“Necropolitics is the power to dictate who may live and who must die.”
What this quote means
Necropolitics describes how certain powers decide who may live and who must die, turning life into a political stake. Mbembe exposes the mechanisms by which lives are sacrificed in the name of security or ideology. This analysis resonates in modern conflicts, forced migrations, and health inequalities. It invites us to question political choices that privilege some at the expense of others.
How to apply it daily
Question policies that expose lives to death by staying informed and voting for decisions that protect the most vulnerable.
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