Alter-geopolitics

Other securities are happening

Keywords: Geopolitics. Critical geopolitics. Anti-geopolitics. Feminist geopolitics. Progressive geopolitics. Alternative geopolitics. Alter-geopolitics. Peace. Non-violence. Accompaniment. Solidarity. Colombia.

Abstract

In an age of increasing state (in)security, some are coming together on their own to build alternative nonviolent securities. They are making connections across distance and difference which focus on the safety of bodies (often by actually moving bodies), and ground geopolitics in everyday life. The term anti-geopolitics focuses on resistance to hegemonic geopolitics (material or discursive), rather than this sort of effort to build something new. Feminist geopolitics is a form of anti-geopolitics that not only takes apart but also puts the pieces together in new ways – with broader definitions of security for more bodies in more places. Yet it has not generally looked at that practice as engaged in outside of academia. I propose the term alter-geopolitics for a type of feminist geopolitics as a way to extend both the concepts of anti- and feminist geopolitics. I argue for the term as a reminder to look to grassroots practice, to the ways that groups are doing geopolitics in the streets, in homes, in jungles, and in many other spaces ‘off the page’. Though they may not think of their work as geopolitics, framing it in this way can open fruitful conversations. As academics we have much to learn and offer through collaboratively thinking with such groups about security. I have been doing this with international accompaniers in Colombia and discuss their work, and the peace community of San José that they accompany, as forms of altergeopolitics.

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Author Biography

Sara Koopman, School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Kent State University, Estados Unidos.
Soy una geógrafa política feminista interesada en los aspectos socioespaciales de la paz y la construcción de la paz, así como en cómo los sistemas interconectados de poder y privilegio desigual los moldean. Por lo tanto, examino los esfuerzos de solidaridad que trabajan tanto a través de la distancia como de las diferencias para construir la paz y la justicia. Estoy particularmente centrada en la solidaridad internacional entre el Norte y el Sur globales, cómo puede caer en patrones coloniales y cómo puede ser descolonizada. Escribo sobre esto en mi blog: decolonizingsolidarity.blogspot.com.

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Published
2023-11-29
How to Cite
Koopman, S. (2023). Alter-geopolitics. Punto Sur, (9), 66-93. https://doi.org/10.34096/ps.n9.13710