Historical Geography and the Critical Examination of 'Place' in the Spanish Enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla

Abstract

The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the only two points of the European Union on theAfrican continent, have become sites of migratory tension that has drawn the attention of scholars representing varying disciplines. While critical in its recognition of the political violence experienced by migrants seeking entry to Europe, as well as the legal and historical territorial claims based on geopolitical norms, few studies have explored the historical, state-sponsored projects that have sought to fashion a uniquely Spanish identity within the sites at specific moments in time. Drawing on Suzanne Rau’s work on the intersection of place and history (2019) and Eve Tuck and Marcia McKenzie’s framework for developing a Critical Place Inquiry (2015), this research project excavates the historical geographies of both cities to recognize the purposeful and intentional ways in which Spanish identity has been ascribed to Ceuta and Melilla, impacting how these cities are experienced today. This project is divided into three different articles, which represent different methods of inquiry to understand Ceuta and Melilla’s past and present. Utilizing discourse analysis on archival material, film and visual analysis, and walking and sensory methodologies evaluating historical traces and representation in the landscape, this research project aims to serve as an example of how historical geographers may mix methodological approaches to develop more complete understandings of the ways in which a given place has been produced over time, recognizing the ways in which a site has been made, remade, produced, and perceived at various points of its history, including the present.