Foucault et l'Iran: À propos du désir de révolution

Abstract

This article examines the position taken by Michel Foucault regarding the Iranian Revolution. Contrary to certain analysts who view his writings pertaining to Iran as an occasion to question Foucaltian politics, the authors maintain that his work constitutes more of an analysis of outright support for the Islamic government. How can we then explain the interpretation made by many analysts who see in these same writings support for Khomeiny? The authors find in Foucaltian analysis a polity of the intellectual. Inspired by Kant's essay on the Age of Enlightenment, Foucault's approach examines the way to surmise History's moments of rift and transformation through the very notion of revolution. In other words, Foucault tries to assess those value systems which lend sense and meaning to revolts. That some may not recognize themselves in this particular approach should not be too surprising as it suggests a form of political praxis which does not necessarily entail a “for or against” position, but rather an understanding of the way in which its discourse partakes in society's governmental inner workings.

Towards a liberal Utopia: The connection between Foucault’s reporting on the Iranian Revolution and the ethical turn

“…There are two radically opposed views of Foucault's interpretation of the Iranian Revolution: (1) Foucault was wrong to defend an 'Infantile Leftism' and to remain blindly enthusiastic while not seeing the risks of an Islamic government; 9 and (2) Foucault presented the first and most coherent attempt to define the conditions of possibility of revolutionary movements in our time and his writings on Iran highlight a new conception of resistance. 10 As mentioned previously, the first view remains dominant today. In large part, this perspective is fed by the early onslaught of devastating critiques.…”