CFP - Between Realignment and Flexibility: The Shifting Geographies of Military Base Closures
AAG Conference, Las Vegas, 22-27 March 2009
We invite papers that explore how former military spaces can be tied to processes of economic restructuring, neoliberal geopolitics, and the cultural production of place/memory. Changes in national defense policy and U.S. geopolitical interests have led to a geographic reorganization of military space. The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, responsible for closing hundreds of military installations, was part of this shift. These spaces were once important nodes in the U.S. military network that defined Cold War policy. Base closure and realignment marked a shifting geography of U.S. militarism. Our panel will explore what’s at stake in this physical and cognitive remapping of military space.
Although we are open to papers that deal with the broad theme of military bases, we particularly welcome submissions that deal with the following topics:
- The conversion of former military bases into spaces of accumulation. We are especially interested in how new economic ventures are tied to accumulation strategies that re-link these spaces with global economic processes.
- Theoretical explorations that analyze the intersection of physical and cognitive remappings of former military spaces.
- Connections between geopolitical doctrine and a shift in demand for more mobile and flexible military spaces.
- Contemporary landscapes of post-military spaces.
- Struggles for economic and social justice tied to military base reuse.
Please direct abstracts (max. 250 words) and questions to
[log in to unmask] by October 10, 2008.
Session Organizers:
Juan David De Lara, UC Berkeley
Javier Arbona, UC Berkeley
