Title: Contemporary debates on institutions: governance, governmentality and power

Authors: Jamie P. Halsall; Jason L. Powell

Addresses: School of Human and Health Sciences, The University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, UK ' Department of Social and Political Science, University of Chester, Chester, UK

Abstract: Institutions, at state and local level, have been perceived as a mechanism of supporting the vulnerable within society. The processes of globalisation within an economic, political and social context have played a fundamental role in institutions. The 'State' that administers institutions has experienced involvement and adjustment by central government's policy of privatisation and deregulation. The aim of this paper is to critically explore the current debates on institutions within British society. We frame the debates within Foucault's notion of 'governmentality', which highlights how government provides governance of 'action at a distance' in order to detract blame from government and its policies and place this blame onto individuals and communities themselves (1978, p. 33).

Keywords: community; institutions; society; Foucault; governmentality; governance; power; globalisation; privatisation; deregulation; UK; United Kingdom; government policy; distance; blame.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2016.075234

International Journal of Public Policy, 2016 Vol.12 No.1/2, pp.98 - 109

Received: 04 Feb 2015
Accepted: 25 Sep 2015
Published online: 08 Mar 2016 *

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