The US military base network and contemporary colonialism: Power projection, resistance and the quest for operational unilateralism

This article explores the contemporary global network of US military bases. This paper examines how the geography of this network is shaped not only by military objectives but also by resistance from allied governments and communities adjacent to bases. Using examples from Guam, Puerto Rico, Okinawa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Political geography 2011-05, Vol.30 (4), p.215-224
Main Author: Davis, Sasha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed Forces
Bases
Bgi / Prodig
Colonialism
Feminism
Feminist geopolitics
Geography
Geopolitics
Guam
Human geography
Military
Military bases
Okinawa, Japan
Political and economic geography
Political geography
Power relations
Resistance
Social Movements
U.S.A
Unilateralism
United States of America
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Summary:This article explores the contemporary global network of US military bases. This paper examines how the geography of this network is shaped not only by military objectives but also by resistance from allied governments and communities adjacent to bases. Using examples from Guam, Puerto Rico, Okinawa and other locales this paper examines how local resistances to US bases have caused the Department of Defense to increasingly rely on non-sovereign islands as sites for bases. These sites, military strategists believe, will enable the military to train without hindrance and to operate without the need for consultation with allies. These colonies, however, are also sites were military activities are actively resisted. The resulting base network is thus shaped not only by global military priorities, but also by an increasingly globalized network of local social movements resisting militarization. ► The US military network is produced by resistance as well as military priorities. ► The US military has increased its reliance on non-sovereign overseas territories. ► Using overseas territories enhances the military’s ability to act unilaterally. ► Social movements have scaled-up to challenge the American base network.
ISSN:0962-6298
1873-5096
DOI:10.1016/j.polgeo.2011.04.003