Politics and paradox in Tacitus' annales 1-3:  a theoretical analysis of peacetime conflict in Tiberian Rome
Analyses of conflict in Tacitus have often been focussed on tbe constitution of the Principate, specifically the loss of libertas which followed from the system of rule by one. This thesis offers a theoretical analysis of conflict in Tacilus, arguing that conflict stems from the wider social and systemic structures ordinarily designed to ensure peace, such as the law, the imperial hierarchy and the mos maiorum. The notion that peacetime policies and procedures became in themselves a source of conflict is here described as the paradox of imperial politics. Chapters I and 2 offer a close reading of the Augustan prologue and the accession of Tiberius, while also introducing the work of Giorgio Agamben on the sovereign exception and Michel Foucault on biopoliti cs, The first chapter argues that a source of epistemological conflict is cultural memory, specifically the knowledge of the violent past of civil war. The second chapter argues that political conflict results from Tiberius' inability to replicate Augustan imperium, which in Tacitus is the power to speak in the name of the law and decide truth . In Chapter 3, and with reference to Jacques Ranciere's conception of democratic violence, hierarchy is revealed
Patel, Shreyaa Gracey
Politics and paradox in Tacitus' annales 1-3:  a theoretical analysis of peacetime conflict in Tiberian Rome. Analyses of conflict in Tacitus have often been focussed on tbe constitution of the Principate, specifically the loss of libertas which followed from the system of rule by one. This thesis offers a theoretical analysis of conflict in Tacilus, arguing that conflict stems from the wider social and systemic structures ordinarily designed to ensure peace, such as the law, the imperial hierarchy and the mos maiorum. The notion that peacetime policies and procedures became in themselves a source of conflict is here described as the paradox of imperial politics. Chapters I and 2 offer a close reading of the Augustan prologue and the accession of Tiberius, while also introducing the work of Giorgio Agamben on the sovereign exception and Michel Foucault on biopoliti cs, The first chapter argues that a source of epistemological conflict is cultural memory, specifically the knowledge of the violent past of civil war. The second chapter argues that political conflict results from Tiberius' inability to replicate Augustan imperium, which in Tacitus is the power to speak in the name of the law and decide truth . In Chapter 3, and with reference to Jacques Ranciere's conception of democratic violence, hierarchy is revealed
politics paradox tacitus theoretical analysis peacetime conflict rome analyses conflict tacitus often_focus constitution principate specifically loss follow system rule offer theoretical analysis conflict argue conflict stem wider_social systemic structure ordinarily design ensure peace law imperial hierarchy notion peacetime policy procedures become source conflict describe paradox imperial politics offer close_reading augustan prologue accession tiberius also_introduce work giorgio_agamben sovereign exception foucault first argue source epistemological conflict cultural_memory specifically knowledge violent past civil_war second_argue political conflict tiberius inability replicate augustan tacitus power speak name law decide truth reference conception democratic violence hierarchy reveal