Militarising Mumbai? The ‘politics’ of response

Machold, R. (2017) Militarising Mumbai? The ‘politics’ of response. Contexto Internacional, 39(3), pp. 477-498. (doi: 10.1590/s0102-8529.2017390300002)

[img]
Preview
Text
171368.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

1MB

Abstract

This article focuses on how urban security has been governed in Mumbai in the aftermath of the 2008 terrorist attacks (26/11). The event was widely cited as a major turning point in the securitisation and militarisation of Indian cities. It also produced significant political upheaval, which in turn generated calls for a major institutional overhaul of the governmental architecture for handling terrorism. This article takes the political and policy repercussions of 26/11 as an intervention into critical debates about the (para-)militarisation of policing and the politics of urban security. Here I shift the focus from the disciplinary and divisive effects of policies towards an emphasis on their spectacular and theatrical dimensions. If we are to make sense of the ‘militarised’ focus of the policy response to 26/11, I argue, we need to take seriously its populist, aspirational qualities.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Machold, Dr Rhys
Authors: Machold, R.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Contexto Internacional
Publisher:Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
ISSN:0102-8529
ISSN (Online):1982-0240
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Author
First Published:First published in Contexto Internacional 39(3):477-498
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record