Handwriting as Practice of Russian Governmentality

Abstract

In this article I want to show how one of the most common practices of Russian state bureaucracy - handwriting - shapes the specifics of the Russian governmentality. We propose the approach that shifts focus from single ontological basis of governmentality (biopolitics or structural violence, etc.) to its particularity and uniqueness, which are guaranteed by specifics of everyday material practices of bureaucracy. Anthropology of power and state moves from generalized conceptualizations of power to the particular bureaucratic practices, in fact, it just illustrates pre-given mechanisms of violence or biopolitics with such examples. Our text reveals the possibility of reverse movement: from practices of state bureaucracy to the properties of specific kind of governmentality. Theoretical resources, that justify the legitimacy of such movement, rooted in Michel Foucault's studies of governmentality. Starting with brief historical overview of theoretical reflection, associated with power and literacy in works of political philosophers, sociologists and social anthropologists we also use some achievements of anthropologists, associated with actor-network theory. Empirical material used in the article includes some examples of official correspondence of high-ranked Russian officials, containing concrete examples of handwriting. We analyzed the properties of that practice - transgressigvness and iterability - and their impact on Russian governmentality.