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Encapsulation: Governing actual uncertainty in the coronavirus pandemic
Michael Rabi1, Limor Samimian-Darash1, Eva Hilberg1,2
1Federmann School of Public Policy and Government, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Sociology of Health & Illness
|February 2, 2022
Summary
The coronavirus pandemic prompted new analyses of biopolitics. This study argues Israeli pandemic responses reveal state management of uncertainty through novel "encapsulation" power, rather than classic biopolitics.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- The coronavirus pandemic has spurred debate on biopolitics, with scholars interpreting state responses as either classic biopolitical regimes or totalitarian repression.
- Existing interpretations often frame pandemic control measures within established biopolitical theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Israeli governmental interventions during the coronavirus pandemic.
- To propose an alternative framework for understanding state responses to uncertainty, moving beyond traditional biopolitical concepts.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of Israeli governmental interventions during the pandemic.
- Examination of the technologies and rationalities employed by state apparatuses.
- Development of the concept of "encapsulation" to describe a new form of power.
Main Results:
- Israeli pandemic interventions are better understood as responses to actual uncertainty, not classic biopolitical strategies.
- State apparatuses utilized diverse technologies and rationalities to manage uncertainty.
- These interventions created and managed a new social and political milieu.
Conclusions:
- The study introduces "encapsulation" as a novel concept to describe a normalization strategy linked to power in managing uncertainty.
- Governmental responses to the pandemic demonstrate a complex interplay between uncertainty, technology, and power.
- The Israeli case offers insights into how states navigate unprecedented crises through adaptive power mechanisms.
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