are terms used by philosopher Michel Foucault in his identification and analysis of different forms of political power.

Governmentality refers to the management of populations, including the distribution of essential goods. Sovereign power is a concentrated and locatable power that exercises ultimate authority, including matters of life and death. The sovereign, traditionally a monarch, consolidates power in their body, and thus this power can be taken away through regicide. Sovereign power, Foucault argues, has been replaced by a modern and diffuse form of power that appears to be much more “humane” precisely because it is so diffuse. Butler contends that sovereign power still exists and is exemplified by the detention of suspects at Guantanamo Bay.