Records and rumors: Surveillance and information in late absolutist Denmark (1770–1849)

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

This article questions common and present conceptions of pre-modern surveillance. A central observation is that sociological and historical readings of surveillance as a historical phenomenon focus on either continuities or discontinuities between pre-modern and modern states and their implementation of surveillance as governmental strategies. This article wishes to avoid such a discussion by focusing on concrete historical cases of surveillance in pre-modern Denmark. In this respect the article is inspired by the genealogical method of Michel Foucault, though it does not claim to be a fully developed genealogy. The article concludes that notions of pervasiveness and scope have to be viewed in proportion to concrete historical contexts.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftSurveillance & Society
Vol/bind15
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til)314-325
Antal sider12
ISSN1477-7487
StatusUdgivet - 2017

ID: 174466922