Our Cities at War: Notes on Militarization and Coloniality from Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Written as an essay, this text begins with the argument that urban militarization is a contemporary social process with diverse marks and effects on spaces and their inhabitants. By articulating this phenomenon with the so-called "colonial matrix of power," we consider the authors' research experience in and about Rio de Janeiro. Through a literature review, we establish a counterpoint to urban contexts already analyzed in light of these categories. Drawing from research notes, we aim to delve into issues concerning the understanding of militarization and its connections with the forms of knowledge and power that organize life in cities, within the contexts of the Global North and South. Between case and context, our intention is to contribute notes to the debate surrounding the relationships between urban militarization and the colonial logics organizing life and spaces in the present time.