Beyond Liberal Promises: Interpreting Illiberal State Reactions to Social Movements through Foucault’s Raison d’état

Purpose – This article aims to research the reasons behind the actions of liberal democratic states incompatible with liberalism or democracy, through a concrete case set which are their responses to social movements. Methodology – This study employs qualitative research methods, specifically phenomenology and case study. Phenomenology is used for conceptual analysis, while the case study method serves to shape and substantiate the article’s main arguments. Findings – The main finding obtained from the study is that liberal democratic states\\\' reactions to social movements cannot be explained by a prioritization of liberalism or democracy. Conclusions – It is assessed that liberal democratic states respond to all kinds of actions, activities, and efforts that pose a potential disruption to the economic and material circulation of life with certain reactions that do not align with their liberal or democratic characterizations. It has been concluded that underlying this response lies a modern state rationality—one that defines the modern state and transcends its liberal democratic quality, which prioritizes guaranteeing the continuity of life, and specifically, economic circulation. Keywords: Liberal democratic state, social movements, Foucault, modern state reason, material circulation of life. JEL Codes: D72, D74, P10