How Necropolitics Shapes Our View of Global Crises
In today’s world, we witness some of the most horrific events through the screens of our phones. For many in the Western world, the mass deaths and tragedies occurring in other parts of the globe have become normalized—especially when those regions are in the Global South. Wars, famine, and poverty are often seen as distant, ongoing issues that are primarily associated with non-white populations, rarely put into proper context.
Whether it’s Sudan, Iran, Palestine, Congo, or Haiti, many of these crises share a common origin: systems of oppression like colonialism and slavery. Yet, there’s a significant lack of responsibility or accountability from the Western world, even though the roots of these issues are deeply linked to its exploitative history.
This is where Achille Mbembe’s concept of Necropolitics becomes crucial in understanding these dynamics. Mbembe, a Cameroonian historian and political theorist, first introduced the term in a paper and expanded on it in his 2019 book Necropolitics. He currently serves as a research professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and holds a PhD from the University of Sorbonne in France.
What is Necropolitics?
Necropolitics refers to the power dynamics that allow certain entities—whether they be states, paramilitaries, or corporations—to dictate who gets to live and who must die. These systems of control exist to maintain the current global power structure, disproportionately harming marginalized populations while benefiting others.
Looking back at history, the so-called “Golden era” for Europe and the „New World“ in the U.S. was marked by the genocide, enslavement, and impoverishment of non-white populations. The wealth generated from exploiting the Americas, Africa, and Asia came at the cost of terrorizing those regions. Mbembe emphasizes that racism is the foundation of necropolitics, as it devalues the lives of racialized people, making their suffering and deaths seem acceptable or inevitable.
This framework sheds light on why many of us view crises in the Global South as „endless“ and without deeper context. These regions continue to be exploited and impoverished, while the Western world fails to fully acknowledge its role in perpetuating these systems.
Mbembe’s work offers a profound perspective on the power dynamics that shape our global reality. Have you read Necropolitics or heard of Mbembe’s ideas? What do you think about them? Share your thoughts in the comments below!