Torben Bech Dyrberg

The last chapter wraps up some of the discussions related to parrhesia, which I have dealt with i... more The last chapter wraps up some of the discussions related to parrhesia, which I have dealt with in the preceding chapters. Particular emphasis is given to Foucault’s understanding of ‘the domain of politics’, two levels of analysing power (force and power) as well as what Foucault means by political authority. In addition, parrhesia as a critical encounter is supplemented with Foucault’s scattered remarks on what it means to speak of politicization and what the stakes are when politicizing something.

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T Cell Proliferative Responses to Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase-65 in IDDM are Negatively Associated with HLA DR3/4

Autoimmunity, 1995

Based on studies in spontaneously non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, it has been suggested that the M... more Based on studies in spontaneously non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, it has been suggested that the Mr 65,000 isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) is of major importance in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In humans, antibodies to GAD65 are present before and at onset of the disease and in vitro T cell reactivity to GAD has also been reported. To further characterize the T cell recognition of GAD65, we incubated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 45 newly diagnosed IDDM patients with purified recombinant human islet GAD65 and correlated the proliferative response with HLA DR haplotype and the presence of GAD65 autoantibodies. Fifty healthy individuals were studied as controls. Of the patients, 49% showed proliferative responses to GAD65 in contrast to only 4% of the controls. T cell proliferation to GAD65 was significantly more frequent in patients not being HLA DR3/4 heterozygous (19/29, 66%) as compared to HLA DR3/4 heterozygous patients (3/16, 19%) (p &lt; 0.01). The difference was most pronounced in females with 64% (9/14) of the HLA non-DR3/4 patients being positive compared to none (0/6) of the HLA DR3/4 patients (p &lt; 0.05). The overall frequency of GAD65 autoantibodies was 71% (32/45) with a similar distribution between patients with HLA DR3/4 (10/16, 63%) and HLA non-DR 3/4 (22/29, 76%). There was no correlation between levels of the T and B cell responses to GAD65 (r = 0.24). In conclusion, we find a proliferative T cell response to GAD65 in approximately 50% of recent onset IDDM patients and unexpectedly find the majority of responders to be HLA non-DR 3/4 heterozygous patients. No difference was observed in B cell responsiveness between the two HLA groups.

The Politics of Parrhesia:The Autonomy of Democratic Politics and the Parrhesiastic Pact

Parrhesia is instrumental to sustain the autonomy of politics by bracketing religious dogma, soci... more Parrhesia is instrumental to sustain the autonomy of politics by bracketing religious dogma, social stratification and expert knowledge as the basis for decision-making by setting up a pact that binds the individual to his/her statement and the authorities to the community to assure their accountability and trustworthiness. The idea that underpins the autonomy of politics and democracy is that truth and a meritocratic principle of ascendency are two sides of the same coin. Democracy and parrhesia condition each other, but democracy might be undermined by the negativeparrhesia of flattery and manipulation, which undermines democratic governing, as political power no longer unfolds in agonistic encounters. Hence, the tightrope balance between good and bad parrhesia illustrates the ambitious but fragile nature of democracy.

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The Nature of Critique: Political Not Epistemological

In contrast to epistemology-based types of critique, such as Ideology Critique, which aim to peel... more In contrast to epistemology-based types of critique, such as Ideology Critique, which aim to peel off layers of manipulation to get at the real thing, critique for Foucault is political and is played out at the axis of authorities and laypeople. Critique is negotiated and concerns where to draw the line between how to govern and how to avoid being governed too much. Experimentation and transgressions of limits are vital in this critical ontology of ourselves, which he sees as a radical as opposed to a revolutionary approach, because it is practical and experimental in contrast to being abstract and ideological. Foucault’s politics of critical engagement is antithetic to the nostalgias of reactionaries and revolutionaries alike, both of which are antithetic to democratic politics.