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Many people in academia, as in politics and business, today question the idea of being able to govern society. Theories of globalisation and individualisation, and ideas of governance and governmentality, present a story of the displacement of the nation state and sovereign government by the polycentric networks of governance. social scientists urged us to dispense with the 'container view of society' and contemplate the 'death of the social'. But should we? Is it really possible to discard such notions if we wish to analyse how to attain security, prosperity and welfare? Have we reached the end of history in which governing largely concerns self-governing individuals, networks and communities? This book radically re-examines these ideas.It provides an overview of current perspectives and theories, and examines recent transformations in techniques and rationalities of rule. It presents a new argument for the importance and transformation of sovereignty and powers of life and death and how they are integral to governing liberal-democratic societies.