Policing and the State Apparatus: An Interpretive Reading between Rancière and Althusser

Abstract

This text aims to present, develop, and provide a broad interpretive analysis of the connection between J. Rancière and L. Althusser, specifically concerning Rancière's conception of "policing" and Althusser's notion of the "state apparatus." It is well-known that, in an earlier stage, Rancière was closely associated with Althusser's thought, although he was never a strict adherent. Nevertheless, in his political philosophy, one can find remnants and vestiges that seem to reflect that initial intellectual relationship that marked the intersection of both authors. It becomes less far-fetched to propose the following as the central theme of this text: that Rancière's characterization of the "policing" or the police, as found in some of his texts, tends to suggest a certain similarity with the concept of the state apparatus inherent in Althusserian Marxism. This is considered within the duality or double aspect of the state apparatus: the repressive state apparatus and the ideological state apparatuses. Is it plausible to pursue an interpretive reading along these lines, following this intuition despite the objections that may arise due to its brevity? This inquiry will attempt to address this question.