Biopolitics, Geopolitics, Life: Settler States and Indigenous Presence

Biopolitics and geopolitics are used by settler-colonial states to produce norms of social life and land use that delegitimize and target Indigenous bodies, lives, lands, and political formations. This book explores the representations of sexual violence against Native women, Indigenous critiques of the carceral state, Indigenous elders' refusal of dominant formulations of aging, the governance of Indigenous peoples in Guyana, the displacement of Guaraní in Brazil, and the 2016 rule to formally acknowledge a government-to-government relationship between the US federal government and the Native Hawaiian community.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Biopolitics and geopolitics are two distinct yet intertwined techniques employed by settler-colonial states across the globe, including the Americas, Hawai'i, Australia, and Aotearoa/New Zealand. These approaches shape norms of social life and land use that delegitimize and target Indigenous bodies, lives, lands, and political formations. Drawing on a range of disciplines such as literary and cultural studies, social sciences, political theory, visual culture, and film studies, the contributors to Biopolitics, Geopolitics, and Life shed light on how these techniques produce discriminatory practices and policies.

One key area of exploration is the representation of sexual violence against Native women in literature. The contributors analyze how these narratives perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce the marginalization of Indigenous communities. They also examine Indigenous critiques of the carceral state in North America, highlighting the ways in which colonialism and settler colonialism continue to shape the legal and political systems that oppress Indigenous peoples.

Another important theme is the resistance and resilience of Indigenous elders. The contributors discuss how Indigenous elders refuse to be defined by dominant formulations of aging and instead advocate for their own ways of knowing and being in the world. They also explore the governance of Indigenous peoples in Guyana, highlighting the challenges and complexities of managing land and resources in a context of colonialism and extractivism.

The displacement of Guaraní in Brazil and the 2016 rule to formally acknowledge a government-to-government relationship between the US federal government and the Native Hawaiian community are also explored. The contributors argue that these events highlight the ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples to reclaim their land and assert their political sovereignty.

Throughout the book, the contributors emphasize that Indigenous life and practices cannot be contained and defined by the racialization and dispossession of settler colonialism. They argue that an Indigenous-centered decolonization is necessary to dismantle the systems of oppression that have plagued Indigenous communities for centuries.

The contributors to Biopolitics, Geopolitics, and Life offer a powerful critique of the ways in which biopolitics and geopolitics produce inequality and discrimination. Their work highlights the importance of recognizing the historical and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and working towards a more just and equitable world. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between settler colonialism, biopolitics, and geopolitics.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478019763