Power Is Not Classes

Power, in the Foucaultian sense, is not only in the hands of the dominant class; in fact it is best to not even use the word “class” when talking about Foucault’s idea of power. For him, “micro-powers’ are in fact “infinitely complex system of power relations that permeate every aspect of social life.” (Sheridan, 1980) Differing from Marx’s theory of class struggle, Foucault explains the change in penal system procedures as a change that logistically aligned with the new type of industrializing and colonizing system that was beginning to replace the feudal power. These new industrializing systems needed to deal with delinquent acts, and thus gave rise to the network of micro-powers.

Reference:

Sheridan, A. (1990) Michel Foucault: The Will to Truth. London: Routledge.