Achille Mbembe — Questions and answers

Read the full story

How does Dr. Ben describe people living in 'death-worlds'?

Choices

  1. They are always safe and protected.
  2. They are 'living on borrowed time' with few protections. ✓
  3. They get new books every day.
  4. They play outside all the time.

Answer: They are 'living on borrowed time' with few protections.

From page 4

What else does Mbembe's 'necropolitics' include besides direct killing?

Choices

  1. Playing board games.
  2. Systemic weaponization of economic policies, debt, and environmental harm. ✓
  3. Learning new languages.
  4. Going on vacation.

Answer: Systemic weaponization of economic policies, debt, and environmental harm.

From page 5

How can Mbembe's ideas help us understand global health crises?

Choices

  1. It helps us build better hospitals.
  2. It shows how some policies help some people live but let others die. ✓
  3. It teaches us how to make more medicine.
  4. It helps us find new doctors.

Answer: It shows how some policies help some people live but let others die.

From page 8

What famous quote does Dr. Ben use to talk about resistance?

Choices

  1. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
  2. "It always seems impossible until it's done." ✓
  3. "Early to bed, early to rise."
  4. "The early bird catches the worm."

Answer: "It always seems impossible until it's done."

From page 9

Why is Mbembe's work still important today?

Choices

  1. It helps us decide what to eat for dinner.
  2. It helps us understand complex problems like climate change and who is hurt by power. ✓
  3. It teaches us how to build a house.
  4. It tells us how to play a new game.

Answer: It helps us understand complex problems like climate change and who is hurt by power.

From page 10