Biopolitics and Social Control In The Covid-19 Process Through The Lenses Of Michel Foucault And Paul Virilio

Duygu Atakul

Makale detayları

Biopolitics and Social Control In The Covid-19 Process Through The Lenses Of Michel Foucault And Paul Virilio

Yazarlar:

Duygu Atakul

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Siyasal Teori ve Siyaset Felsefesi | Uluslararası Siyaset

Dergi:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 35, pp.146-161

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349594

pISSN:

2667-4866

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 In this study, the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused the deaths of more than 18 million people, is evaluated within the framework of biopolitics. Paul Virilios approach, which focuses on technology, speed, and visual surveillance, provides a complementary perspective for explaining how states reinforce biopolitical practices.This study examines how biopolitical control mechanisms, along with the acceleration of technology and speed, restricted individual freedoms and led a transformation in individuals perception of reality, increasing social control. The perspective of Paul Virilio, a technology philosopher little-known in Turkish literature compared to Foucault, is evaluated in the context of social control practices through the example of Covid-19, aiming to develop a different viewpoints and contribute to existing discussions. Additionally, this study aims to shed light on the situations that may be possible in the future by drawing attention to the growing influence of governments, especially in adverse conditions such as epidemics, and through the acceleration of technology and information flow. As a result, this process which is analyzed through Foucaults power analysis and concepts particularly dispositif, panopticon, governmentality, security, as well as Virilios theory and concepts dromology, information bomb, tele-surveillance analysis have had negative effects on human life, leading to a distortion of individuals perception of reality. With this altered perception, states have increased their influence over the individuals who have become more susceptible to manipulation. Through this power, they have also legislated non-health-related issues as a package within the scope of health measures implemented in Covid-19. This example has also emphasized the need for further discussions on the ethical responsibilities of technology, privacy rights, and democratic oversight mechanisms. Besides, it has been observed that power is no longer shaped solely around the question of who controls?, but increasingly around the question of who controls faster?.

 In this study, the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused the deaths of more than 18 million people, is evaluated within the framework of biopolitics. Paul Virilios approach, which focuses on technology, speed, and visual surveillance, provides a complementary perspective for explaining how states reinforce biopolitical practices.This study examines how biopolitical control mechanisms, along with the acceleration of technology and speed, restricted individual freedoms and led a transformation in individuals perception of reality, increasing social control. The perspective of Paul Virilio, a technology philosopher little-known in Turkish literature compared to Foucault, is evaluated in the context of social control practices through the example of Covid-19, aiming to develop a different viewpoints and contribute to existing discussions. Additionally, this study aims to shed light on the situations that may be possible in the future by drawing attention to the growing influence of governments, especially in adverse conditions such as epidemics, and through the acceleration of technology and information flow. As a result, this process which is analyzed through Foucaults power analysis and concepts particularly dispositif, panopticon, governmentality, security, as well as Virilios theory and concepts dromology, information bomb, tele-surveillance analysis have had negative effects on human life, leading to a distortion of individuals perception of reality. With this altered perception, states have increased their influence over the individuals who have become more susceptible to manipulation. Through this power, they have also legislated non-health-related issues as a package within the scope of health measures implemented in Covid-19. This example has also emphasized the need for further discussions on the ethical responsibilities of technology, privacy rights, and democratic oversight mechanisms. Besides, it has been observed that power is no longer shaped solely around the question of who controls?, but increasingly around the question of who controls faster?.

 In this study, the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused the deaths of more than 18 million people, is evaluated within the framework of biopolitics. Paul Virilios approach, which focuses on technology, speed, and visual surveillance, provides a complementary perspective for explaining how states reinforce biopolitical practices.This study examines how biopolitical control mechanisms, along with the acceleration of technology and speed, restricted individual freedoms and led a transformation in individuals perception of reality, increasing social control. The perspective of Paul Virilio, a technology philosopher little-known in Turkish literature compared to Foucault, is evaluated in the context of social control practices through the example of Covid-19, aiming to develop a different viewpoints and contribute to existing discussions. Additionally, this study aims to shed light on the situations that may be possible in the future by drawing attention to the growing influence of governments, especially in adverse conditions such as epidemics, and through the acceleration of technology and information flow. As a result, this process which is analyzed through Foucaults power analysis and concepts particularly dispositif, panopticon, governmentality, security, as well as Virilios theory and concepts dromology, information bomb, tele-surveillance analysis have had negative effects on human life, leading to a distortion of individuals perception of reality. With this altered perception, states have increased their influence over the individuals who have become more susceptible to manipulation. Through this power, they have also legislated non-health-related issues as a package within the scope of health measures implemented in Covid-19. This example has also emphasized the need for further discussions on the ethical responsibilities of technology, privacy rights, and democratic oversight mechanisms. Besides, it has been observed that power is no longer shaped solely around the question of who controls?, but increasingly around the question of who controls faster?.

 Bu çalışmada, 18 milyondan fazla insanın ölmüne yol açan Covid-19 pandemisi, Michel Foucaultnun biyopolitika perspektifi çerçevesinde ele alınmaktadır. Paul Virilionun teknoloji, hız ve görsel denetim odaklı yaklaşımları ise, devletlerin biyopolitik uygulamalarını nasıl pekiştiğini açıklamada tamamlayıcı bir bakış açısı sunmaktadır. Çalışmada, pandemi sürecinde devletlerin biyopolitik kontrol mekanizmalarının, teknoloji ve hızın artışıyla birlikte sosyal hareketliliği ve bireysel özgürlükleri nasıl sınırlandırdığını, bunun sonucunda da bireylerin gerçeklik algısının nasıl dönüştüğü tartışılmaktadır. Türkçe literatürde Foucaultya kıyasla daha az bilinen teknoloji felsefecisi Paul Virilionun bakış açısı, toplumsal kontrol uygulamaları bağlamında Covid-19 örneği üzerinden değerlendirilerek, farklı bir bakış açısı geliştirilmesi ve mevcut tartışmalara katkı sunulması hedeflenmiştir. Ayrıca, bu çalışmayla birlikte özellikle salgın gibi olumsuz koşullar, teknoloji ve hızın ivmelenmesi sayesinde devletlerin etkilerinin artmasına dikkat çekilerek gelecekte yaşanması mümkün olabilecek durumlara ışık tutulması amaçlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, Foucaultun iktidar analizleri ve kavramları özellikle dispozitif, panoptikon, yönetimsellik ve güvenlik ile Virilionun teori ve kavramları dromoloji, enformasyon bombası, telegözetim analizi aracılığıyla açıklanan bu süreçte, yaşanan gelişmeler, insan hayatı üzerinde olumsuz bir etki bırakarak bireylerin gerçeklik algısının bozulmasına neden olmuştur. Bu yeni oluşan algıyla birlikte devletler manipülasyona daha açık hale gelen bireyler üzerinde etkilerini artırmıştır. Bu güçle birlikte, Covid-19 özelinde uygulanan sağlık tedbirleri kapsamında sağlıkla ilgili olmayan konular da paket halinde yasalaştırılmıştır. Bu örnekle beraber teknolojinin etik sorumlulukları, gizlilik hakları ve demokratik denetim mekanizmaları hakkında daha fazla tartışma yapılması gerektiğini ortaya çıkmıştır. Ayrıca, iktidarın artık yalnızca kim denetliyor? sorusu etrafında değil, kim daha hızlı denetliyor? sorusu etrafında şekillendiği gözlemlenmiştir.

Makale detayları

Biopolitics and Social Control In The Covid-19 Process Through The Lenses Of Michel Foucault And Paul Virilio

Yazarlar:

Duygu Atakul

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Siyasal Teori ve Siyaset Felsefesi | Uluslararası Siyaset

Dergi:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 35, pp.146-161

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349594

pISSN:

2667-4866

Foucault

Virilio

Dispositif

Covid-19

DromolojiFoucault

Virilio

Dispozitif

Covid-19

Dromoloji

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Duygu Atakul

Yayıncı: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar: Siyasal Teori ve Siyaset Felsefesi | Uluslararası Siyaset

Dergi: Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 35, pp.146-161

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 5/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001349594

pISSN: 2667-4866

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Duygu Atakul

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Siyasal Teori ve Siyaset Felsefesi | Uluslararası Siyaset

Dergi:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 35, pp.146-161

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

5/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349594

pISSN:

2667-4866