Work

Null Subjects of Power: The Politics of Absence in Executable Language

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article introduces the concept of Null Subjects of Power, where authority operates through the absence of an explicit agent. While in linguistics the null subject is a grammatical category, in predictive societies it becomes a political one: institutions obey rules without a speaker, mandates without an issuer, and decisions without a subject. From judicial sentences and financial reports to policy drafts generated by AI, the null subject marks the disappearance of responsibility while preserving obedience. The paper argues that null subjects constitute a structural category of power, redefining sovereignty in executable language. DOI Primary archive: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17085900 Secondary archive: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30085636 SSRN: Pending assignment (ETA: Q3 2025)

Source: Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)

DOI: 10.17613/mxttw-k5476

Author: V. Startari, Agustin

Institutions: Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Universidad de la Empresa, University of Palermo

Language: English

Topic: Philosophy and Social Theory

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7080432453

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