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Drawing a Line in the Snow: the Geopolitical Place-making of Canadian Security Policy

Grove, Alan J.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1243349150

Abstract Details

2009, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Geography.
Critical geopolitics has grown to be one of the more vibrant sub-disciplines in geography through the implementation of theories and techniques of postmodernism and poststructuralism. These theories and techniques have opened new questions and subjects to the scope of inquiry of critical geopolitics. Fundamental to the discipline is the notion that discourses of power are crucial to shaping the understanding of objects and concepts. This notion can be applied to geography in the scripting of global spaces as a political construct: spaces are defined in a political manner. Rather than spaces existing as they are described, spaces are constructed and produced by the discourses surrounding them. Similarly, security is a discursive subject such that its definition and formation are based upon the discourses that imply vague notions of what security means. Key to understanding security as a construction is the notion of terrorism, which is a signifier to the construction of security. Because notions of terror and terrorism are products of discourses, security can be established in a similar constructive form as it operates to mitigate the threat from terrorism. This thesis focuses on the concept of security as a geographic and geopolitical construct. Through an examination and deconstruction of Canadian security policy, I argue that the conceptualization of security is an act of geopolitical place-making as spaces are defined as secure and insecure through a discourse dominated by those in power. This argument is developed through an example of the notion of terrorism, itself a political construct, which highlights the geopolitical nature of constructing security and insecurity.
Colleen McTague, PhD (Committee Chair)
Roger Selya, PhD (Committee Member)
Kevin Raleigh, PhD (Committee Member)
Geography; International Relations; Political Science
Geography; Critical Geopolitics; Security; Terrorism; Canada;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Grove, A. J. (2009). Drawing a Line in the Snow: the Geopolitical Place-making of Canadian Security Policy [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1243349150

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Grove, Alan. Drawing a Line in the Snow: the Geopolitical Place-making of Canadian Security Policy. 2009. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1243349150.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Grove, Alan. "Drawing a Line in the Snow: the Geopolitical Place-making of Canadian Security Policy." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1243349150

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.