Politics and Maps: A Critical Review of German News Maps on the War Against Terrorism in Afghanistan
Dr. Juergen Clemens
University of Heidelberg
South Asia Institute, Department of Geography
jclemens@sai.uni-heidelberg.de
Not just since the critical social theory discovered the hidden political agendas within cartography and maps, the nexus between “Maps, Knowledge and Power” (HARLEY 1988) has provided an entry point for the analysis of meanings of and in maps (MAC EACHRAN 1995). Critiques of either colonial attitudes and Euro-centric approaches of global map-representations as well as those of the maps’ presumed “objectivity” or “neutrality” had been taken up before (c.f. WRIGHT 1942 cited in MAC EACHRAN 1995, p. 339). Even medieval “Psalter Maps” are more a representation of religious symbolism rather than scientific geographical knowledge (c.f. HARRIS 2002). Jerusalem is shown “at the centre of the world” and the map itself is “oriented” towards the east.
The latest approaches of post-modern social scientists strongly argue that there can be no real objective and neutral representation since also maps are nothing else than socially or politically constructed artefacts of scientific and day-to-day cultures (c.f. MAC EACHRAN 1995; COSGROVE 1999; CRAMPTON 2001). Thus, the critical analysis should not look for functional or even “better” maps. The new task is to explore the political interests and power relations underlying the production of maps, thus to explore the “second text within the map” (c.f. HARLEY 1989, p. 9) or to deconstruct the map. For the present study, the discussion on the different levels of meanings, either of and within maps is of special interest (c.f. HARLEY 1988; MAC EACHRAN 1995; MONMONIER 1996; COSGROVE 1999; CRAMPTON 2001). Particularly the spheres of explicit and implicit connotations of map meanings (c.f. MAC EACHRAN 1995, p. 337) are important aspects for the present analysis.
Interestingly, recent discourses include more cartographic terms, such as the "Roadmap"-metaphor, suggesting carefully planned and target-oriented projects for the reconstruction of Afghanistan or Iraq. The question arises, whether such political constructs are really appropriate metaphors, since the press is full of failed approaches.
The Present Study
The protagonists of the "Clash of Civilisations" argued that wars as part of the new struggle among nations will occur especially along the rims borders between different cultures. One of the key statements is that wars will also lead to new "white spots" or even new "terrae incognitae" on the global map, since distinct regions might remain inaccessible for journalists and scientists for a long time. Jean-Claude Rufin (1993), for example, compares the "new white spots" on African maps with pre-colonial ones.
Contrary to such simplifying approaches, this paper argues that wars and their media coverage actually lead to an intensified information. News maps on the “War against Terror” in Afghanistan are analysed and it is obvious that, in spite of several spheres of shortcomings, this media coverage actually erased “white spots”. This, however, is not related to the war itself, but especially to the direct involvement of "western" interests.
Print media and television news generally provide the major source of political information. Thus particular regions remain white spots on the average people's mental maps until these appear in the news. Maps – including also news maps – are generally regarded as a true representation of reality by common people as well as by a more traditional perspective of cartography (c.f. MONMONIER 1996, HARLEY 1988, 1989, MACEACHRAN 1995). The maps have a special role in public communication processes and thus, a critical review of news maps on the war in Afghanistan is undertaken. The sample period (Sept. 11
th to Nov. 30
th 2001) covers the main period of fighting. The selection of 13 German daily and weekly newspapers and newsmagazines includes important nationwide papers, and two widely circulated yellow/tabloid press papers as well as local and regional dailies.
This analysis provides a brief but critical review of these maps and focuses especially on aspects of the different spheres of map meaning (c.f. MAC EACHRAN 1995), including intentional or unintentional misinformation or even biased information, and on selected formal cartographical aspects.