CultureAugust 17, 2026
governmentality
GUH-vern-man-TAL-uh-tee
Definition
The system of governance, bureaucratic processes, and regulatory frameworks through which an organization or state exercises authority and manages public affairs.
Etymology
Coined by French philosopher Michel Foucault, the term is a portmanteau of 'government' and 'rationality,' used to describe the techniques and procedures by which people are directed or managed within a society.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the dense web of administrative, procedural, and institutional oversight that governed the creation of the Quampi centre, noting how this structure both facilitated and constrained the architects' work.
The Quandamooka Arts and Culture Centre (Quampi) by Cox Architecture
Read the full article ↗ArchitectureAu