Miguel de Beistegui attempts here what Foucault called a "critical ontology of ourselves." His point of departure is examining the way we lead our lives as desiring subjects in the economic, sexual, and "symbolic" realms. . . . Rather than being a commentary on what Foucault says, this book takes its lead from what he says but pushes it further, finding unexpected connections and new avenues of thought and practice. Beistegui looks to archival sources such as court transcripts and government documents, as well as to philosophers. He aims to denaturalize desire, to trace the ways we have been led to lead our lives as desiring subjects, and in so doing to allow "resistance" or "refusal" to our being so governed, freeing space for experimentation with other ways of living our lives. . . . The book is a fascinating work of philosophical interest, historical depth, and contemporary relevance.

Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

"While everything remains to be done concerning the endlessly plastic face of Liberal governmentality, de Beistegui here provides an excellent set of conceptual tools with which to continue this process, alongside an excellent reversal of the dogmatism which characterizes the presuppositions of Liberal theory, in a text likely to appeal to all with an interest in philosophy and political science: from scholars of Foucault and Deleuze to those concerned with alternatives to our current forms of government."

Foucault Studies

“The Government of Desire is a challenging, original, and convincing attempt to address the crucial question of the forms taken by contemporary liberal and neoliberal governmentality, and of their capacity to produce and exploit subjects of desire. This fascinating book should become a fundamental reference for both students and scholars, not only in relation to Foucault studies, but more broadly within the fields of political and social philosophy.”

Daniele Lorenzini, Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought

“Miguel de Beistegui contributes to what Foucault called a history of the present by pursuing the idea of desire across three categories: economic, sexual, and symbolic. By interweaving the historical and theoretical aspects of these together, he argues that desire is not a transcendental feature of subjectivity, but rather an ‘assemblage’ of knowledge and power. Bolstered by a remarkable amount of research, The Government of Desire is a compelling, persuasive, and original work of philosophy.”

Leonard Lawlor, Pennsylvania State University