Tenuous Territories

Previous chapters have explored facets of territory and territoriality primarilyat the level of the state, but it is important to observe that manifestations ofterritorialization exist at a variety of spatial scales. Although this may take onless obvious forms with less clear-cut boundaries, these informal divisionsrun through a wide range of social, cultural and political issues concerningrace, class, gender and sexuality, so that what can be termed spatial enclaves ofvarying degrees of permanence are regularly created, sustained and contested(Sidaway 2007). This chapter explores some of these examples, demonstratinghow particular social practices are spatialized and the ways in which territoriesare constructed, contested and used to achieve particular outcomes. Identitylies at the heart of these examples, which comprise territorial practices thatresult from defence, celebration or fear of those identities. Consequently,the chapter is concerned with raising questions about who may permitted orencouraged to be in particular spaces, and who may be barred or discouragedfrom being there. In doing so, it sheds light on the ways in which space is conceived, used and organized, and highlights the ways in which identities ‒ class,ethnic, gender, sexual ‒ become territorialized across a range of sociospatialcontexts. The chapter also highlights the use of territorial strategies in bothmanaging and policing specific issues, and also in resisting particular forms ofdomination.