The Democratic Disciplinary Subject: An Evolution in Four Phases

There are four phases of development of modern (political) subjectivity. The subjectivity of the Age of Enlightenment emerged between 1750 and 1850, and was determined by revolutionary enthusiasm, followed by constitutional fever. The latter caused, all over the world, a reciprocal copy/paste, pick/mix, analyze/recombine of constitional settings. The third formation of subjectivity between 1850 and 1950 is that of the male disciplinary subject, which adapted to the existing ruling structure of modern capitalism and modern colonial imperialism, including nationalism, racism, misogyny, xenophoby, homophoby, etc. It is caused by the the structural coupling of male universal conscription with universal male suffrage. The fourth phase emerged in a functionally and increasingly normatively integrated world society. Post-heroic, post-traditional, and consumerist (narcissistic) subjectivity, hence democratic subjectivity, is based on (1) the transnational implementation of (a) national human rights regimes, (b) expanding national social welfare regimes, and (c) rapidly growing and expanding national educational systems. Democratic subjectivity based (2) on symbolic normative inclusion of (a) all social classes, (b) all genders and sexual orientations, and (c) all nationalities (races, religions etc.). Democratic subjectivity is (3) enabled by (educationally) prolonged youth and intensified adolescent crises (instead of traditional status passages and archaic rituals of transition).