Etymology of Deterritorialization
The term “deterritorialization” originated in the field of sociology and was further developed in post-structuralist and postmodern philosophy. French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari played a key role in shaping this concept.
It combines the prefix “de-” (which signifies “undoing” or “removal”) with “territorialization” (referring to the process of defining and establishing boundaries and territories).
In this context, “deterritorialization” emphasizes the dismantling or deconstruction of established boundaries, structures, or territorial constraints. It describes the destabilization of fixed meanings, identities, and structures in various domains, including literature, art, and sociology.
Meanings of Deterritorialisation
| Meanings | Explanation |
| Deconstruction of Boundaries | Deterritorialization refers to the breaking down or deconstruction of established boundaries, structures, or territorial constraints in various domains. |
| Unsettling Fixed Meanings | It signifies the destabilization of fixed meanings, identities, and structures, challenging established norms and definitions. |
| Transcending Territorial Limits | In the context of philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies, it often involves transcending or going beyond the limitations imposed by geographical or cultural territories. |
| Fostering Creativity and Change | Deterritorialization can be seen as a process that fosters creativity and facilitates change by encouraging the exploration of new ideas and perspectives. |
| Application in Art and Literature | It has been used in art and literature to describe works that challenge conventional boundaries and offer new interpretations and experiences. |
| Key Concept in Postmodernism | Deterritorialization is a key concept in postmodern philosophy, emphasizing the fluidity and instability of meanings and identities in a rapidly changing world. |
| Influence on Cultural Studies | It has had a significant influence on cultural studies, particularly in analyzing how culture and identity evolve in a globalized and interconnected world. |
Definition of Deterritorialization as a Theoretical Term
Deterritorialization, as a theoretical term, refers to the process of dismantling or destabilizing established boundaries, structures, or territorial constraints within various domains, such as philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies. This concept challenges conventional norms and definitions by transcending geographical or cultural limitations, fostering creativity, and encouraging the exploration of new ideas. In the context of postmodern philosophy, deterritorialization underscores the fluid and unstable nature of meanings and identities in a rapidly evolving world, influencing cultural studies in its analysis of the evolving dynamics of culture and identity within a globalized and interconnected context.
Theorists about Deterritorialization, Works, and Argument
| Theorist | Work | Argument |
| Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari | A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia (1980) | They argue that traditional territorial boundaries are becoming obsolete in the modern world due to capitalism’s constant reconfiguration of space. They introduce the concept of the “rhizome” to explain the fluid and interconnected nature of social and cultural phenomena. |
| Arjun Appadurai | Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization (1996) | Appadurai extends the concept of deterritorialization to explore the global flows of culture, technology, and media. He introduces the idea of “scapes” to emphasize the fluid and deterritorialized nature of contemporary cultural dynamics. |
| Manuel Castells | The Information Age: Economy, Society, and Culture series (1996-2003) | Castells examines the role of information technology in deterritorializing economic activities and shaping a network society. He discusses how communication networks and the internet transcend geographical boundaries, enabling new forms of social organization and economic production. |
| David Harvey | The Condition of Postmodernity (1989) | Harvey explores how capitalism’s spatial dynamics inherently lead to deterritorialization. He discusses the continual restructuring of space and time by capitalism, highlighting the importance of urbanization in understanding the deterritorialization of economic and social life. |
Deterritorialisation in Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | Application of Deterritorialization |
| Poststructuralism and Deconstruction | In poststructuralism and deconstruction, deterritorialization challenges the fixed meanings and binary oppositions inherent in language and literature. It disrupts traditional boundaries and destabilizes established norms, leading to a more fluid and open interpretation of texts. |
| Feminist Literary Theory | Within feminist literary theory, deterritorialization subverts patriarchal narratives and structures. It destabilizes gender norms and explores alternative narratives that transcend traditional territorial limits imposed on women’s voices. |
| Postcolonialism | In postcolonial literature, deterritorialization breaks away from colonial boundaries and colonialist narratives. It explores subaltern histories, dismantles imperialist structures, and represents diverse cultural perspectives. |
| Psychoanalytic Literary Theory | In psychoanalytic theory, deterritorialization unravels the boundaries of the conscious and unconscious mind. It explores characters undergoing transformative journeys and the dismantling of psychological constraints. |
| Marxist Literary Theory | In Marxist literary theory, deterritorialization analyzes how literature challenges class boundaries and capitalist structures. It explores socioeconomic alternatives and dismantles economic hierarchies. |
| Narrative Theory | In narrative theory, deterritorialization examines how literary narratives disrupt traditional storytelling conventions. It explores nonlinear narratives, blurs boundaries between reality and fiction, and destabilizes narrative structures. |
In each of these literary theories, deterritorialization serves as a critical lens for analyzing how literature challenge, deconstruct, or transcend established boundaries, structures, and norms, fostering creativity and innovation in the realm of literary analysis and critique.
Deterritorialisation as a Device
Deterritorialization, in a literary context, refers to the thematic and narrative exploration of displacement, disorientation, and the breaking of familiar boundaries within a work of fiction. It is used to examine the psychological and physical journeys of characters, symbolizes cultural and societal shifts, and address themes such as identity, belonging, and alienation, contributing to the broader narrative and thematic depth of the literary work.
Deterritorialisation in Literary Criticism
| Literary Work | Deterritorialization Example |
| Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis | The novella exemplifies deterritorialization through the transformation of the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, into a giant insect, symbolizing a radical departure from his human identity and familiar world, resulting in his alienation from family and society. |
| Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” | Beckett’s play showcases deterritorialization in a desolate, featureless landscape where two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, experience dislocation and detachment from a meaningful existence, emphasized by their repetitive actions and dialogues. |
| T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” | Eliot’s poem utilizes deterritorialization techniques such as fragmented narrative, multiple voices, and shifting perspectives to depict the blurring of boundaries between past and present, cultures, and individuals, reflecting the disorientation of a post-World War I world. |
| Toni Morrison’s Beloved | In this novel, deterritorialization is explored through Sethe, a character who escapes slavery but is haunted by her traumatic past. The narrative shifts between temporal and narrative perspectives, blurring boundaries between past and present, reality and memory, reflecting the ongoing impact of historical trauma and dislocation. |
| Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude | Márquez’s novel illustrates deterritorialization through the fictional town of Macondo, where time, space, and reality are fluid. Magical realism is intertwined with everyday life, challenging conventional boundaries and creating a sense of detachment from traditional reality, contributing to the novel’s unique atmosphere. |
Suggested Readings
- Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari. A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Translated by Brian Massumi, University of Minnesota Press, 1987.
- Appadurai, Arjun. Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization. University of Minnesota Press, 1996.
- Castells, Manuel. The Information Age: Economy, Society, and Culture. Vol. 1-3, Blackwell, 1996-2003.
- Harvey, David. The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change. Wiley-Blackwell, 1990.
- Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Translated by Stanley Corngold, Bantam Books, 1972.
- Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. Grove Press, 1954.
- Eliot, T.S. The Waste Land. Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1922.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Knopf, 1987.
- García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Translated by Gregory Rabassa, Harper & Row, 1970.