Lockdown Politics: A Response to Panagiotis Sotiris

Abstract In 'Thinking Beyond the Lockdown', Panagiotis Sotiris argues that lockdowns are repressive and should be opposed. In this response I take issue with his analysis. He posits the existence of a 'lockdown strategy' which has little relation to reality. He identifies lockdowns with neoliberalism, flirts with the Great Barrington project, and calls for anti-lockdown resistance - without so much as a glance at the right-wing libertarian camps that are also staked out on this terrain. On these points, and in respect of his interpretation of Foucault, I offer a rebuttal.