Governing failure: politics, heroin, families

Abstract 

This article posits an innovative way of thinking about governing heroin use in Australia (and similar countries). Beginning with a critical glance at John Howard's latest ‘Tough on Drugs’ campaign, the article explores the way families have been enlisted in the Government's campaign to address heroin (and other illicit drugs) use. Taking a cue from historical changes in the government of families, I suggest that crucial themes in the shift from ‘matrimonial offences’ to ‘no-fault’ divorce are being rehearsed today in debates concerning ‘zero tolerance’ and ‘harm minimisation’ drug strategies. Though they are in several senses very dissimilar problems, I argue that divorce and heroin use can both be understood as aspects of human frailty or failing to be governed through, and might yet be managed in similar ways.

Keywords:  Politics, Families, Australia, Governmentality, Heroin, Divorce