Francis Alÿs’ Green Line: Imperialism and the Limits of the Global South

Abstract

This article discusses the concepts of imperialist states, colonies, and semi-colonies as developed by Vladimir Lenin, as well as those of strategy and tactics as presented by Michel de Certeau, and considers the limitations and relevance of these ideas for analyzing contemporary power relations. The study adopts a critical and interpretative approach, articulating theoretical texts, the artistic performance The Green Line by the artist Francis Alÿs, and the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This approach fulfills the objective of this article, which is to clarify the concepts introduced and to problematize the notions of the Global North and Global South, considered here as insufficient for fully understanding the dynamics of domination and resistance within a capitalist/imperialist context. Aligned with the theme of this edition of V!RUS journal, “Multilateral Dialogues: Praxis, Interlocutions, and Confrontations”, the tensioning of the notions of strategy, tactics, and imperialism, in the fields of art and history, seeks to highlight the relevance of these concepts for analyzing the multi-dimensional functioning of these power relations while exposing the colonial and imperialist character that continues to support them.