Physical

The politics of separation is a concept that deals with what happens between countries, political organizations, societies, etc. when different groups are forced to physically separate from one another.

An example of physical separation comes from the article by Eyal Weizman which refers to Israel and Palestine. Weizman discusses how both nations were separated due to a physical barrier being placed on their land. This wall was implemented by the Israeli government in an attempt to separate the Israeli land from the Palastinian land. The wall was first designed to create an area of security (Weizman 163), but instead Israel went beyond their means and built a giant wall that completely separated the two areas. This wall can be credited as the worst form of separation, or as Weizman suggests worse than Appartheid in South Africa (Weizman, 171). Concrete slabs, electronic fences, barbed wire and trenches comprise the wall to create a physical separation from Israelis and Palestinians (Weizman, 161). Cameras, radars, observation posts and patrol roads are implemented to use surveillance as a form of regulating behaviour (Weizman, 161).Land, air and sub-terrain space was utilized to implement surveillance techniques on Palestinian communities.

The concept is articulated through physical examples worldwide, with the wall built in Israel, as well as the resistance of colonization with the France colonizing Algeria. Examples that tied the article in with current Palestinian and Israeli relation used in lecture included a trailer for "Slingshot Hip-Hop" and clips from the film ' The Battle of Algiers//'.// 'Slingshot Hip-Hop' demonstrated the struggle three hip-hop groups had to go through to perform though several divided Palestinian territories because of all the check points along the way.'The Battle of Algiers' showed how physical appearance changed the way an individual is treated at checkpoints, because when Arab women 'westernized' their appearance they passed through the checkpoints easily. Also, the checkpoints prove that "political separation" doesn't have to be applied only by architectural means (a.ka the wall in Palestine), but small minute details can have a huge impact on the way people move around a city. The "Algerians" were only allowed across the checkpoints if they had approval to, this manipulates the flow of people within city. The Algerians resided in the Casbah and the french had their own "mini paris" on the other side. This seperation triggered violence which resulted the bombings of three french clubs. This idea relates to the Isreali/Palestinian wall. The Israeli's claim that the wall is made for "security" reasons. The wall does nothing but increase hate and trigger more anger between the two sides. This big architectural "wall" not only separates the Palestinian villages from eachother, but also makes it difficult for students and employees to reach their destinations.

The physical separation of races by the wall is known as //bantustan//. This term refers to separating oppressed groups of people from others to ensure no collective protests and to ensure that no two homogeneous cultures can easily co-exist with one another. Weizman states, "the different semantics of the names given to the project - whether a 'fence', a 'wall', a 'Wall' or a "barrier"- also played a major role. It has also become particularly associated with the word 'apartheid', although even at the height of its barbarity, the South African regime never erected such a barrier," (Weizman 171).

We need to add in the text that was written down in tutorial from my point form notes. Please add those in so we can all work at updating that section together. Otherwise, by tomorrow afternoon we should all collaboratively come up with something to add here (JUST ADD IN YOUR POINT FORM NOTES AND WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE INTO THE TEXT PART - PLEASE USE REFERENCES FROM THE TEXT!) - Samar

The politics of separation involves the use of physical barriers to facilitate separation of individuals and thus, reinforce power differentials and subjugation. This separation creates a psychological response and ultimately fuels rebellion to counter the colonizing power as oppressed individuals attempt to empower themselves against the regime. This may be reinforced by the film Slingshot Hip Hop in which music served as a form of unification against oppression yet the attempts by hip hop groups to express resistance were subverted by geographical mechanisms such as check points to organize as well as constrain movements through space. This parallels the notion of Bantustan in which groups of oppressed individuals are separated from one another to prevent them from reaching critical mass and limit instances of revolt. Power systems therefore employ architecture as a means to ensure stratification while strategically masking this objective via the selective framing of public perception. The latter was achieved via the use of multiple explanations to validate the Wall’s construction including its ability to ensure greater security (Weizman 2007, p 162). The rationale of power systems is thus carefully tailored with the use of multiple meanings to minimize opposition. Architectural constructions are thus embedded with political ideology and the discourse of security was employed to sustain hierarchical relations between the Israeli regime and the Palestinians. Surveillance is also achieved by the physical infrastructure of the Wall. The dominant power commands an advantageous position while imposing a form of psychological violence on the subservient group which will further engage in self regulation. The Battle of Algiers illustrates the process of physical separation within the city and the resultant production of a colonial mindset. Infrastructure sustains hierarchical relations of power and transcends the psychological relationships between different groups. - Jose-Anne

Note: Please get on the ball with this! The psychological is nearly done and physical is still in bullet point? Requirements are full sentences! - Sophie Hey, I added some of Samar's notes up there, but if anyone wants to elaborate more on the use of space for surveillance, feel free to do so. - rebecca

Here are the point form notes I was taking in tutorial today, **Please add notes to or above this section** - Samar

Politics of Separation: Physical barriers such as police Why this concept: Israel’s main claim is for security (167 paragraph 3) · Real estate (167) · colonialism architectural barriers put in place to deter people from rebellion against higher powers of colonialism – to place people apart from each other to eliminate rebellion against

Where it is: How it is articulated: the actual wall is built at a higher altitude (p 161, paragraph 1) In addition to the physical barrier that the wall created for Israel and Palestine there were several addition forms of physical separation that was incorporated. There were three dimensions of surveillance, which included the air, land space and sub terrain space. These three dimensions integrated a watchtower; helicopters and also a road tunnel that was build on Palestine land. Not only was the wall the main source of seperation but there were also physical sub categories that were involved as well.

· resistance of colonization to the French in Algeria o check points that would not allow Palestinians to cross to Israel

· Slingshot hiphop o check points put in place o physical barrier to get together to do a show separating oppressed groups from one another – there is form of control over the populous separates people from work and school -

What does it enable us to do or see: