Paul Michel Foucault is a renowned scholar of philosophy and psychology. He also participated in several political activities and visited several countries. Foucault also visited prisons in France and America and developed his analytical approach about the conditions of prisons. He wrote about this issue thoroughly and in his book Discipline and Punish discusses several practical aspects of the issue. His influence is widely visible in America and after the incidents like 9/11 his relevancy has been accepted even by those who use to criticize his opinions. This paper discusses Foucault’s theory of Panopticism and several other aspects of the issue.
Foucault in Discipline and Punish discusses that the panopticon is a representation of the way where both discipline as well as punishment work together in the modern society. It works like a graph of authority in action and the reason behind this idea is the realization by an individual who comes to realize the processes of scrutiny by looking at preparation of the panopticon and how it is operated.
Foucault in order to highlighting the panopticon, symbolizes it as his argument. His theory of discipline wherein every person is subjected to the observation is personified in a building which has the capacity to perform these processes easily. Foucault adds that the development of panopticon is arises from the need of observation which is made known in the epidemic. The epidemic measures were required in order to protect the society and the panopticon let the power function competently. He calls it the permanent structure which is functional. The conversion that takes place from one to another form is the representation of the move in a society where regulation and punishment is based on the observation.
Foucault says that it is not necessary to have panopticon in every disciplinary society but the disciplinary society refers to a place where the controls of regulation and punishment are in hands of state and such powers are operated by the state. Socio-economic factors play very important role in the establishment and development of a disciplinary society and population factor contributes to a great extent in the whole episode. Foucault says that degree of the sophistication of the societies is responsible for the control, bigger the level of sophistication, bigger scope for the observation as well as control. This concept further elaborates the idea of liberty, duty and rights. He believes that in a modern society all citizens are at liberty and have the rights to raise particular kinds of demands in front of the state. Foucault suggests that it is difficult to understand these political ideas without understanding the mechanism which examine and controls the people. This tendency of examination spreads across the society and is visible in schools, hospitals, prisons, along with many other institutions. These institutions bear a resemblance to one another not because their buildings look in a similar way but because these all institutions have a tendency to examine students, patients, and prisoners or any other category of people related to the institutions. He says that since an individual spends much of his life time in these institutions the tendency shows the change in the society.
Foucault does not consider the prison as a marginal building which is on the boundary of a city, but suggests it to be closely incorporated in the city. He adds further that the similar stratagems of influence as well as knowledge are found in both the places. In fact, it is not that difficult to find that the techniques of observation and control which have been described by Foucault are sprouted in the ancient monasteries, hospitals and also the same thing is visible in the army. Foucault argues that the prisons can not be eliminated and the reason behind this saying is that our opinion about carrying out the penalty will not get its consent. Foucault considers the prison as a part of carceral network which is spread across the society and infiltrated everywhere.
Foucault suggests a number of measures should be taken against the epidemics. Dividing walls of the space, regular inspection are few of them. He says that the epidemic represents the concept of discipline and idea of separating the infected people from the society is meant to create an uncontaminated society. He says that these disciplinary measures are created just to check dangers of the epidemic. All techniques which are meant to control abnormal people emerge from the predictions of a danger. He gives an example of panopticon of Jeremy Bentham to corroborate his argument. In his example he mentions a building where a tower is located at the center which facilitates in monitoring every prisoner or a student. Though he considers visibility as a trap and suggests to communicate effectively with the students or the prisoners. Panopticon as he says provides an effective medium of communication because it gives a sense of permanent visibility and further make the functioning sure. He says that a prisoner, school boy or an employee of the factory may see the panoptican but he can not see that who is watching him and when he is under watch. He just assumes but the person who is in command of panopticon can always see his targets.
After having observed the idea given by Michel Foucault and discussing it in the context of Chinese and American bus stations, we find some interesting results. When we compare bus stations of china and America, we find that the bus stations in the America are well located and thus stand by the principles suggested by Michel Foucault. They are located at such locations from where the visibility is comparatively clear and it is easy for the observers to keep an eye on the public. In case of any calamity or unwanted situation the officials can take quick actions against the anti social elements or against the miscreants. There is enough arrangement for the security everywhere at bus stations. However china lacks on this front though in world class cities like Beijing and Hong Kong the situation is good and as per the idea discussed by Michel Foucault. Cities of the china are very crowdie and practical aspect of the issue suggests that it is hard to implement the ideas in china. The current situation shows is different what we have seen in America. The bus stations are though modified in big cities but security is still a matter of big concern. One aspect that lacks in the idea discussed by Foucault is that he does not suggest different solutions for the different problems. Implementing one idea in every condition seems a bit difficult in complex situations. A proper observation system has not been arranged yet and this is against the ideas of Michel Foucault.
After having observed the abovementioned analysis of the idea given by Michel Foucault, it is good to conclude that his idea of the panopticism is very useful and practical. He has discussed the ideas in a very practical context which are useful for the bigger and smaller both kind of organizations. Security is a big concern in the modern times and after the abrupt rise in the terrorist activities across the world, it is necessary to make very good security arrangements. The ideas discussed by Michel Foucault are a big help in tackling the security issue. On the basis of these ideas the governments can make the security unbeatable. In many countries the model as told by Michel Foucault has been followed and the results are very positive therein.
However there are also limits of the idea given by Michel Foucault. Today the terrorists and criminals have found several other ways to breach the security models. Criminals find the ways of breaching the laws before they come into existence. Today his model is losing its sharpness because of several reasons. Establishing panopticon is not a very easy way at every place in the current scenario. The concept is good but its practicality is in question and this becomes extraneous in modern times due to lack of its practicality. One more aspect of the subject is that Foucault does recommend what to do in different situations and how to tackle complex situations.
Works Cited
Caluya, Gilbert. "Foucault and everyday security: lessons from the panopticon ." unisa. 25 March 2012
Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punishment. New York: Vintage Books, 1995.
James Miller and Jim Miller. The passion of Michel Foucault. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1993.
Michel Foucault and Paul Rabinow. The Foucault reader. New York: Pantheon Books, 1984.
