AFFIRMATIVE BIOPOLITICS THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF HOLOCAUST NARRATIVES

A LOOK AT FOUCAULT AND AGAMBEN

Abstract

As one of the main components of the modern state, biopolitics appears to be a stable element behind each process of government. From early social contract theories to contemporary theories biopolitics has been a subject of various studies. Although it appears to be a fixed structure, it is possible to change the way it processes. Taking the theories of Foucault and Agamben, we arrive to the concept of the affirmative biopolitics. The affirmative biopolitics, a concept constructed by changing the destructive power of biopolitics to sustain human life, offers ways to overcome bio-power within the existing governmental structures. As it might come as a rather complex theory, it is a good idea to study affirmative biopolitics through the well-known narratives, for better illustrative examples. Nazi regime is one of the most intense periods of biopolitical governance, thus, Holocaust narratives serve as a good point of departure for study. There are various examples of non-violent resilience against bio-power in these narratives. The common point of these narratives is re-establishing humanity, and, the first step for re-gaining a voice is through language. In terms of storytelling and testifying, language constructs a voice for the ones who were forced to silence. It is not testifying to the official truth but to the personal truth that alters the historical ground and shakes the bio-power. Then it is the comic attitude against the terror of destruction that might change the impact it leaves on people. It is possible to expand the branches of the affirmative biopolitics, yet these are effective practices that we can simply adopt to make an impact on the social processes around us.