1. Panopticism in Prisons: Foucault described how prison architecture—in the form of a central watchtower—creates a constant possibility of surveillance. This induces self-discipline among inmates, illustrating how institutions use knowledge (the ability to observe) to enforce power.

2. Medical and Psychiatric Institutions: These establishments define what is considered “normal” or “abnormal.” By labeling certain behaviors as illnesses, they create regimes of knowledge that legitimize control and marginalize alternative identities.

3. Discourses on Sexuality: Foucault examined how societal narratives around sexuality shape what is viewed as acceptable or deviant. These discourses enable state and institutional authorities to regulate personal behavior through “scientific” and moral frameworks.

Each example demonstrates the interplay between how society organizes knowledge and the exertion of power, a central theme in Foucault’s work.