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Original Articles

The Biopolitical Justification for Geosurveillance

Pages 389-403 | Received 21 Apr 2010, Published online: 04 Nov 2019
 

Abstract

Biopolitical use of geosurveillance can create and sustain a politics of fear. Although the majority of surveillance literature focuses on individuals, in this article I focus on groups and populations, drawing on Michel Foucault's analysis of biopolitics. After discussing the forms and history of geosurveillance I argue that three particularly important factors contribute to these politics: divisions, geospatial technologies, and the risk‐based society. In order to combat the negative unintended consequences of these factors I suggest that more attention be paid to the mutual relationships between geospatial technology and politics, rather than on assessments of the value of individual surveillant technologies.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeremy W. Crampton

Dr. Crampton is an associate professor of geography at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

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