Managementality: management as a political mentality
Author
Altunok, Gülbanu
Advisor
Çırakman, Aslı
Date
2000Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
This thesis is an attempt to explain and explore the social and political
implications o f ‘management’ as a practice and theory of knowledge. In this
respect the historical formation of management discipline, its basic principles,
and its functioning are investigated. It is argued that management as a business
administration operates as a control mechanism within the workplaces.
However, management as an administrative practice is not limited to business
organizations but spread through the public institutions in the post war years.
In other words, the mentality of management infiltrated into public institutions
and eventually influenced the relations between the state and citizens. Then,
this thesis argues that management as a control mechanism has expanded into
society at large. In order to investigate the social and political significance of
management both in private and public organizations two concepts of Michel
Foucault will be applied: one is Panopticism. It shows how management works
as a disciplinary mechanism. The other is Governmentality. This concept is
useful in analyzing the expansion of the mentality of management into social
and political life in contemporary societies.