Managementality: management as a political mentality

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.