Power, Chicano Studies Discourse and Public Policy.

A discussion of the two predominant theories of power (the juridical-liberal and the Marxist theories) notes the limitations of the two theories, the historical reasons for their common grounding of the analysis of power in terms of repression/sovereignty, and why the theory of sovereignty persisted as an ideology and organizing principle of all major legal codes. An analysis that reverses the trajectory followed by these two theories is presented. The paper defines Chicanology ("an elusive yet systematic hegemonic discourse that expresses and actualizes Anglo domination over Chicanos"); Chicano discourse ("a diffuse, subjugated knowledge resulting from the struggle against Anglo power"); and Chicano Studies ("a specific discursive practice within Chicano discourse which attempts to acquire power by claiming academic validity"). Chicano discourse is mapped in terms of (1) the specific discursive and non-discursive (i.e., institutional) power relations which gave rise to it; (2) the status given to individual speakers of Chicano discourse; (3) the concepts to which it refers; and (4) the strategies that define its struggle with Chicanology. Chicano Studies discourse is discussed, focusing on the "micro-mechanisms by which the discourse of Chicano scholars is appropriated and robbed of its power in order to deflect its impact on public policy." (NQA)