Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the expansion of AFRICOM: Africa in America's "Panopticon"

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the constitutive nature of United States (US) military bases. It discusses the role of US Special Operations Forces and their use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as a method for expansion. The chapter explores the potency of Michel Foucault’s idea of a Panopticon and its historical legacy in Africa, which was mostly dominated by the use of intelligence agencies. ISR under special operations have two key components. First, there is special reconnaissance which entails “reconnaissance and surveillance actions normally conducted in a clandestine or cover manner to collect or verify information of strategic or operational significance”. Second, this also involves what is known as military information support operations. The expansion of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) resonates with the notion of “the gaze”. The gaze is premised on the idea of power, information and control over a large mass of land. The expansion of AFRICOM on the continent mainly relies on ISR.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationExpanding US military command in Africa
Subtitle of host publicationelites, networks and grand strategy
EditorsTshepo Gwatiwa, Justin van der Merwe
Place of PublicationLondon ; New York
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis Group
Chapter6
Pages85-103
Number of pages19
ISBN (Electronic)9780429449901
ISBN (Print)9781138326354
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameRoutledge Global Security Studies
PublisherRoutledge

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