Indefinite Detention and the State of Exception — Sovereign Power, Guantanamo, and Human Rights | Chapter 3 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler
Indefinite Detention and the State of Exception — Sovereign Power, Guantanamo, and Human Rights | Chapter 3 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler What happens when a government suspends the rule of law in the name of national security? In Chapter 3 of Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence , Judith Butler offers a searing critique of indefinite detention as a tool of unchecked sovereign power. Titled "Indefinite Detention" , this chapter explores how political authority is expanded and legitimized through the erosion of legal protections—especially in the context of the War on Terror. Watch our full chapter summary from Last Minute Lecture below to explore Butler’s analysis of state violence, sovereignty, and the ethical challenges posed by indefinite detention: Guantanamo Bay and the Suspension of Rights At the heart of Butler’s critique is the U.S. government's policy toward detainees at Guantanamo Bay, where individuals were held indefinitely wit...